Jamie Delano, from what I’ve read, seemed to write better Hellblazer stories when he guest wrote the book, than when he launched it.

I'd agree there, but then I think Bad Blood (or was it Royal Blood?) is the really good Hellblazer story that Delano's written.

David's return to X-Factor has been pretty entertaining itself, and Grant Morrison's return to JLA, though not quite as good as his original run, was still pretty fun.

First off, I would dearly love to see James Robinson return to JSA. It was such a logical extension of his Starman, and while it’s been some of Geoff Johns’ better work, he’s been doing it for quite a while now, and I’m not convinced he has anything new about any of the older characters.

I'd love to see Robinson back on JSA, maybe co-writing with Johns like he did on Hawkman.

Don't have a go at it because it was all jokes, it was a mini for crying out loud, and it sold enough to warrant a second one, which then got canned due to editorial decisions.
They had to get people in to read it, and so they went with the laughs.
And to be honest, go re-read the first issues of the Giffen & DeMatties original run - I stand by that Fomerly Known As was a better read than those.

I don't know, I think the storyline in the second series where Guy and Fire were 'reunited' with Ice was all about the heart those original stories displayed. When Guy and Fire collapse in tears into each other's arms, I really felt that too as I had come to care very much for those characters.

I also can't help but wonder how much Giffen & DeMatteis were hamstrung by editorial. They probably couldn't do much in the way of a really meaningful story, so they were left with a simple stroll down memory lane...

I'll also give an agreement to those giving the thumbs down to the "super buddies" It was a rather bad joke. It validated every uninformed complaint about the JLI days, that it was all just jokes. At the core of the original JLI books was heart. At the core of the superbuddies minis was getting to the next bwahhah joke.

Two very good artistic ones: John Buscema returning to the Avengers in the late '80s (with those great Tom Palmer inks) and JR JR returning to Spider- Man. As far as writers go, I really can't think of one better than Miller on Born Again (which I think is both Miller's best work and the best work with the character).

I'd also give my thumbs up to the Superbuddies and Batman: Dark Detective. Both brought back some great memories.

Probably the biggest disappointment I can think of (outside Miller's post- Year One Batman, that is) is George Perez' return to the New Teen Titans. Something just seemed... missing. And Perez didn't really stay around long enough to have much of an impact.

I believe Kurt Busiek's first Avengers story was "The Day the Strangers Came" published in an Avengers annual, I think the Terminus Factor one. Besides that, I don't remember any regular series issues he wrote prior to the series that spun out of Heroes Return.

If the annual counts as his first "run," then yes, his second was better.

Patrick Hamilton

I thought he only wrote a backup story or two for the Avengers before he became the ongoing writer. Am I incorrect in thinking that?

I'd mention Byrne on FF, but his first run was in pencils only. Mark Evanier/Sergio Aragones on Groo does not count as a return because they never left the character in other hands. Ditto for Busiek's Astro City.

And yes, I look forward to Ostrander's return to Suicide Squad. And, for that matter, Shooter on LSH.

Definitely would LOVE to see Morrison and Case return to weird DOOM PATROL.

It's debatable where it ranks, but it is clear that it should definitely be mentioned, and often, his return to the books is a bit forgotten.

And yes, to those who mentioned Born Again - wow, what a return THAT was!!!