JLA: Another Nail
Encyclopedia
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
collection of stories. Many of the peripheral plotlines from its predecessor are expanded upon, and important moments from the previous story arc are told from new viewpoints, revealing new information. The main break from the normal continuity is the fact that Kal-El
was never found by the Kents when he was a baby, due to their truck suffering a flat tire from a nail.
and Apokolips
which had been mentioned in JLA: The Nail. The fallout from this war threatens to destroy millions of lives in the adjacent planets. The Green Lantern Corps
are summoned to stem the loss of life. One of their number is killed, and the power ring selects Big Barda
as its new host. Using the ring in combination with a Mother Box
, Barda and Mr. Miracle (who had wired his consciousness into Barda's armor circuitry from his dying body) are able to shut down a destructive device meant to vaporize all matter within millions of light years of the war.
This flashback is revealed to have been shown by Hal Jordan
, who reveals to the rest of the JLA that the Central Lantern Battery on Oa
is losing power. The Guardians of the Universe are also unsuccessfully investigating the matter along with Big Barda.
Oliver Queen, formerly Green Arrow
, is dying as a result of the massive injuries he sustained at the hands of Amazo
in the same fight that claimed the life of Hawkman. His former lover Black Canary
is torn; she wants to help him, but he spurns her concerns and wishes only to be left alone to die in peace.
Kal-El is adjusting to his new life as Superman
. He is unfamiliar with the extent of his powers and his limitations, and has devoted himself fully to heroics with little rest. During a mission in South America with the Martian Manhunter
, the Man of Steel's strength begins to fade while trying to save a village from Evil Star
's attacks. The Martian Manhunter advises him to take a rest and reconnect with humanity. On his sabbatical, Kal-El bonds with Lois Lane
and Jonathan and Martha Kent as they create a new identity for him.
Meanwhile, Wonder Woman
and Aquaman
run into some of Darkseid
's former minions, hidden on Earth. Hawkwoman
teams with Zatanna
, and Green Lantern tries to investigate the energy loss on Oa by questioning various superheroes, while Flash
and the Atom
take note of chronal fluctuations. At the same time, Batman
continues to fight crime apart from the JLA. He is still plagued by nightmares from when The Joker
killed Robin
and Batgirl
a year earlier, before being killed by Batman. Hearing maniacal laughter off in the distance after a battle with Poison Ivy, he pursues the noise and discovers Deadman
.
Deadman reveals that there is a massive disturbance in the dimensional planes of reality. Demons are seen crossing into our dimension, and even the Spectre
is seen to be helpless. The story is further complicated when Flash and the Atom accidentally cross into another dimension, and are captured by the Crime Syndicate of Amerika. Finally, Batman discovers to his horror that the Joker really has been haunting him. Back from Hell due to the shifting in dimensions, Joker attacks Batman with new demonic powers, while legions of demons watch in amusement. Only this time, with the Clown Prince of Crime is already dead, Batman can merely cause physical pains to the undead villain but can never kill him as they do battle.
As disturbances in dimensions, time and reality unfold, both hero and villain are seen to be helpless in the chaos that follows. Barda and Mr. Miracle are able to use the resources of New Genesis and the Green Lanterns to discover that all of the disturbances are from one entity: the Limbo Cell.
Seen as a massive organism many times the size of our Solar System, the Limbo Cell feeds on energy, matter and eventually subspace itself, causing the dimensional disturbances across different realities. Superman tries to fly a bomb into the cell's nucleus, but his lifeforce is drained and he is left helpless. As Kal-El is about to die, he is rescued and revitalized by Amazo, now with the mind of Oliver Queen. It is revealed that Queen can fight off the energy siphoning of the Limbo Cell with Amazo's powers, and he bravely sacrifices his life in order to deliver the bomb into its nucleus. With the Limbo Cell destroyed, reality heals and the disturbances in time and space are repaired.
Batman descends into Hell, dragging the Joker with him. As they fight, Batman is prepared to spend an eternity in Hell knowing that his own sacrifice prevents the Joker from harming anyone ever again. As they fall into the abyss, the Joker is suddenly swept away screaming by an unseen force. A hand reaches out to Batman, pulling him out of the darkness. Seeing that his rescuer is the spirit of Robin, Batman can finally put the past behind him. The story concludes with Batman rejoining the Justice League, with the caption "Never The End".
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...
, a continuation of events seen in the original three-part mini-series JLA: The Nail
JLA: The Nail
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....
. As with its predecessor, Another Nail occurs outside of the official 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...
continuity, belonging to the Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds 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...
collection of stories. Many of the peripheral plotlines from its predecessor are expanded upon, and important moments from the previous story arc are told from new viewpoints, revealing new information. The main break from the normal continuity is the fact that Kal-El
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...
was never found by the Kents when he was a baby, due to their truck suffering a flat tire from a nail.
Plot
The story begins with a flashback to one year earlier, detailing the war between New GenesisNew Genesis
New Genesis is a fictional planet in the . This planet, along with Apokolips, is speculated to be near the constellation Orion...
and 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....
which had been mentioned in JLA: The Nail. The fallout from this war threatens to destroy millions of lives in the adjacent planets. 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...
are summoned to stem the loss of life. One of their number is killed, and the power ring selects Big Barda
Big Barda
Big Barda is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Mister Miracle #4 , and was created by Jack Kirby....
as its new host. Using the ring in combination with a Mother Box
Mother Box
Mother Boxes are fictional devices in Jack Kirby's Fourth World setting in the DC Universe.-History:Created by Apokoliptian scientist Himon using the mysterious Element X, they are generally thought to be sentient, miniaturized, portable supercomputers, although their true nature and origins are...
, Barda and Mr. Miracle (who had wired his consciousness into Barda's armor circuitry from his dying body) are able to shut down a destructive device meant to vaporize all matter within millions of light years of the war.
This flashback is revealed to have been shown by Hal Jordan
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...
, who reveals to the rest of the JLA that the Central Lantern Battery on Oa
Oa
Oa is a fictional planet that lies at the center of the DC Comics universe. Since its inception, Oa has been the planetary citadel of the Guardians of the Universe and the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps...
is losing power. The Guardians of the Universe are also unsuccessfully investigating the matter along with Big Barda.
Oliver Queen, formerly Green Arrow
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...
, is dying as a result of the massive injuries he sustained at the hands of 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...
in the same fight that claimed the life of Hawkman. His former lover Black Canary
Black Canary
Black Canary is the name of two fictional characters, DC Comics superheroines created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Carmine Infantino. The first Black Canary debuted appeared in Flash Comics #86 . The first Black Canary was the alter-ego of Dinah Drake, who took part in Golden Age adventures...
is torn; she wants to help him, but he spurns her concerns and wishes only to be left alone to die in peace.
Kal-El is adjusting to his new life as 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...
. He is unfamiliar with the extent of his powers and his limitations, and has devoted himself fully to heroics with little rest. During a mission in South America with the 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...
, the Man of Steel's strength begins to fade while trying to save a village from Evil Star
Evil Star
-Guy Pompton:Guy Pompton, owner of Ace Movie Rental Agency and a crime lord, dons a costumed identity in 1948 to stop a movie studio from completing a film using a script that will expose his criminal activities...
's attacks. The Martian Manhunter advises him to take a rest and reconnect with humanity. On his sabbatical, Kal-El bonds with 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 ....
and Jonathan and Martha Kent as they create a new identity for him.
Meanwhile, 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....
and 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...
run into some of Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
's former minions, hidden on Earth. 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...
teams with Zatanna
Zatanna
Zatanna Zatara is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Murphy Anderson, Zatanna first appeared in Hawkman vol. 1 #4...
, and Green Lantern tries to investigate the energy loss on Oa by questioning various superheroes, while Flash
Flash (comics)
The Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
and the Atom
Atom (comics)
The Atom is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe.There have been five characters who have shared the Atom codename. The original Golden Age Atom, Al Pratt, was created by Ben Flinton and Bill O'Connor and first appeared in All-American Publications'...
take note of chronal fluctuations. At the same time, 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...
continues to fight crime apart from the JLA. He is still plagued by nightmares from when The 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...
killed 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...
a year earlier, before being killed by Batman. Hearing maniacal laughter off in the distance after a battle with Poison Ivy, he pursues the noise and discovers Deadman
Deadman
Deadman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino.-Publication history:...
.
Deadman reveals that there is a massive disturbance in the dimensional planes of reality. Demons are seen crossing into our dimension, and even the Spectre
Spectre (comics)
The Spectre is a fictional character and superhero who has appeared in numerous comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in a next issue ad in More Fun Comics #51 and received his first story the following month, #52...
is seen to be helpless. The story is further complicated when Flash and the Atom accidentally cross into another dimension, and are captured by the Crime Syndicate of Amerika. Finally, Batman discovers to his horror that the Joker really has been haunting him. Back from Hell due to the shifting in dimensions, Joker attacks Batman with new demonic powers, while legions of demons watch in amusement. Only this time, with the Clown Prince of Crime is already dead, Batman can merely cause physical pains to the undead villain but can never kill him as they do battle.
As disturbances in dimensions, time and reality unfold, both hero and villain are seen to be helpless in the chaos that follows. Barda and Mr. Miracle are able to use the resources of New Genesis and the Green Lanterns to discover that all of the disturbances are from one entity: the Limbo Cell.
Seen as a massive organism many times the size of our Solar System, the Limbo Cell feeds on energy, matter and eventually subspace itself, causing the dimensional disturbances across different realities. Superman tries to fly a bomb into the cell's nucleus, but his lifeforce is drained and he is left helpless. As Kal-El is about to die, he is rescued and revitalized by Amazo, now with the mind of Oliver Queen. It is revealed that Queen can fight off the energy siphoning of the Limbo Cell with Amazo's powers, and he bravely sacrifices his life in order to deliver the bomb into its nucleus. With the Limbo Cell destroyed, reality heals and the disturbances in time and space are repaired.
Batman descends into Hell, dragging the Joker with him. As they fight, Batman is prepared to spend an eternity in Hell knowing that his own sacrifice prevents the Joker from harming anyone ever again. As they fall into the abyss, the Joker is suddenly swept away screaming by an unseen force. A hand reaches out to Batman, pulling him out of the darkness. Seeing that his rescuer is the spirit of Robin, Batman can finally put the past behind him. The story concludes with Batman rejoining the Justice League, with the caption "Never The End".