JLA: The Nail
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JLA: The Nail is a three-issue comic book mini-series published by DC Comics. It is a self-contained story by Alan Davis which stands outside of the mainstream continuity.
In this universe, the truck of Martha and Jonathan Kent has a tire puncture which is caused by a nail. This prevents them from discovering the spaceship containing the baby Kal-El, and so, there is no Superman.
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.
Contents |
Plot
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 and the bitter rantings of former Green Arrow Oliver Queen, now a paraplegic after sustaining injuries in a battle with Amazo, who in turn killed Hawkman (Katar Hol). Queen goes on record claiming that the JLA and all metahumans are aliens secretly conspiring against humanity.
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 his new powers, the Joker traps Batman, then kills Robin and Batgirl (in an excruciatingly painful manner, ripping chunks of their flesh out until nothing remains), forcing a horrified Batman to watch. Unfortunately for the Joker, Catwoman sets Batman free. In a fit of grief-induced madness, Batman kills the Joker on live television by snapping his neck, and flees for the Batcave with Catwoman. 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. Even Catwoman has a hard time consoling him, but she and Alfred are eventually successful in restoring his sense of purpose.
Gradually, the Justice League discovers a greater plot against them. Violence escalates into riots and Lex Luthor, the mayor of Metropolis, 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 Justice League is 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 from the beginning, becomes suspicious of a cover-up. On a visit to the secret facility where metahumans are held prisoner, Lois encounters 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. Having discovered Superman'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. This caused Jimmy to go insane and possess superpowers similar to Superman's as well as mentally transforming 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 and destroy the Liberators. Having no experience with Kryptonian powers, the League are overwhelmed when Olsen joins the battle and are defeated. The fight spills over to an Amish community. As Olsen is about to deliver a killing blow to Batman, his wrist is grabbed 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 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. Kal-El, who can no longer follow the pacifistic teachings of his parents and let murder be done, intervenes. Olsen attempts to persuade Kal-El to join him, but he refuses. Angry at being rejected, Jimmy murders Kal-El's adopted parents with his heat vision. 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, until Olsen's body becomes unstable and disintegrates under the stress of the fight. Kal-El offers to help, but Olsen refuses, preferring to die rather than be helped.
With Olsen and the Liberators defeated, the Justice League eventually regain the confidence of the public with the help of their newest member: Superman.
Another Nail
The story was followed up by a sequel in JLA: Another Nail 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 Lanterns Corps as well as Oliver Queen's public betrayal of the Justice League.
Notes
- This story is originally presented as simply being a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths world, simply without the existence of Superman. This is implied through various means, such as the design of Kal-El's spaceship, and Wonder Woman's role as an ambassador. However, its sequel, Another Nail, makes clear that the multiverse still exists, and Captain Marvel does not exist on Earth-1. This contradicts the previously given information without explanation from the authors. However, since both The Nail and Another Nail are imaginary stories, both not residing within the pre-Infinite Crisis canon , Another Nail can be viewed as simply non-canonical to The Nail, solving the problem.
- As with other Elseworlds titles, JLA: The Nail has been incorporated into the new Multiverse (DC Comics), although as yet, its world's formal alternate earth numeric designation is unknown.
Collection
The three issues have been collected into a trade paperback published in 1999 by DC.