History ComicBook / TheNail

* AGodAmI: [[spoiler:Jimmy Olsen when beating the crap out of Batman specifically calls himself one and demands that Batman do the same.]]
* AGodIAmNot: Batman implies this is the case with [[spoiler: Kal-El. The man had every bit as much power as Olsen did, yet chose to live among the Amish. That unlike Jimmy who desperately sought power, Kal-El would give up all his in an instant if it would bring his parents back to life.]]
* AHouseDivided: The Justice League suffers from this a little bit since Superman was never there to be the even head that guided them.

In this universe, Martha and Jonathan Kent's truck has a tire puncture caused by a nail. This prevents them from discovering the spaceship containing the baby Kal-El, and so, there's no Franchise/{{Superman}}. There is, however, still a Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, consisting of Franchise/{{Batman}}, Franchise/WonderWoman, Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}, Franchise/TheFlash (Barry Allen), Hawkwoman, the Atom (Ray Palmer), ComicBook/MartianManhunter, and Franchise/GreenLantern (Hal Jordan). There's also a great degree of xenophobia for the "metahumans," fueled by anti-metahuman propaganda from Perry White and backed by Metropolis mayor ComicBook/LexLuthor; slowly metahumans begin to disappear as other issues arise requiring the attention of the publicly disliked JLA.

In this universe, Martha and Jonathan Kent's truck has a tire puncture caused by a nail. This prevents them from discovering the spaceship containing the baby Kal-El, and so, there's no Franchise/{{Superman}}. There is, however, still a Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, consisting of Franchise/{{Batman}}, Franchise/WonderWoman, Comicbook/{{Aquaman}}, Franchise/TheFlash (Barry Allen), Hawkwoman, the Atom (Ray Palmer), ComicBook/MartianManhunter and Franchise/GreenLantern (Hal Jordan). There's also a great degree of xenophobia for the "metahumans," fueled by anti-metahuman propaganda from Perry White and backed by Metropolis mayor ComicBook/LexLuthor; slowly metahumans begin to disappear as other issues arise requiring the attention of the publicly disliked JLA.

!!This works contains examples of the following tropes:

* AdaptationalVillainy: A relatively minor example in the case of Perry White, who is just reporting the available facts due to metahumans lacking a clear positive 'role model' such as Superman, but taken to greater extremes in the form of [[spoiler:Jimmy Olsen -- no, '''really''' -- whose augmentation with Kryptonian DNA has driven him insane as he sets out to rebuild Krypton on Earth]].

* BadassPacifist: [[spoiler: The Kents, in this universe. They become the Team Parents for the metahumans, with the help of Dr. Lana Lang.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Kal becomes Superman and manages to turn the world's view of metahumans around. But not without losing the parents who raised him and having to renounce his peaceful life afterwards.]]
** [[spoiler: Batman actually retiring from the JLA, despite being acquitted from having killed the Joker.]]

* BodyHorror: Happens when [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen]]'s body starts to reject its new Kryptonian DNA during his climactic fight with Superman.
* BrokenPedestal: Jimmy Olsen has this in spades concerning super-heroes. [[spoiler:Come TheReveal, we see just how bad it really is]]

* ConspiracyTheorist: This world's version of [[spoiler: ComicBook/GreenArrow, on top of him being crippled and ultra bitter after the incident that left him like that and killed Hawkman]].

* DrivenToMadness: [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen, courtesy of being exposed to Kryptonian DNA.]]

* FacelessGoons: The Liberators, save one moment where Hal unmasks one and exposes them as [[spoiler:Bizarro-type clones of Kal-El]].

* ForcedToWatch: The Joker uses his newly bestowed energy powers to capture Robin and Batgirl, and then make Franchise/{{Batman}} watch while he [[spoiler:rips them apart]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}: While Lois is driving to the Kent farm, an Amish carriage pass by. [[spoiler: We later discover that Kal-El was raised in an Amish village.]]
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: [[spoiler: Alfred and Selina have to team-up to give an effective one to Batman.]]

* GoryDiscretionShot: Poor, ''poor'' [[spoiler: Robin and Batgirl]].

* HeroicBSOD: Batman has truly massive one after [[spoiler:the Joker kills Batgirl and Robin]] and even worse when he [[spoiler:utterly snaps and kills the Joker right then and there]].
** [[spoiler: Amish!Kal-El has another when his parents are brutally murdered by Jimmy.]]
* HeroicBystander: [[spoiler: Kal-El's Amish parents raise him to ignore world affairs. However, no matter how much they begged him to, he just couldn't ignore his calling any longer.]]

-->[[spoiler:'''Jimmy:''']] Did you not see how easily I turned mankind against you? They really are not worth saving.
* HumbleHero: [[spoiler: Superman was raised Amish. It doesn't get more humble than that.]]

* IntrepidReporter: Lois Lane as always

* TheManBehindTheMan: Lex Luthor (believed by the Justice League to be the BigBad) is implied to be manipulated by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starro Starro]] until it's revealed that [[spoiler:"[[RedHerring Starro]]" is actually a [[TheGrotesque mutated]] [[ComicBook/KryptoTheSuperdog Krypto]]]]. The ''real'' BigBad is none other than… [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen]].

** [[spoiler: After Joker murders Robin and Batgirl in a particularly gruesome manner, he makes a reference to Francis Bacon]], calling to mind the art museum scene in ''Film/Batman1989'', where one of Bacon's paintings is spared due to the Joker's personal liking of it.

* NotHelpingYourCase: [[spoiler: Batman seen killing the Joker on live television only added further xenophobia and mistrust towards metahumans and vigilantes.]]

* PapaWolf: Batman. [[spoiler: This is one of the few universes in which he breaks his ThouShallNotKill oath, and he does so after the Joker brutally murders Batgirl and Robin.]]
* PersonOfMassDestruction: [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen and Kal-El.]] Their fight is even described as apocalyptic by other characters.

* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: Witnessing the escalating anti-alien feeling against herself and Hawkman, Hawkwoman briefly prepares to leave Earth, to the point of rendezvousing with her old spaceship… [[spoiler:only to fly back to save two children from a fire, with everyone in the surrounding street moving in her defence when the police try to arrest her]].

* ThatManIsDead: [[spoiler: "The Jimmy Olsen you knew no longer exists."]]

* WouldHurtAChild: The Joker shows this to horrific extremes when he [[spoiler:murders Robin and Batgirl]].

!!Tropes associating with ''Another Nail''

* AllYourPowersCombined: A Green Lantern ring chooses Barda as its new wielder and then merges with her Mother Box, allowing it to project Mister Miracle's consciousness (after he 'downloaded' himself into the Mother Box to escape being tortured by Darkseid), creating a far more adaptive ring than usual

* CatapultNightmare: Batman, [[spoiler: upon waking up at the moment the Joker forced his eyes open to see him kill Robin and Batgirl.]]

-->"A distraction. The first principle of any clever illusion…or a really sneaky attack. Barda didn't miss you, she was positioning me where I could do the most harm!"

* ItsAllMyFault: Before [[spoiler:his sacrifice, the now-sane Green Arrow apologises to Hawkwoman as he blames himself for Hawkman's death, believing that his efforts to prove himself equal to more powerful heroes led to Hawkman putting himself in harm's way and taking a fatal blow from Amazo to protect Green Arrow; Hawkwoman assures GA that Hawkman always saw him as a friend]].

* SpacetimeEater: The Limbo Cell

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler: Superman can never return to the Amish village that's been his home, due to keeping it from further dangers and believing he's no longer welcome there for renouncing their lifestyle by using his powers to help the world.]]

** Halo, a blond Caucasian in the main DCU, is an African-American in this story. Though it could be inhabiting a different person entirely.

* HeroicBystander: [[spoiler: Kal-El's Amish parents raise him to ignore world affairs. However he just couldn't ignore his calling any longer.]]

** Halo, a blond Caucasian in the main DCU, is an Africa-American in this story. Though it could be inhabiting a different person entirely.

* TheManBehindTheMan: Lex Luthor (believed by the Justice League to be the BigBad) is implied to be manipulated by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starro Starro]] until it's revealed that [[spoiler:"[[RedHerring Starro]]" is actually a [[TheGrotesque mutated]] [[ComicBook/KryptoTheSuperdog Krypto]]]]. The ''real'' BigBad is none other than... [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen]].

-->'''Spectre:''' ...mankind has always been destined to spread out amongst the stars.\\

* ScrewThisImOutOfHere: Witnessing the escalating anti-alien feeling against herself and Hawkman, Hawkwoman briefly prepares to leave Earth, to the point of rendezvousing with her old spaceship... [[spoiler:only to fly back to save two children from a fire, with everyone in the surrounding street moving in her defence when the police try to arrest her]].

* TheCameo: ComicBook/HawkAndDove, ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}, ComicBook/JonahHex, The Inferior Five...If you can name a DC character who showed up in the '60s and '70s, odds are that they'll appear somewhere in this book.

* ClarkKenting: Lampshaded. When Lois suggests a "less is more" approach to disguising Kal El so he can go out as a civilian, the end result resembles the classic Clark Kent we all know and love. Kal asks Lois, "You really think this will fool anyone?"

-->"A distraction. The first principle of any clever illusion...or a really sneaky attack. Barda didn't miss you, she was positioning me where I could do the most harm!"

** The Hawkman and Hawkgirl who joined the Justice League are Thannagarian couple Katar and Shayera Hol, instead of Carter and Shiera who were retconned in their place. Oddly enough, Carter and Shiera weren't shown in the old JSA photograph, and Katar (as Carter) is explicitly stated to have cofounded the Midway City Museum.
** Catwoman's psychiatric files include photos of her in previous costumes, including one from the Golden Age.

** ''Another Nail'' even reveals that this world exists in a Multiverse very similar to Pre-Crisis.

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler: Superman can never return to the Amish village that's been his home, due to keeping it from further danger and believing he's no longer welcomed there for rejecting their lifestyle by using his powers to help the world.]]

* FamousLastWords: A gut-punching last sentence from the BigBad: "[[{{Irony}} We should have been friends.]]"

* AlternateContinuity: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe, with the more notable elements of the latter depicted are the JSA being part of this Earth's history and ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' version of Krypton. Noticeable Silver Age elements include:

* AlternateContinuity: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe, the only elements of the latter depicted are the JSA being part of this Earth's history and ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' Krypton. Notable Silver Age elements are:
** The Hawkman and Hawkgirl who joined the Justice League are Katar and Shayera, instead of Carter and Shiera who were retconned in their place. Oddly enough, Carter and Shiera weren't shown in the photo of the JSA, and Katar (as Carter) is explicitly stated to have cofounded the Midway City Museum.

* DatingCatwoman: Aside from the TropeNamer, Green Lantern and Star Sapphire's relationship [[FoeYay has shades of this]].

* ForWantOfANail: Inspired by the TropeNamer.

* SanitySlippage: UpToEleven with this version of Oliver Queen, who had previously lost an arm, an eye, and the use of his legs to AMAZO.

* WouldHurtAChild: The Joker [[MoralEventHorizon shows this to horrific extremes]] when he [[spoiler:murders Robin and Batgirl]].

** Unless its inhabiting a different person entirely, Halo, a blond Caucasian in the main DCU, is an Africa-American in this story.

* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Sort of. Harvey Bullock usually doesn't get along with Batman, but here, likely due to James Gordon's death, he became a supporter of Batman and refused to condemn him for supposedly killing the staff and inmates of Arkham. Still doesn't make him any less rude.

* NotHelpingYourCase: [[spoiler: Batman seen killing the Joker on live television only added further xenophobia and mistrust towards the metahumans and vigilantes.]]

* AlternateUniverse: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe, the only elements of the latter depicted are the JSA being part of this Earth's history and ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' Krypton. Notable Silver Age elements are:

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Kal becomes Superman and manages to turn the world's view of metahumans around. But not without losing the parents who raised him and having to renounce his peaceful life afterwards]].

* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: [[spoiler: Alfred and Selina have to team-up to give an effective one to Batman]].

** [[spoiler: Amish!Kal-El has another when his parents are brutally murdered by Jimmy]].

* LeeroyJenkins: Robin and Batgirl. [[spoiler:It gets them killed]].

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler: Superman can never return to the Amish village that's been his home, due to keeping it from further danger and believing he's no longer welcomed there.]]

* AGodIAmNot: Batman imples this is the case with [[spoiler: Kal-El. The man had every bit as much power as Olsen did, yet chose to live among the Amish. That unlike Jimmy who desperately sought power, Kal-El would give up all his in an instant if it would bring his parents back to life.]]

* AlternateUniverse: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe, the only elements of the latter depicted are the JSA being part of this Earth's history and the ''[[ComicBook/TheManOfSteel Man of Steel]]'' Krypton. Notable Silver Age elements are:

* BittersweetEnding:[[spoiler: Kal becomes Superman and manages to turn the world's view of metahumans around. But not without losing the parents who raised him and having to renounce his peaceful life afterwards]].

* JokerImmunity: [[spoiler:Averted, as the Joker ends up [[NeckSnap having his neck snapped]] by Batman going into full PapaWolf mode. ''On live television'']].

* LoveRedeems: [[spoiler:Selina goes straight specifically to be with Bruce]].

* PapaWolf: Batman. [[spoiler: This is one of the few universes in which he breaks his ThouShallNotKill oath, and he does so after the Joker brutally murders Batgirl and Robin]].
* PersonOfMassDestruction: [[spoiler: Jimmy Olsen and Kal-El]]. Their fight is even described as apocalyptic by other characters.

* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: Likely as a means of showing how integral Superman is to the DCU, this world (and story) lean just a bit more towards the cynical side of the spectrum than the usual portrayal of the DCU. [[spoiler:That said, the ending is a [[BittersweetEnding (mostly) happy one]]]].

* AGodAmI: [[spoiler:Jimmy Olsen when beating the crap out of Batman specifically calls himself one and demands that Batman do the same.]] He tells him to go to hell instead.

* AdaptationalVillainy: ''Comicbook/PowerGirl'' and Black Orchid, normally heroes in the DCU, are first seen helping Star Sapphire steal the body of the android Amazo from Will Magnus, fighting the Metal Men in the process. Later they kidnap [[ComicBook/DoomPatrol Niles Caulder]]. [[spoiler: Subverted when it is later revealed that they, along with Black Canary, were securing Amazo's body in a risky bid to transplant Green Arrow's brain into a new healthy body, and that Niles had accompanied them willingly to perform the operation.]]
** [[spoiler:AdaptationalHeroism: Star Sapphire]]

* AlternateUniverse: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe, the only elements of the latter depicted are the JSA being part of this Earth's history and the ''[[ComicBook/TheManOfSteel Man of Steel]]''-based Krypton. Notable Silver Age elements are:

** In ''Another Nail'', it is stated that Shadow Thief got his suit from Xarapion. In Post-Crisis canon, it came from Byth.

* AlternateUniverse: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe. Notable differences are:
** The Hawkman and Hawkgirl who joined the Justice League are Katar and Shayera, instead of Carter and Shiera who were retconned in their place.
** Catwoman's previous costumes from the Silver Age, along with one from the Golden Age.
** In ''Another Nail'', it is stated that Shadow Thief got his suit from Xarapion. While in canon, it was given to him by Byth.

* FacelessGoons: The Liberators, save one moment where Hal unmasks one and exposes them as [[spoiler:Bizarro-type clones of Kal-El]]

* ForWantOfANail: Inspired by the TropeNamer.

* TheReveal: [[spoiler:Jimmy Olsen is the BigBad and has Kryptonian powers]].

** Unless its inhabiting a different person entirely, Halo, a blond caucasian in the main DCU, is an African American in this story.

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: [[spoiler: Superman can never return to the Amish village that’s been his home, due to keeping it from further danger and believing he’s no longer welcomed there.]]

* AintTooProudToBeg: Being forced on his knees, Batman pleads for the Joker not to kill Robin and Batgirl. But it did him (nor his partners) no good.
* AlternateUniverse: While the story acts as a WhatIf tale, this universe is very different compared with DC's main Earth. This Earth is more of a mish-mash between Earth-One and the Post-Crisis Universe:
** Notable being that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are Katar and Shayera, instead of Carter and Shiera which are just their secret identities.

** In ''Another Nail'', it is stated that Shadow Thief got his suit from Xarapion.

* BadassPacifist: [[spoiler: The Kents, in this universe. They become the Team Parents for the metahumans, with the help of Dr. Lana Lang]].

** [[spoiler: Batman actually retiring from the JLA, despite being acquitted from having killed the Joker]].

** Unless its a different character, Halo, a blond caucasian in the main DCU, is an African American in this story.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Green Arrow]]

* AdaptationalRank: Due to Commissioner Gordon's death, Harvey Bullock succeeded him as commissioner.

* AintTooProudToBeg: Being forced on his knees, Batman pleads for the Joker not to kill Robin and Batgirl. But it did him no good.