Rating: 
Summary: The nail at the center of the moral universe.
Review: "For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of the shoe the horse was lost, for want of the horse the rider was lost, for want of the rider the kingdom was lost...."Imagine a world without Superman. Imagine a world without the concept of Superman. You quickly see that the Kryptonian is more than merely the most physically powerful of the world's heroes. Superman is the one constantly good and true fact in the world. He is the nail at the center of the moral universe. Without his example and leadership would the rest of the super-heroes have the will and determination to oppose and triumph over evil no matter the cost? That's what this Elseworlds tale explores. I found this tale to be one of the all time best in the history of graphic novels. I rank it up there with _Kingdom Come_ and Millar's _Dark Knight_. It is also an eye opening story about team work and the importance of a true leader. You can have all the greatest individual talents in the world on an all-star team, but without that selfless team leader who inspires everyone to forget their own egos and agendas and to play for something greater than themselves, then the team will crumble when the going gets tough and ruthless. Yeah, I liked this story alot.
Rating:
Summary: A true love of silver age comics by one of the best...
Review: A lot of the reviews of this book seem to center around the fact that they believe Alan Davis, writer and penciller of this book, lied to them by saying the premise is a world without a Superman, then having Superman show up eventually. What they're forgetting is that Superman isn't Superman when he shows up. This is a world without Superman, but not a world without Kal-El. To say any more would be spoiling the fun, and I wouldn't do that. Alan Davis is, for lack of a more flamboyant word, great. His pencilling skills have been honed over years of work, the best being on Captain Britain, Excalibur and Clandestine. His writing skills came into play on the two latter works. He has always had a knack for displaying both humor and serious overtones, sometimes at once. This has never come more into play than on "The Nail." This is perhaps the most enjoyable Silver Age book I've ever read, even if it was made in the Modern Age. That's because it isn't silly, it isn't campy, and it isn't one to avoid serious themes. A grand amount of DC's Pre-Crisis history is used (if you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm sure you can find a synopsis, as it's too confusing to explain here), and used well. The characterization is excellent, especially that of Hal Jordan and Hawkwoman, two characters who I've felt never had the chance to truly shine. The artwork is vivid and magical, just like his other works, and the splash pages of each of the JLA members are something to behold. If this comic is anything, it's a deep admiration for what has come before. It's a man in love with the stuff he read as a kid, and now using it to write one last grand drama with it. If you like this, you'll like the books I listed above, and vice versa. Pick it up and see why the kingdom was lost.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a center stage for a beloved character.
Review: Althought I loved the book in general, I loved the hints and misdirections planted in the story. The mystery villain is a true surprise. Is it Lex Luthor? Is that shadowy star shaped character Starro the Conqueror? Will Elastic Lad save the day? When the villain's identity is revealed , we find a new role for a Superman family stalwart who finally gets center stage. And you got to love the return of Krypto. Great Job everyone!
Rating: 
Summary: Eh...
Review: First off, the art is beautiful. I think Davis did a great job rendering the characters in this book. Not just the major ones, but the supporters as well - the Outsiders, Shade, Amazo, etc, never looked better. His interpretation of the Flash is the best I've ever seen. It's a shame that this quality didn't extend to the story. The first two parts were very well done, a treasure trove for long-time fans of DC Comics, rich with nods to the Golden and Silver Ages. The end, however, doesn't pay off, and the "deus ex machina"-style ending stank. The premise of the book is definitely misleading. I could give it a 2.5, at best.
Rating: 
Summary: A Silver Age Tribute for the Ages
Review: I have been a JLA fan for the last 20+ years. The current title has been going in a brilliant direction for the last 4 years, and "The Nail" was a great supplement to the ongoing series. For what I believe was his first go at writing rather than just drawing (he followed this with an run at "X-Men"), Alan Davis put together a very engaging story. Davis took his own opportunity to pay tribute to some characters that he has never drawn before and some with which he made notable runs. While Davis had a solid history on Batman titles in the mid- to late- Eighties, his version in "The Nail" was more reminiscient of Neal Adams with a splash of Brian Bolland. Davis' Green Lantern also invoked 1970s Neal Adams (and what different fates GL and Green Arrow meet in this alternate reality). Another highlight that satiated my taste for eye candy (Did I mention how outstanding the art is in this book?) was the use of a full splash page somewhere in the series for each JLA member. Anyone ever pick up "JLA #200" back in 1981? God, they should reprint that one or something! Anyway, I thought the story made for a good murder mystery - there was a high enough body count to warrant that label. I was racking my brain at the time of the series' 3-part run as to how Kal-El would fit into a DC Universe that knew no Superman. I couldn't have picked a more interesting fate than the one Davis chose. Nice work, and recommended for those who consider themselves DC scholars of the last 30 years.
Rating:
Summary: A Silver Age Tribute for the Ages
Review: I have been a JLA fan for the last 20+ years. The current title has been going in a brilliant direction for the last 4 years, and "The Nail" was a great supplement to the ongoing series. For what I believe was his first go at writing rather than just drawing (he followed this with an run at "X-Men"), Alan Davis put together a very engaging story. Davis took his own opportunity to pay tribute to some characters that he has never drawn before and some with which he made notable runs. While Davis had a solid history on Batman titles in the mid- to late- Eighties, his version in "The Nail" was more reminiscient of Neal Adams with a splash of Brian Bolland. Davis' Green Lantern also invoked 1970s Neal Adams (and what different fates GL and Green Arrow meet in this alternate reality). Another highlight that satiated my taste for eye candy (Did I mention how outstanding the art is in this book?) was the use of a full splash page somewhere in the series for each JLA member. Anyone ever pick up "JLA #200" back in 1981? God, they should reprint that one or something! Anyway, I thought the story made for a good murder mystery - there was a high enough body count to warrant that label. I was racking my brain at the time of the series' 3-part run as to how Kal-El would fit into a DC Universe that knew no Superman. I couldn't have picked a more interesting fate than the one Davis chose. Nice work, and recommended for those who consider themselves DC scholars of the last 30 years.
Rating:
Summary: Much Better then current DC montly tites
Review: I liked this story because it reminded me of the Golden age and Silver Age DC comics. A place of wonder and excitement where the stories were more simple and easy to follow. In this place, Hal Jordan is still Green Landarn, Aqua-Man is happily married to his wife Mera, Batman and Catwoman are an item, Barry Allen is still alive, as are the Green Landarn Corps...So many wonderful DC characters that have been trashed in the regular DC comics, are alive and well here. This is what the DC universe should have been and sadly it will never be, unless Alan davis writes a follow-up story to it, which I hope he does someday.
Rating:
Summary: A World Without Superman. Think About IT!!!!!
Review: Imagine, a world without Superman, and that is just what DC did. The Justice League made up of Green Lantern (Hal Jorden), The Flash (Barry Allen), Aquaman (without a beard), Hawkgirl, Wonder Woman, Atom, Martian Manhunter, and a particularly grim Batman, was amazing. Lex Luther the Mayor of Metropolis? Robin and Batgirl murdered by the Joker? Batman a Killer? Jimmy Olson the world's most powerful villian? Superman raised in an Amish home? Exactly. Find out for yourself just how good, JUSTCE LEAGUE: THE NAIL is. I recommend it to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty much in agreement...
Review: Many of the reviews seem to be of the mind that the art in this story far exceeded the story itself. I am of the same mind. The basic idea of the story wasn't bad. Even the execution was pretty good, artistically speaking. I guess my biggest gripe is with the dialogue, which came out as strangely wooden, which was disappointing given Davis' more vibrant dialogue in Excalibur and Clandestine. I suppose characterization was difficult, given the sort of comic book icons he had to write about. Anyway, I feel, like many others, that the superb artwork more than compensates for a somewhat deficient story. Alan Davis' and Mark Farmer's (the inker's) artwork tends to do that to a project. So I give this book 5 stars, despite its minor faults.
Rating:
Summary: But worth it for the art alone
Review: Most of the criticisms of the storyline have been right on the money: we're just getting too many dark "Elseworlds" stories from DC where old favorites go berserk and are responsible for the deaths of others, and it finally takes the reassertion of old superheroic values to put things to rights. We've had in the last few years "Kingdom Come," "the Golden Age," and on and on and on... But this is worth buying just for the art alone. Alan Davis has about the finest lines of any working artist (his figures remind me of John Byrne in his better, earlier, more cartoonish days in the Seventies). He does a spectacular job of drawing several old Silver Age favorites (including an absolutely luscious Star Sapphire, making me wish DC would bring back that character to the Green Lantern series). The simplicity of the storytelling is also greatly appreciated, and the dialogue is done quite well. This would've been fantastic had he just chosen a more original plotline.
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