DC’s Elseworlds stories are often about epic changes. Like setting Batman in the Victorian era or transplanting Superman to Apokolips. Or a world where the Flash saves his mother and everything goes wrong. They play with “what if…” ideas, but like Marvel’s work, they often have less to do with continuity changes or key moments where things go in a different direction. , focuses on more difficult and impossible lateral steps.
But not always.
Many works use defining moments of historical figures to make butterflies flutter their wings. Like that Nora Allen moment. A murder case that occurred in Crime Alley. Or maybe that fateful day when a rocket from a distant planet crashed to Earth, perhaps carrying a baby, and the Kent family missed it because they decided to stay home. I once found a truck with deflated tires. With a nail.
“It is not enough for us to defeat evil; we must be symbols of untainted goodness that inspire humanity.”
JLA – The Nail by Alan Davis, Mark Farmer, Patricia Mulvihill and Pat Prentiss gives us a world without Superman. It doesn’t turn dystopian as quickly as you might think, as much of The Golden Age plays out the same way, but it does create a conflict in this story. The colorfully costumed heroes of the Silver Age were commonplace, but with subtle differences, such as the defense of Metropolis or the devastating showdown with Amazo.
There is a sense of paranoia throughout the story, as powerful people like Metropolis Mayor Lex Luthor strive to turn the populace against the metahumans. They exaggerate the idea that they are aliens who came to conquer Earth. It’s interesting to see what happens without Superman as a stabilizing factor for everyone to get going, and how people as inherently good as Wonder Woman and Green Lantern fall apart. And the mystery of who is behind everything. Davis is very good at planting red herrings to play with our expectations of how everything will fit together. It also includes the familiar star-shaped presence.
I firmly believe Alan Davis is one of the greatest superhero artists to ever draw comics. He ranks alongside Neal Adams and José Luis García López as figures whose style is deeply rooted in the movement and fluidity of action of superhero comics. It’s a gorgeous production that captures the spirit of the Silver Age, featuring everyone from the Justice League to Doom Patrol to Metal Man. However, there are some interesting choices, such as in Catwoman, where Davis appears to have chosen to use more modern costumes at the time. Using Mark Farmer’s inks, there is a smoothness to the lines that adds to the sense of movement in the image.
Patricia Mulvihill’s colors combine an old-fashioned color palette with modern techniques. Classic color schemes of various characters are on display, including a blue-grey Batman, capturing the essence of older designs, but with a shine too. Especially during the final battle, the colors of energy glow from the pages. There’s Pat Prentice’s candid lettering and some interesting and unique speech bubbles for characters that gradually become weaker.
“All we can do now is stand up and fight to the end.”
There was a sequel called “Another Nail” that dealt more with the aftermath from this world. And with Superboy Legion, Alan Davis will be writing another Superman story that takes Superman into the future instead of the 20th century. If he’s up to it, I’d love to see Part 3 of The Nail with the Final Nail, which he talks about introducing his latest collection. It’s almost nostalgia at this point, but it’s fun.
Davis, Farmer, Mulvihill, and Prentice’s JLA: The Nail is an introduction to Silver Age nostalgia and a kind of cautionary tale about insidious forms of control. That in itself makes it timeless. This is not a cry to turn back the clock to the simplicity of the past, but as a statement about the nature of heroism. And humanity.
Classic Comic Encyclopedia: JLA – THE NAIL
JLA – The Nail
Writer and penciler: Alan Davies
Inker: Mark Farmer
Colorist: Patricia Mulvihill
Author: Pat Prentice
Publisher: DC Comics – Elseworlds
Release date: June 17 – August 26, 1998 (original version)
Justice League of America: The Nail – Available in Complete Collection
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