JLA: The Nail
Encyclopedia
JLA: The Nail is a three-issue comic book
mini-series
published in the United States by DC Comics
. It is a self-contained story by Alan Davis
which stands outside of the mainstream continuity of the DC Universe
.
In this universe, Jonathan and Martha Kent's pickup truck has a tire puncture which is caused by a nail. This prevents them from discovering the spaceship outside of Smallville containing the baby Kal-El, and thus there is no Superman
.
The theme of the story is set by its first paragraph:
. In this world, there is still a Justice League of America
, consisting of Batman
, Wonder Woman
, Aquaman
, the Flash
(Barry Allen), Hawkwoman
, the Atom
(Ray Palmer), Martian Manhunter
and Green Lantern
(Hal Jordan).
There is, however, a great degree of xenophobia for the "metahumans," fueled by anti-metahuman propaganda from Perry White
, backed by Metropolis
mayor Lex Luthor
, who gained points for his actions in establishing a high-tech police force for Metropolis in its absence of a superpowered protector, and the bitter rantings of former hero Oliver Queen
, now a paraplegic after sustaining injuries in a battle with Amazo
(which also resulted in the death of Hawkman (Katar Hol)). Queen claims that the JLA and all metahumans are aliens secretly conspiring against humanity, an attitude that is far from helped given that Flash, Wonder Woman and Atom are the only League members who can be 'confirmed' to be human, particularly with Green Lantern's allegiance to an interstellar power and the mystery of Batman's true nature.
One by one, various metahumans are mysteriously eliminated or captured: first, most of the supervillains, then superteams like the Doom Patrol
and the Outsiders
.
A super-powered Joker
liberates the inmates of Arkham Asylum
. Using alien gauntlets that generate energy blasts, the Joker traps Batman, then tortures and kills Robin
and Batgirl
, forcing a horrified Batman to watch as he tears them apart. Unfortunately for the Joker, Catwoman
sets Batman free by attacking Joker while he is occupied with his torture of the Dark Knight, breaking his concentration. In a fit of grief-induced madness, Batman damages the Joker's gauntlets before he proceeds to kill his enemy on live television by snapping his neck on the roof of Arkham, and flees for the Batcave with Catwoman as Arkham explodes before collapsing in a trauma-induced catatonia. This murder not only further tarnishes the reputations of metahumans, but also robs Batman of his will to live, as he has sworn never to kill. Eventually Catwoman and Alfred Pennyworth
are successful in restoring Batman's sense of purpose.
Gradually, the Justice League discovers a greater plot against them; the White House is destroyed by a bomb after Wonder Woman departs it — thus appearing as though she set the explosion — Metamorpho
is brainwashed and forced to kill Perry White, subsequently dying when he attempts to tell J'onn what happened to him, and Hal Jordan discovers a strange force field around Earth that prevents anything leaving the planet, the field having been growing stronger over the last several months.
Violence escalates into riots and Lex Luthor establishes a totalitarian state. Mysterious platoons of masked robots endowed with flight and incredible strength known as the Liberators become the law. One by one, the members of the Justice League are captured by the Liberators until only Batman, the Flash, the Atom and a reformed Catwoman remain.
Lois Lane
, an investigative reporter who has been covering both sides of the anti-metahuman campaign, suspects a cover-up. On a visit to the secret facility where metahumans are held prisoner, Lois meets Dr. Lana Lang. Lana secretly directs Lois to Smallville, Kansas, where Jonathan and Martha Kent provide a haven for escaped metahumans. Lois decides to confront Lex Luthor about her discoveries, but is quickly captured by the true person responsible for the Liberators and the discrediting of the Justice League.
The scheme is revealed as the plan of an insane, genetically altered Jimmy Olsen
. Following various short-lived attempts at heroism caused by temporary alteration of his DNA, Jimmy became Lex Luthor
's aide after becoming disillusioned with classic superheroes. Having discovered Kal-El's spaceship and using DNA samples from it to create numerous Bizarro
clones, Luthor grafted Kryptonian DNA
onto Jimmy, the only such 'graft' that appeared successful, as other subjects either died instantly or mutated before death. While the process granted Jimmy superpowers, it also mentally transformed him into a Kryptonian, determined to replace human life with Kryptonian life. The plan of putting metahumans into prison was to extract their DNA to complete his enhancements, while simultaneously finding the means to convert Earthlings into a new Kryptonian society with him as ruler.
Batman, along with Batwoman
(formerly Catwoman), the Atom, and the Flash, free the captive Justice League members — Batman and Batwoman armed with Joker's Kryptonian gauntlets — and destroy the Liberators. Having no experience dealing with Kryptonian powers, the League are overwhelmed by Olsen and are all swiftly defeated. The fight spills over to an Amish
community. As Olsen is about to deliver a killing blow to Batman — who had been attacking him in a last-ditch effort with Lantern-enhanced strength — he is stopped by a surprisingly strong hand belonging to one of the farmers. As the farmer tries to reason with Jimmy, Olsen promptly attempts to incinerate the man with heat vision.
However, this young man is immune to his heat vision; it is a fully grown Kal-El, who had been picked up as an infant by an Amish couple and taught to ignore worldly affairs in order to walk in righteousness. Olsen attempts to persuade Kal-El to join him, but he refuses, having finally concluded that he cannot ignore what he has been detecting with his super-senses any longer. Angry at being rejected, Jimmy murders Kal-El's adopted parents with his heat vision, in front of an horrified Kal. Spurred on by an injured Batman, his grief, and his morality, Kal fights Jimmy in an apocalyptic battle. Kal and Olsen appear to be at a draw, with Jimmy's greater experience being countered by Kal's superior natural power, until the stress of the fight causes Olsen's body to become unstable and disintegrate as his flawed graft finally fails.
With Olsen and the Liberators defeated, the Justice League — minus Batman, who resigns from the League even after a trial acquits him of the Joker's murder by ruling it an act of war — eventually regain the confidence of the public with the help of their newest member: Superman
.
which ties into the original story and wrapped up several loose ends such as the aftermath of the war between New Genesis
, Apokolips
and the Green Lantern Corps
, as well as Oliver Queen's
public betrayal of the Justice League
.
published in 1999 by DC
(ISBN 1563894807) and Titan Books
(ISBN 1840230649)
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published in the United States by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. It is a self-contained story by Alan Davis
Alan Davis
Alan Davis is an English writer and artist of comic books, known for his work on titles such as Captain Britain, The Uncanny X-Men, ClanDestine, Excalibur, JLA: The Nail and JLA: Another Nail.-UK work:...
which stands outside of the mainstream continuity of the DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
.
In this universe, Jonathan and Martha Kent's pickup truck has a tire puncture which is caused by a nail. This prevents them from discovering the spaceship outside of Smallville containing the baby Kal-El, and thus there is no Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
.
The theme of the story is set by its first paragraph:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost,
for want of a shoe the horse was lost,
for want of a horse the knight was lost,
for want of a knight the battle was lost.
So it was a kingdom was lost - all for want of a nail.
Plot
The setting of the story resembles a combination between Earth-1 and Earth-2Earth-Two
Earth-Two is a fictional universe appearing in American comic book stories published by DC Comics. First appearing in The Flash #123 , Earth-Two was created to explain how Silver-Age versions of characters such as the Flash could appear in stories with their Golden Age counterparts...
. In this world, there is still a Justice League of America
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
, consisting of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
, Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
, the Flash
Barry Allen
The Flash is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the second character known as the Flash. The character first appeared in Showcase #4 , created by writers Robert Kanigher and John Broome and penciler Carmine Infantino. His name combines talk show hosts Barry Gray...
(Barry Allen), Hawkwoman
Hawkwoman
Hawkwoman is the name of several fictional superheroines all owned by DC Comics and existing in that company's DC Universe. They are partners, and sometimes spouses or lovers, of the various versions of Hawkman, and share many features with the character Hawkgirl.-Shayera Hol:The Silver Age...
, the Atom
Ray Palmer (comics)
The Atom is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero introduced during the Silver Age of comic books in Showcase # 34 . He was named after Raymond A...
(Ray Palmer), Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
and Green Lantern
Hal Jordan
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a DC Comics superhero known as Green Lantern, the first human shown to join the Green Lantern Corps and a founding member of the Justice League of America. Jordan is the second DC Comics character to adopt the Green Lantern moniker...
(Hal Jordan).
There is, however, a great degree of xenophobia for the "metahumans," fueled by anti-metahuman propaganda from Perry White
Perry White
Perry White is a fictional character who appears in the Superman comics. White is the Editor-in-Chief of the Metropolis newspaper the Daily Planet.White maintains very high ethical and journalistic standards...
, backed by Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
mayor Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
, who gained points for his actions in establishing a high-tech police force for Metropolis in its absence of a superpowered protector, and the bitter rantings of former hero Oliver Queen
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, now a paraplegic after sustaining injuries in a battle with Amazo
Amazo
Amazo is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in The Brave and the Bold #30 and was created by Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson. An android, Amazo's special ability is to replicate the special abilities of various superheroes and...
(which also resulted in the death of Hawkman (Katar Hol)). Queen claims that the JLA and all metahumans are aliens secretly conspiring against humanity, an attitude that is far from helped given that Flash, Wonder Woman and Atom are the only League members who can be 'confirmed' to be human, particularly with Green Lantern's allegiance to an interstellar power and the mystery of Batman's true nature.
One by one, various metahumans are mysteriously eliminated or captured: first, most of the supervillains, then superteams like the Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
The Doom Patrol is a superhero team appearing in publications from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80...
and the Outsiders
Outsiders (comics)
The Outsiders are a fictional DC Comics superhero team. As its name suggests, the team consists of superheroes who allegedly do not fit the norms of the mainstream superhero community, namely the Justice League....
.
A super-powered Joker
Joker (comics)
The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
liberates the inmates of Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum
The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, commonly referred to simply as Arkham Asylum, is a fictional psychiatric hospital in the DC Comics Universe, usually appearing in stories featuring Batman...
. Using alien gauntlets that generate energy blasts, the Joker traps Batman, then tortures and kills Robin
Robin (comics)
Robin is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman...
and Batgirl
Batgirl
Batgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
, forcing a horrified Batman to watch as he tears them apart. Unfortunately for the Joker, Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
sets Batman free by attacking Joker while he is occupied with his torture of the Dark Knight, breaking his concentration. In a fit of grief-induced madness, Batman damages the Joker's gauntlets before he proceeds to kill his enemy on live television by snapping his neck on the roof of Arkham, and flees for the Batcave with Catwoman as Arkham explodes before collapsing in a trauma-induced catatonia. This murder not only further tarnishes the reputations of metahumans, but also robs Batman of his will to live, as he has sworn never to kill. Eventually Catwoman and Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears throughout the DC Comics franchise. The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson. Alfred serves as Batman’s tireless butler, assistant, confidant, and surrogate father figure...
are successful in restoring Batman's sense of purpose.
Gradually, the Justice League discovers a greater plot against them; the White House is destroyed by a bomb after Wonder Woman departs it — thus appearing as though she set the explosion — Metamorpho
Metamorpho
Metamorpho is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is a founding member of the Outsiders, and has also joined multiple incarnations of the Justice League.-Publication history:...
is brainwashed and forced to kill Perry White, subsequently dying when he attempts to tell J'onn what happened to him, and Hal Jordan discovers a strange force field around Earth that prevents anything leaving the planet, the field having been growing stronger over the last several months.
Violence escalates into riots and Lex Luthor establishes a totalitarian state. Mysterious platoons of masked robots endowed with flight and incredible strength known as the Liberators become the law. One by one, the members of the Justice League are captured by the Liberators until only Batman, the Flash, the Atom and a reformed Catwoman remain.
Lois Lane
Lois Lane
Lois Lane is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
, an investigative reporter who has been covering both sides of the anti-metahuman campaign, suspects a cover-up. On a visit to the secret facility where metahumans are held prisoner, Lois meets Dr. Lana Lang. Lana secretly directs Lois to Smallville, Kansas, where Jonathan and Martha Kent provide a haven for escaped metahumans. Lois decides to confront Lex Luthor about her discoveries, but is quickly captured by the true person responsible for the Liberators and the discrediting of the Justice League.
The scheme is revealed as the plan of an insane, genetically altered Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
. Following various short-lived attempts at heroism caused by temporary alteration of his DNA, Jimmy became Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and the archenemy of Superman, although given his high status as a supervillain, he has also come into conflict with Batman and other superheroes in the DC Universe. Created by Jerry Siegel and...
's aide after becoming disillusioned with classic superheroes. Having discovered Kal-El's spaceship and using DNA samples from it to create numerous Bizarro
Bizarro
Bizarro is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp as a "mirror image" of Superman and first appeared in Superboy #68...
clones, Luthor grafted Kryptonian DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
onto Jimmy, the only such 'graft' that appeared successful, as other subjects either died instantly or mutated before death. While the process granted Jimmy superpowers, it also mentally transformed him into a Kryptonian, determined to replace human life with Kryptonian life. The plan of putting metahumans into prison was to extract their DNA to complete his enhancements, while simultaneously finding the means to convert Earthlings into a new Kryptonian society with him as ruler.
Batman, along with Batwoman
Batwoman
Batwoman is the name of several fictional characters, female counterparts to the superhero Batman. The original version was created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff. Her alter ego is Kathy Kane. This character appears in publications produced by DC Comics and related media beginning in Detective...
(formerly Catwoman), the Atom, and the Flash, free the captive Justice League members — Batman and Batwoman armed with Joker's Kryptonian gauntlets — and destroy the Liberators. Having no experience dealing with Kryptonian powers, the League are overwhelmed by Olsen and are all swiftly defeated. The fight spills over to an Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
community. As Olsen is about to deliver a killing blow to Batman — who had been attacking him in a last-ditch effort with Lantern-enhanced strength — he is stopped by a surprisingly strong hand belonging to one of the farmers. As the farmer tries to reason with Jimmy, Olsen promptly attempts to incinerate the man with heat vision.
However, this young man is immune to his heat vision; it is a fully grown Kal-El, who had been picked up as an infant by an Amish couple and taught to ignore worldly affairs in order to walk in righteousness. Olsen attempts to persuade Kal-El to join him, but he refuses, having finally concluded that he cannot ignore what he has been detecting with his super-senses any longer. Angry at being rejected, Jimmy murders Kal-El's adopted parents with his heat vision, in front of an horrified Kal. Spurred on by an injured Batman, his grief, and his morality, Kal fights Jimmy in an apocalyptic battle. Kal and Olsen appear to be at a draw, with Jimmy's greater experience being countered by Kal's superior natural power, until the stress of the fight causes Olsen's body to become unstable and disintegrate as his flawed graft finally fails.
With Olsen and the Liberators defeated, the Justice League — minus Batman, who resigns from the League even after a trial acquits him of the Joker's murder by ruling it an act of war — eventually regain the confidence of the public with the help of their newest member: Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
.
Another Nail
The story was followed up by a sequel in JLA: Another NailJLA: Another Nail
JLA: Another Nail is a comic book mini-series published in the United States by DC Comics, a continuation of events seen in the original three-part mini-series JLA: The Nail. As with its predecessor, Another Nail occurs outside of the official DC Universe continuity, belonging to the Elseworlds...
which ties into the original story and wrapped up several loose ends such as the aftermath of the war between New Genesis
New Genesis
New Genesis is a fictional planet in the . This planet, along with Apokolips, is speculated to be near the constellation Orion...
, Apokolips
Apokolips
In the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
and the Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps
The Green Lantern Corps is the name of a fictional intergalactic military/police force appearing in comics published by DC Comics. They patrol the farthest reaches of the DC Universe at the behest of the Guardians, a race of immortals residing on the planet Oa...
, as well as Oliver Queen's
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
public betrayal of the Justice League
Justice League
The Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
.
Canonicity
- As with several other ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
titles, JLA: The Nail has been incorporated into the new MultiverseMultiverse (DC Comics)The DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity, allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternative versions of characters and...
, although as yet, its world's formal alternate Earth numeric designation is unknown.
Collected editions
The three issues have been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
published in 1999 by DC
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
(ISBN 1563894807) and Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
(ISBN 1840230649)
See also
- For Want of a Nail (proverb)
- Camel's noseCamel's noseThe camel's nose is a metaphor for a situation where permitting some small undesirable situation will allow gradual and unavoidable worsening. A typical usage is this, from U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater in 1958:...
- Butterfly effectButterfly effectIn chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions; where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state...
- Bullet Points (comics)