What if there was NO SUPERMAN?! | JLA: The Nail

[@comicpop]

Buy JLA: The Nail today! amzn.to/3m6lv68

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Batman sure has a neat superpower of having two people die in front of him…

[@rayvenkman2087]

That’s like Bioshock 2 man.

[@langleymneely]

Lmao! His real power was the friends he lost along the way!😜

[@Mysmarttelevision1989]

If I had a nickel for every time that happened I’d have two nickels.

[@Ubermensch9240]

Not funny.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

@@Ubermensch9240 Fair enough.

[@flywheelshyster]

You know how we have comfort food? Back Issues is comfort sounds. It just makes me feel better, and it's because you all are the best. Manu thanks

[@joeclarke7982]

Agreed. This is what I put on whenever I need to decompress

[@platypuswill5364]

you put it into words thank you

[@Damiandoesart99]

I know this is a year old, but I relate so hard to it. Back issues is on for literally half of my free time, any time I’m doin something w/o sound, Back issues on

[@therealmanos]

I get the title! Superman was the nail that held the JLA together. There was a nail in the tire of the Kent's truck. Jon decided to nail Martha instead of going out!

[@Destiny-ig2fs]

I hate you😂

[@andrewramey1660]

I love how a lot of this episode is Ben or Ethan asking "well wouldn't they logically just act or react like this?" And Sal going "yes, and its Elseworlds so thats exactly what happens next"

[@Sicod79]

I loved this story and the art is phenomenal. Let me be the first to petition for a Back Issues on JLA: Another Nail.

[@jorgecaballero6215]

Alan Davis is literally the reason why I'm into comics. His Excalibur run turned me from "I guess comics are fun" to "I LOVE comics"...Once said this, he draws pretty creepy children IMHO.

[@Zeta-Mon]

There's another nail?!?!

[@Dave175]

The one where it just becomes a regular universe comic just with Superman kinda being late to the party?

[@OreoBrawl]

Seconded

[@Robscott5598]

Yes there’s a sequel called Another Nail AND a spiritual sequel set 1000 years in the future called Superboy’s Legion. Both are amazingly good.

[@Batmandarknitexx]

48:26 It just occurred to me, Selina showing up dressed as Robin with Bruce freaking out it immediately reminded me of the time over at Marvel where Rick Jones dressed as Bucky and you get that thousand yard stare from Steve Rogers also yelling that his partner died!

[@daelen.cclark]

And Alan Davis did an Avengers story, so it’s come full-circle.

[@ShudderingSeagull]

People at work were staring at me because of the amount of laughter I was trying to hold in during this episode. I almost Major Disastered myself. Great episode.

[@Animalfriend777]

The idea of an Amish Superman is just something I love

[@daelen.cclark]

Do you think he speaks in the Amish dialect?

[@ftfasttalkfoodreviewsyt]

I like that the nail takes a logical step more than flashpoint

[@donb7519]

tbf to flashpoint it was just originally made as a fun flash event

[@ftfasttalkfoodreviewsyt]

@@donb7519 fair

[@norbnar7197]

Man, the batman story-line is a tear-jerker. Gives me goosebumps every time I think about the ending in Another Nail.

[@jakester1115]

I find that Back Issues has just become my comfort show now and this was a banger💀🙌💯

[@Joshiaherox]

As much as I enjoy the back issues where y’all dunk on the book. I absolutely love finding out about an excellent comic from before my time. Like the Green Lantern and Green Arrow book you guys did not so long ago.

[@bZman]

I have had the Ultimate edition of that for years, got it signed at Awesomecon in DC back in 2018 by Neal Adams

[@oisinodwyer5985]

@@bZman that’s so awesome dude

[@Batmandarknitexx]

38:13 “What do you mean you people?” I love Sal’s expression 😂

[@kethandennard5136]

Someone being watching some dc!!! MORE MAD REAL WORLD!😊😂😂❤

[@rayvenkman2087]

Lex losing his hair is a fixed point in time. Always destined to lose it at some point.

[@bensneb360]

This is such an epic story, you might say it’s quite… nail biting lol glad you guys are finally talking about it

[@gracec8c]

This was a great episode! Though I must say, I'm surprised no one gets what the nail is referencing. There's an very old saying called "For Want of a Nail" which basically means (to quote the wiki page) " reminding that seemingly unimportant acts or omissions can have grave and unforeseen consequences." Which is exactly what happens in this story. Also its just generally used as a name for this trope in fiction (it has a tvtropes page for example).

[@brettpritchard265]

It occurs to me that in this story Hal is Green Lantern and this came out in 98 at which time Hal was not only not GL but dead! However with Superman gone, no Hank Henshaw Cyborg Superman, Mongul never comes to Earth, Coast City never gets destroyed, Hal never becomes Parallax.

[@hsatin20]

Great comic. I read this as a teenager and the Robin/ Batgirl death scene stuck with me as being especially brutal. Amazing what effect someone can have as a writer without actually showing anything.

[@kriscotner7105]

Same. Those deaths gave me such a sense of dread for the rest of the characters to where I was actually worried for them. Not a lot of comics do that.

[@rayvenkman2087]

I think the imagery with Lex’s blood spot is likely intended to be a parallel to how Soviet Russia was ran during the time of the Cold War with the KGB and other elements of the era that gets referenced in The Nail.

[@eqs1782]

The Justice League were having a juice break when Amazo was beating Green arrow

[@mattd404]

I love the new little credits in the bottom left corner!

[@antdujar]

Every time there’s an elseworlds story covered by comicpop, it’s always gonna be a fun time. Regardless of such books, but elseworlds? Always a fun time.

[@michaelrodriguez1676]

I agree. J'onn should totally just wear his natural Martian form as Martian Manhunter.

[@landonny]

I'm hoping DC takes a hint from the movies and brings back the elseworlds label. It's funny for a concept that's all about changing what is familiar I feel elseworlds stories really highlight what makes the character's special.

[@nb217]

I just want to say thank you for the constant stream of great videos, Sal. I lost my mom two weeks ago and your videos along with a couple other channels have kept me distracted and laughing when I really haven't wanted to.

[@Jay-Voorhees]

My condolences

[@TheKingOfRooks]

I'm so sorry for your loss man, she's resting in peace now

[@superby1]

A DC episode kind of related to Superman on my birthday?! Yes!!!

[@Israel_hans]

"The nail returns,Not the tyre nail" oh boo! I had images of on the last page it shows the nail 30 years later still on the ground at the Kents farm.A portal opens,out steps darkside steps straight onto a nail.

[@AstonMonks]

It always amazed me that a book about a world without Superman is my favorite Superman story

[@digdugdoggy]

Literally elated that Ben made Sal put his head in his hands less than 5 minutes in

[@KingArthur39]

No joke, I was searching today if you guys had already covered this book. Glad to see it

[@okaywowyes1923]

Oh my god this art is timeless and with a great story to go with it, thank you comicpop as usual 💖

[@andrewfoerster6864]

My first ever comic getting covered by my favorite youtubers! Thank you guys!!

[@jediman3477]

I would LOVE a series where you guys propose your own or edit new comic story arcs for Marvel and DC! Your opinions and story suggestions are so unique! I would love to see how they would operate if you guys got the opportunity to pitch your own comic stories!

[@idongesitusen5764]

This story is a great example of the importantce of the Kents. Their virtues passed on to Clark are, by proxy pillare for the DC superhero o pantheon.

[@asombrosohombre-arana471]

i been waiting a long time for you guys to cover this LOVE IT

[@patrickwdoyle]

Great back issues episode. Alan Davis drew issue 13 to 32 of the original Batman and the Outsiders run prior to any x-men work so he’s always going to push that group if he can

[@BillyTallman7795]

The aspect of the nail is that it's the bookmark it could start something completely different yet at the same time it could end a story almost as it began

[@nicest_dorkaround3383]

Thanks for encouraging me to go out and support my local comicbook stores I gotten a bunch of books from the show and a few you recommended from off the rack now I'm going weekly reading along with you Thanks for sharing the punisher run

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

I loved this story and am so happy to see it on Back Issues.

[@jorgecaballero6215]

OMG, last week the hilariously terrible Marville and now the awesomely fantastic The Nail?? Best. February. Ever.

[@loganthomas2421]

Really miss the old Dc elseworlds banner. Hope they resurrect it soon with it being a part of the movies. Great episode. You guys nailed it

[@dharmabird1]

Back issues on my birthday. Best birthday present ever. Love you guys thanks for the years of entertainment.

[@dharmabird1]

And it’s JLA: the nail. Perfect

[@ianbruno237]

Not only was this my favorite elseworld book this is now my favorite back issues episode! What would make it even more grand is if there was…”another nail” to do for a future episode? Shifty eye shifty eye

[@bZman]

Next we need JLA: Another Nail! Those two books were so interesting!

[@capsjukebox]

Yes! Thank you! Now to lobby for JSA: Golden Age, an Elseworlds before Elseworlds story

[@TevyaSmolka]

oh boy JLA the nail such a good elseworld story and tons of fun.

[@Bobbybillybillbob]

Would Amazo be able to access the full power range if characters like Plastic Man, Swamp Thing or John Constantine? Mimicking Plastic Man's powers is a bit of a "stretch" 🙄 Swamp Things connection to the green and Constantine's Magic is learned rather then an ability...

[@chrisdaily2077]

Superman do be spending most his life living in a Amish paradise.

[@trevorghalt1881]

This story was really good and it did a pretty good job of having each league member do their own thing and then come back together mostly also I don't know what happened to J'onn at the end but it would be nice if he turned into his true form and start hitting a combo on Jimmy

[@cutebrute925]

As incredible as the end reveal of Superman's fate is, I cannot help but prefer Sal's take about the racoons.

[@soap_baux]

I was just thinking about this story earlier!!!! One of the most unappreciated Elseworlds stories!

[@cubencis]

Oh boy another big nostalgia hit for me. Excited to hear your take on this one

[@OreoBrawl]

YESSSSYESSSYESSSS!!!! I’ve wanted this one for YEAARRSS!!! Thank you so much, Comic Pop!

[@hillelrodarte5385]

I got to say I personally love superheroes, sitting down and talking too! We need to see more of that on film 💯

[@DantePD]

This story is one of my go to examples of how hilariously OP the Flash is

[@camerondodge2070]

1:18:53 On the contrary, Jimmy would definitely become a supervillain. One just needs to give a quick glance at his solo series for proof. Maybe that issue where he gathers people's tears to gain ultimate power in particular.

[@orngcreator6115]

I audibly screamed “YES” when I saw this thumbnail (comic) pop up

[@zakfrisch2997]

Lol Sal's take on people not liking the channel actually made me sad. I'm an overly critical jerk, and this is one of my favorite channels.

[@josephalaniz6080]

I remember when all Kryptonian tech had that aesthetic of white fluffy bone stuff to it. It was so weird.

[@daelen.cclark]

I found it a neat kinda weird, home.

[@Damiandoesart99]

Man, I fuckin’ love back issues. One of my favorite things

[@Negi2468]

Sal almost called metron megatron pretty dope ngl

[@andrewwestfall65]

Sal talking about how the best part of superhero comics is buff people in silly costumes talking to each other is very much so my favorite thing about Godzilla movies. There is a monster actively eating the city and we're going to focus on a board room or lab where people argue about how to handle that

[@devilsadvocateproductions]

Was the ”He made me waaaaatch!!!!” A reference to sin city? When Carla Gugino screams it? Made me think of that lol

[@Sp0rkXNinja]

Finally! been waiting for The Nail back issues for a while.

[@ianbruno237]

That outtro is pretty sweet with its fade out

[@oisintaylor3382]

I bought this off the shelf 25 years ago. Loved it so much, I remember reviewing it in my self published comic. Reignited my interest in superhero comics after a few years of focusing on small press and indie titles. Alan Davis is still as good as ever.

[@Gronmin]

That change for green arrow totally does fit his character. It kinda works to well for it to have not happened in a main line story yet

[@shauntempley9757]

Everything he did later is totally to his character, too.

[@d.f.barber]

I dig the new outro, dope episode as well but I wanted to note the subtlety of the ending was cool with the credits in the corner

[@ShawnWeeded510]

It's crazy that this is what I've always wanted. A Justice League story without Superman but not written like garbage.

[@thepokekid01]

This feels like someone read the complete version of Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and looked at it with a more modern eye.

[@thepokekid01]

Also, I did laugh at Ben's joke about the alien tech being crystal based, so don't feel bad about the dead silence Sal and Ethan gave you

[@ianbruno237]

I’ve actually seen Alan Davis draw more silver age robin and he usually just does the Tim drake “R” which is always funny confusion

[@Ducaso]

Amish Superman was a twist I did not see coming.

[@JoeChillton]

The Nail and the Red Rain Trilogy were my first Elseworlds stories as a kid.

[@JoeChillton]

@@aurahoneydew9607 i meant to type FIRST

[@JoshuaBatJoshHayes]

So excited to watch this one after I get done with the old work job today!! This is one of the true hidden classics in my opinion

[@HollowGolem]

1:28:35 So, there IS a thing that kind of exists in law (it's super archaic) that might apply. A person can be "hostis humani generis," "an enemy to mankind," which originated in international admiralty law to apply to pirates/slavers as people who could be attacked without repercussions, they're just outside the protection of the law. If ANYONE deserves that designation, it's the goddamn Joker.

[@codystork3008]

The people or maybe a better term is the background characters feel very Marvel to me. The quick blaming of problems on them, Perry White resembling J. Jonah Jamison, the prejudice against powered heroes is like the mutant discourse in Earth 616. But it feels more subtle and individual characters are just mirror versions of the main DC counterparts. Without Superman DC would be more like Marvel is good subtext. Also I kept waiting for Cpt. Marvel (Shazam) to show up as a replacement Superman as he occasionlly does so there is some nice restraint by Davis there.

[@Destiny-ig2fs]

Was Billy influenced by superman

[@Big32Productions]

We need more creeper love on the channel. But love to see this book done. One of my favorite books of all time

[@fun2building]

I fucking LOVE the Metal Men bruh

[@gtarrant2000]

**Lois to Batman** A think you need relax, smile, or laugh. Yeah, I think that last one might be marketable.....

[@ChristopherZubin]

Cool, a good book I've never heard of

[@pkrockinomega4184]

I get why they would demonize Batman since he purposefully makes himself come across as a scary monster to strike fear in the hearts of criminals even though he is just a normal person who trained a lot.

[@ninja1man4u]

Yay new comicpop here to cure the hump day blues

[@eqs1782]

Love Sal's 1920 camera voice.

[@ctl6985]

This is dope I've always wondered if they'd ever do this book

[@BenChanNYC]

Great story!

[@blackphoenix77]

That scene with Batman watching Batgirl and Robin getting murdered was pretty rough, man. You're sick, Alan Davis.

[@TheKingOfRooks]

I'm shocked because I'm rewatching this episode and in my head I didn't like this story but now that I've rewatched it I'm like "wtf this is mostly really dope and I'd like to see a continuation," lol

[@captaincomics3626]

This was wickedly cool elseworlds especially the Amish superman was funny to imagine

[@amolerat4456]

1:12:12 after hearing this my fist idea was that acted and Lois must hang out at the shoring range and then go for brunch

[@debanshmishra7154]

Amazing episode!! Btw I'm liking the new outro

[@rafaelfogliato298]

Yesssss! This was the first JLA comic that I've ever read!

[@shadburkett8603]

I’m super excited to read after listening to this! My girlfriend’s dad gave it to me, and now I must read it.

[@TaylorChatsMan]

This was a great off the rails story and fun reactions.

[@daromo1000]

Loved this episode! Thanks for introducing me to such a great story. Can't wait to pick up a copy for myself.

[@hineschris9934]

You know? If the spector just said he didn't care because hes s jerk it would make way more sense than "I want to help but predetermined fate bs says I cant"

[@Sqoobthedude]

those end credits look really good

[@eqs1782]

And I'm the king of the ocean.

[@DanV900]

This is a great story and one of my favorite Justice League stories.

[@theflashdcuniverse]

Amazing story