Justice League "The Nail", What If Superman Never Existed? - Full Story | Comicstorian

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[@RaulScout]

remember reading this as a teenager when it first came out in Mexico and it really stayed with me through the years I even use the original "For Want Of a Nail" proverb when teaching some of my advanced classes

[@23paingel]

This story is so good. I thought it would be cut and dry. Luthor being the bad guy, Starro being how Luthor is controlling all these people and killing them with a thought, and Superman being captured and tortured for his DNA for Bizarro. It works so well because it leads right up to the reveal you expect as a DC fan, seeing the outline of a tentacles creature in Luthor's office, only to flip the script. Luthor was just a pawn. Krypto's body was breaking down. Jimmy being grafted into a Kryptonian overlord.

[@laurelsilberman5705]

Ya forgot AMISH SUPERMAN. C’mon! That was a great twist because we kept thinking we knew how he’d show up-as a captured test subject or one of the brainwashed superhuman weapons for the cause of turning public perception against meta humans. But NOPE! He just a good ol’ farm boy building barns by hand and shit, living without electricity, probably not even USING HIS POWERS because it would be an affront to the true holiness of his God, as the Amish are extremely devout people and remaining humble and working hard with your hands is kinda what it’s all about.

[@jayandrews2803]

Dr Manhattan said a universe without Superman is doomed to fail

[@savagedarksider5934]

Why hasn't Superman join the blue lantern corp; He's the literal definitive of Hope.

[@highlander2319]

I don’t think Blues do a lot of actual fighting, and that would be a waste of his skills

[@savagedarksider5934]

@@highlander2319 I still think he should be in the Blue Lantern Corp.

[@danielanaya8468]

In my opinion, it's because you would have a overpowered broken character, in Injustice where superman got a yellow ring, he became to strong and practically invincible to fight against killing multiple characters during this time

[@vernonhampton5863]

Because DC's writers suck right now.

[@savagedarksider5934]

@@vernonhampton5863 I can believe that.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Every once in a while, DC needs to release a story like this where they show why Superman is important.

[@Emery101]

Superman and the Authority is right up your alley.

[@metatronblack]

Superman ain't that important. There is always a way to find a answer to a problem and if you can't find one then you know you stopped looking.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

@@metatronblack The second part of what you said is literally what Superman embodies. If that is your attitude, though, then no wonder why DC has been treating Superman like he’s old-and-busted lately.

[@shonenhikada9254]

U mean they show why superman is an overpowered and boring character

[@TheCADDGUY]

a world without superman is far more interesting than one with him

[@chrisxx5583]

This is a great story and the art style is exceptional. Very emotional also. What happens to Robin and Batgirl and then Joker was very traumatic when I first read it. The sequel is disappointing but this would easily be in my top 10 comic book arcs of all time.

[@theoutsiderjess4869]

Joker deserved Everything he got but what happened to Robin and Batgirl is so sad

[@ulyssesveracruz8343]

Whats the sequel about ?

[@damianpembrook555]

@@ulyssesveracruz8343 i was about to ask the same thing

[@roaringthunder115]

Yeah

[@laurelsilberman5705]

Amish Superman has gotta be one of my favorite elseworld origin stories for the man of steel

[@wolfgang6442]

Honestly bro seems so humble and very built as well for an Amish hunk

[@jonnygami]

“We should’ve been friends.” Jimmy Olsen’s dying words to Kal-El

[@zaaya7719]

You know if Superman was there he would've reached out to Bruce after ALL that happened instead of being callous and casting him out per se like Wonder Woman Incredible story here

[@antondelacruz9362]

This is a very simple story and the gorgeous art perfectly matched it. I never had a lot of money for comics and never liked huge crossover events after the first crisis. Elseworlds and legends of the dark knight were always my faves - self contained, consistent, and with real stakes and real tension.

[@sylph4252]

This story is so good! They even managed to restore almost the status quo in the end

[@Ubermensch9240]

Except several beloved characters are dead and everyone hates the Meta-Humans like they're Mutants. Batman is probably gonna become the Batman Who Laughs if literally anything else happens to him, because he's DONE. Oh and Darksied is coming. This place is basically the Marvel Universe.

[@fsp394]

wow! I never could get my hands on the graphic novel for The Nail. You folks did a great job! Thank you for bringing it to life!

[@rebelwithoutaclue9387]

Alan Davis has always been one of my favourite artists! He has a perfect hybrid of realism and cartoon style! Perfect for a fan of comics who grew up through the eighties and nineties!

[@federico3652]

Funny, Jimmy's heat vision burned away Kal-El's clothes and beard but not his eyebrows or hair.

[@chrisxx5583]

Comic book logic

[@aquamarine23456]

Fake beard

[@nicoleruder_dollhouse]

Great Joker laugh!! Seriously it’s really good!! Great storytelling! Big fan!!

[@maxhydekyle2425]

One if my favorite stories. So glad you're covering it.

[@oddcreatureX]

One of my favorite books ever. The art by Alan Davis is God-Tier, A + work that solidified him as my all-time number one penciler.

[@DaveMiller6042]

I love this story but there was one thing that bothered me. At the end of the story, batman turns himself in to the police, at the trial, the court found that him killing the joker was an act of war and he was not charged with killing joker. Which makes no sense, I can a 100% believe that a judge or jury wouldn't charge batman for killing someone like the joker, but an act of war? Unless they took the whole 'war on crime' a bit too literal, joker's death wouldn't be classified as a casualty of war, because joker isn't some terrorists or something, he is just an insane mass murder.

[@s.oddity3640]

Joker is definitely a terrorist, bro. Even in this story, he broke into Arkham, blew up the place, killed a few people and almost killed batman. At the very least it was self defense

[@kingemo7806]

finaly got done with this story this was lit cant wait to see the one when super man become batman

[@thesilverbeast6092]

You would think Batman killing the joker would have had people want to give him a medal. The Joker has killed far far too many for his death to be hailed as anything other than deserved/needed.

[@umbrellacorp.]

37:30 Awesome story, it's crazy yet great seeing Catwoman as Batwoman. I didn't expect that. 38:53 Jimmy Olsen is now Brightburn.😅 Everything is messed up without Superman. 🥴

[@laurelsilberman5705]

One of my favorite recurring circumstances in DC is any time a major character has that, “Wait….He’s NOT just a GUY in a bat costume, RIGHT?!” Moment. 😂And Lois’s here did not disappoint.

[@OWXMUSIC]

I really enjoyed this read as well as the sequel, Another Nail

[@rossman8919]

this worlds has a serious problem with construction workers leaving nails everywhere

[@chrisxx5583]

Wasn’t a fan of the sequel, didn’t have the same impact. I’ll have to read it again.

[@OWXMUSIC]

@@rossman8919 LOL!!!!

[@idongesitusen5764]

Thanks Benny! This is one of my favorites, surprised it hasn't been animated.

[@mrwasi99]

Perfect timing! I was thinking about checking this series out this past weekend. Thanks for the video!

[@user-tf8lg8sd4j]

Amazing plot and narration!!! Keep up covering these "elseworlds" stories.

[@ratedtriplex]

Batman doesn't kill yeah yeah, but that Doesn't mean the cops don't. Imagine if Hank Voight from Chicago PD was in Gotham. The next time Batman caught The Joker and turned him over to the police, he'd be pushing up daisies, Hank Voight would see to that.

[@Frost_actual]

Lol the thing is if you kill the joker you become him its probably a part of the reason why bats never kills him + his no kill rule since joker is always 1 step ahead as we saw with the batman who laughs joker made sure whoever kills him become him so if those officers as you say killed the joker the jokers body would realise a gas that would infect them and make them like joker plus it takes really skilled people to take down the joker like batman robin red hood nightwing ect also the joker has been arrested like a million times you'd think he would probably have several plans to escape ahead of time as we saw in batman Arkham asylum

[@ratedtriplex]

@@Frost_actual didn't Batman get infected because he strangled the Joker or snapped his neck? Hank Voight ain't doing that. Bullet to the brain from a comfortable distance. I don't think the range on the gas is that far. But if he does get infected, he would sound demonic as the Joker. Imagine Jason Beghe's gravelly ass voice as the Joker laughing. From now on that's who the Batman Who laughs sounds like for me.

[@gibbs615]

Now this was a very interesting what if story! "The world needs Batman." Heh, more like the world needs SUPERMAN! Things were just a real mess without him, like Lex Luthor being mayor and making people fear metas and the other heroes had their own big problems too. You see as a superhero and a person Supes was always the one who inspired people about metas and other superheroes about what being a real hero is all about. That's why I always saw him as the one true main leader of the league!

[@Zackerath]

Superman keeps the JLA moral. Batman keeps them human. That's why.

[@gibbs615]

@@Zackerath Batman is still more like a 2nd in command compared to Superman.

[@tonynasaofficial]

@@gibbs615 still though whatever Batman says everyone agrees cause Superman always has his back!

[@gibbs615]

@@tonynasaofficial Batman is still no Superman though, he's always been about darkness despair and no faith in almost anyone.

[@zero.9831]

@@gibbs615 Tell me that after you read DEATH METAL. Getting tired of both sidings riding both character’s bananas. They’re BOTH needed, sheesh.

[@tttpppbbbaaa]

Find it interesting that Superman is still a farmboy even if the Kent's didn't find him

[@kealebogamolo6685]

"His criminal actions discredit us all" I know it's a very nuisanced argument but when it comes to these "when heroes kill stories" the one sacrifical lamb hero is put in this impossible and emotionally taxing situation they end up murdering the villain who has committed far far far too many atrocities and has always gotten away with it. Most of the time it seems like a crime of passion because Batmans emotions at that point just took over. His son and daughter were tortured to death in front of him and he beat the man who did it too death. Not premeditated but emotions just overcame him. Then the other heroes go to say "you can't be like this" "we're better than this"... No. No matter how strong anyone is at the end of the day in this line of work traumatic shit happens. Then the media of that elseworld acts like the terrible villain was an innocent person who'd never hurt a fly. Rant over.

[@ClavinZKL]

Yeah bad writing tbh.

[@BigRichxYT]

👏🏽👏🏽amazingly said my friend

[@Tahllia]

It seemed implied that the killing blow was at least, partially accidental

[@bobbybutler8897]

And then Batman immediately goes back to not killing people which kind of discredits his whole thing of saying I'll never be able to stop I don't think Batman actually knows if you'll be able to stop if he kills the Joker or not but it's more so scared of whether or not he will be able to control himself.

[@antondelacruz9362]

Because realistically they all know what theyre getting into as heroes and deal with this kind of loss all the time. The creative difference in this book was that in the last 30 years it has usually been batman who chastises the other heroes for falling short of his own ethical standards. You must remember that all of these 'superheroes' are *criminals* who are at best tolerated by local administrations who are made to look inept and impotent while the illegal vigilantes unilaterally beat unaccused and untried people within an inch of their lives. If they took the extra step if killing their enemies, theyd have to be hunted down as well, no questions asked. The criminality of vigilantes is even more relevant in The Nail because the heroes are already under close scrutiny and never enjoyed the public support given in the regular universe. Of course the heroes sympathize but they are facing an existential crisis and batman treats them like crap to begin with. It is a very realistic reaction imo.

[@DepletedWisdom]

I've never heard of this story, I loved it.

[@willperren875]

@comicstorian Benny that was amazing! Hats off to you. Could you do the Amalgam series?

[@nielsjensen4185]

"The Nail" is probably the best JLA story ever made.

[@alanm5090]

Great story and art. A true classic!

[@ronniehesson5074]

That was an amazing story!

[@yaseenstark6507]

Thanks comicstorian I been waiting for this story

[@milkmanman]

I knew it. I guessed early it was Kryptonian tech and either Superman or clones of him being that powerful

[@MultiBrawler]

Can't believe superman was Amish in this universe.

[@maybefaxave6779]

I love how enthusiastic the narrator is!

[@jackngillis]

My favourite activity is to get drunk and watch comics explained at 0.75 speed so it sounds like Benny's drunk with me too

[@garrettadyns3927]

A full story elseworlds story? Yes please!!!!

[@randalllyons2130]

That was an amazing story Worthy to be told in multiple forms

[@veillifted]

Alan Davis is definitely in the top 10 all-time greatest comic artist You nailed it! Lol excellent video!

[@Zabbyzab]

This was a cool story, i never heard of this 1 before. Thanks

[@george-nikolas942]

You're such a Good Narrator.

[@thetoaster2718]

Krypto dying was the saddest part of this all

[@HolyHadou]

This was weird and somehow made Injustice seem chill.

[@thomascurran8603]

Loved this

[@jaynewman6420]

I'm glad that you covered this. I would have preferred that you covered the sequel next, though.

[@redhood5640]

this made me cry

[@jarrettgeorges2481]

@comicstorian, there's a really good sequel to this comic titled "Another Nail". Would be awesome if you could narrate that :D

[@bearbbb12]

Martha and Johnathon Kent we’re still destined to meet their son Clark

[@TheChrisHype]

This is one of my favorite miniseries of all time.

[@olafthe_viking8436]

The end of this run out me in tears. Oh my goodness,

[@ogb8637]

Great story!!!

[@CyanicCore]

30:20 When fire isn't dramatic enough anymore

[@wokebans]

Never expected anyone to make a video on this comic.

[@cryptoGen-q4r]

Had to come quick for this one ✋🏾😤🤚🏾

[@Ubermensch9240]

16:47 OH GOD. THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS IS IN THIS UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@isaiahsanders9418]

Joker:We’re Going To A Have A Wild Party! And Everyone’s Invited

[@juancortes5274]

Super awesome story

[@chriscottingham4368]

YOOOOOOOO !!!!! I loved this story!

[@RyukinJakka]

This and Another Nail are excellent stories

[@d.t.6072]

The Joker laugh never gets old.

[@wahyudil7911]

this comic reminds us that Superman is too strong ...

[@internetrambo1069]

Which is based, he needs to be OP to compete and beat other powerhouses from different other brands. OP Superman is the best Superman.

[@isaiahsanders9418]

Joker:No! It’s A Break In! And It’s A Real Blast!

[@Ubermensch9240]

22:13 Man if Bane isn't behind this, he'll be pissed as neck snaps are kind of his thing.

[@jermo1470]

I love this story

[@emilyakerman6086]

Reading the title, this is not the outcome I expected… definitely not disappointed tho😂

[@Zhello79]

Manhunter and Shazam are the next OP peeps lol 😆

[@OdinSonTX10]

Sweet story. Art is amazing.

[@federico3652]

Did Jimmy Olsen become a version of the Eradicator?

[@theonlychickensama8353]

Yeah, i thought it was starro themed at first tbh

[@MrAicex3000]

How nice to get a video thanks.

[@wolfgang6442]

This could literally be an animated movie which I wish this was made around the late 2000s to early 2010s when the animated movies had quality behind them

[@tonyfalvo2369]

the art style is reminiscent of Neal Adams - fantastic

[@dg9444]

This is the first comic I read

[@imsippinteainyocomments6133]

so it's not about "what if Superman never existed". it's about Superman being caught, cloned, and Jimmy gaining world domination.

[@onagle_9279]

Well the title isn’t wrong, Superman doesn’t exist, a villain who’s just the same person Superman could of been does

[@VhanchyShu]

Do you plan of covering Kindom Come someday? A bit surprised you guys still haven't done one or did I just miss it? Lol. -Also, waiting for the Blackest Night and Brightest Day-

[@Commissar_Eiven]

I find it incredibly hilarious to Green arrow is like this in this comic , I will forgive him for killing off Batman of screen in Arrow

[@gradygorham9520]

I'm sorry, did you say Batman was killed in arrow?

[@protalghulnist4126]

Instead of for want or a nail, it’s for the presence of a nail, nice.

[@arcrisgonzaga7324]

This story is pretty interesting

[@mjmellan]

It has a some resemblance of watchmen to it, the dower hopelessness & the people & news casters turning on the hero's with a mastermind behind the scenes, it's not too bad.

[@mikelytou]

That's always been my favorite elseworld story. The thought of batman empowered by a GL ring should be every villain's worst nightmare...imagine if the ring had sought him instead of boring Hal.

[@ratedtriplex]

We don't have to imagine. We got an Else Worlds story and a Dark Knights Metal story about it.

[@shimshamjunior]

Boring hal ? Did you just call the character that is actually green lantern boring compared to an alt-yeh you're nuts 😂 Must've bumped your head or sumn before typing that

[@mikelytou]

@@ratedtriplex What elseworlds story?

[@mikelytou]

@@shimshamjunior Hal IS a boring character. If the only thing interesting about a character is his ring, then he is boring. Hal is at least the most boring Green Lantern that sector 2814 ever had, maybe even in the history of the entire GL corps. In my opinion, saying someone i's interesting because they possess x (in this case a ring) is an extremely shallow way of looking at the world, but the internet is a free place, so it's your choice to be shallow or not, but you gotta live with someone calling you out for that.

[@ratedtriplex]

@@mikelytou Batman Darkest Knight

[@kingshadow8782]

Awesome

[@terrancemacklin417]

Hands down best Joker laugh after Mark Hamil

[@isaiahsanders9418]

Joker:But What Would You Expect From The New And Improved Joker?!

[@BlackFlash09]

"Batman should've killed the Joker." Are you happy now?

[@gibbs615]

YES!😠

[@Ubermensch9240]

And now this Earth has no Batman.

[@ionacustoyreviews857]

Can’t wait for speeding bullets. I regret selling my copy years ago

[@Shlonzs]

I’m crying

[@ilive4d80s6]

It's way too freaking early for me. Right meow I'm waiting at my doctor's office for a 7:30am appointment. I shouldn't have taken that damn appointment. I'm so freaking drowsy right meow. I'm ready to go back to sleep.

[@comicstorian]

Lol Im the opposite, I do everything super early

[@ilive4d80s6]

@@comicstorian I'm a night owl. My day starts at 11am. Plus I'm recuperating from a serious motorcycle accident that I had like less than a month ago. I'm still suffering from broken ribs, and collarbone so it's I'm uncomfortable right meow.

[@alw2839]

@@ilive4d80s6 *MEOW* *MEOW* *MEOW* TRANSLATION: THE HUMANS WILL NEVER SUSPECT US BROTHER. PRAISE THE FAT CAT!!

[@kylewilliams175]

My only gripe with this story is that to show the need for superman they required superman to exist in any capacity. His quite literally the indirect cause of the problem only to actually be the solution to it.

[@mathieuleader8601]

quite the butterfly effect

[@Tyrineal]

The part I always thought was horrible about this whole story was if the Justice League was watching via the news how come none of them even bothered to go and save Robin and Batgirl, especially Flash who is fast enough to stop a nuclear bomb from killing anyone AFTER it explodes

[@olutimiwilliams48]

But what would you expect from the new and improved Joker. HAHA HAHAHA RAH!

[@jurnikovah7453]

Respect for my boy

[@antman2443]

Was not expecting to see Kal still alive at the end lol. Still wish DC would let other heroes aside from Bats and Supes take center stage every now and then :\

[@Retr0_d]

This needs to be a animated movie

[@Pensive_Scarlet]

"And Batman? What is his true nature?" He's Batman.

[@bspiderman1610]

Let’s goooo!!!

[@scottmcclary594]

This would make a good animated movie bot only in the 90s aesthetic... superman needs a mullet:)! I miss the 90s era designs!