i also think the term "hack" has lost all meaning since the dawn of message boards, and has become nothing but a preferential word, based solely on your perspective. to many, frank miller is a hack. to you, only johns is a hack. to me, neither is a hack. its all relative.
would i, in fact, rate his work on a level of frank miller? yes and no. my immediate thought is no... the dark knight returns and year one, and even some of his collected daredevil work (whose names i can't currently think of) are some of the greatest pieces of comic book literature (apply laughter, if need be) that i've ever come across. i've read them, i've reread them and i love them.
but telling the one great batman story might not be all that challenging. ... at least in comparison to penning 50 consecutive monthly issues ... in several different titles ... all at the same time. in that regard, he's got miller, and most everyone else, beat hands down.
or, look at it this way: miller got me to like batman. more. i already loved batman since i was in diapers. ...for the first time.
johns got me to enjoy the sandman. and hawkman. and the flash. and captain marvel. and powergirl. characters i didn't give a fugabout before. characters i would have never liked or cared about, had a writer not come along and "sold" them to me.
so whats a greater accomplishment? strengthening an appreciation? or broadening one's horizons?
he might not be everyone's cup of tea, but johns has accomplished much.
