http://fullsize.294.GIF



From the opening splash page of LEGION OF SUPERHEROES 294 (December 1982), by Paul Levitz, Keith Giffen and Larry Mahlstedt :

"Dedicated to Jack Kirby, with respect and thanks."



Beyond this statement, the entire story itself is a visible tribute to Jack Kirby, particularly Giffen's art style at the time. (see also his Dr. Fate backup strip in FLASH 306-313, several scattered issues he did of DC COMICS PRESENTS, and in OMEGA MEN 1-5).
This issue (LSH 294) concluded the "Great Darkness Saga" which is a particularly satisfying attempt to bring Kirby's original NEW GODS saga to a close.
And the entire Levitz/Giffen run of this series (LSH 285-306) is one of my all-time favorite comic series. It captures a similar feel to the combined humor, adventure, eye-popping art, and a huge cast of characters previously in Kirby's JIMMY OLSEN run (issues 133-139, 141-148).

Giffen's style changed dramatically after issue 306. But his run continued until issue 313, and then LEGION issues 1-5 of the new series (3rd series, 1984). Although these are a bit darker and more serious, and the art is not as Kirby influenced.

Also good at roughly the same time was the X-MEN/NEW TEEN TITANS one-shot by Chris Claremont, Walt Simonson and Terry Austin. Which also came very close to the characters and visual style of Kirby's original NEW GODS series.
I consider Walt Simonson the closest successor to Kirby's hard-impacting visual style. And yet Simonson is not an imitation of Kirby, as so many other artists are. Simonson captures the flavor of Kirby, while maintaining a style all his own. And is also one of the nicest guys in comics you could hope to meet.

Both the Darkess Saga and the X-MEN/TITANS crossover came out in the late Summer of 1982.