I'd give Frank Miller three stars as a writer and five as an artist (when it was mostly him not mostly Janson). Frankly, I think the very best Miller DD story was scripted by Roger McKenzie. I wish Miller would have spent more time on art on DD and less time on writing. His non-Marvel DK was brilliant, but it was only four issues of brilliance. But, off-setting that is the four issues of Ronin (IMHO a poorly written book), and I just don't think Miller did enough brilliant WRITING for MARVEL to warrant even a four star rating.

[David Micheline/Michelinie also wrote a Miller DD or two, and he deserves serious four star consideration for his great work on Iron Man (the alcoholism plot with Layton art) and Avengers (with Perez art). He also did a lot of Spiderman and intro'd Venom.]

For comparisons sake, I'd give Byrne the same three stars as a writer and five as an artist (when inked by Austin) as I give Miller. Byrne could, at times, be a brilliant writer, but he also wrote some pretty poor stories. He wrote a LOT more for Marvel than Miller, but his best writing was probably at DC. Viewed as a Marvel writer, I think he was on the good side of average.

I second the vote for Bill Mantlo and I'd give him four stars. Anyone who could make a comic book about toys compelling, deserves a lot of respect.