"The Fourth Nail" is a two-part story presented across issues 11 and 12 of Marvel's The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones comic book series. Chapter one was published in August 1983 and the second half followed later that month.
Plot summary[]
Issue 11: "The Fourth Nail: Blood and Sand!"[]
Indy is fighting aborigines in Australia, when a mysterious team of Ismailis (elite Arab warriors) comes to his rescue. The Ismailis take Indy to their master, Ben Ali Ayoob, the wealthy collector seeking the so-called Fourth Nail, a gypsy artifact associated with the crucifixion of Christ. After turning down Ayoob's offer, Indy heads to Barcelona in search of the Nail. There, he helps his gypsy friend Torino escape some trouble with the locals. When Indy mentions the Nail, Torino disappears, leaving Indy alone in the stock pen of a bullring, with an angry steer as his only company...
Issue 12: "The Fourth Nail: Swords and Spikes!"[]
Indy flees the bullpen to find Marion Ravenwood waiting for him outside. The pair rescue Torino from Ayoob's henchman. Torino introduces them to Maximilian, the gypsy king, who agrees to take the group to see the Phuri Dai, keeper of the Fourth Nail. Ayoob's thugs follow. When the Arabs come in contact with the Nail, however, they suffer mysterious wounds to the chest and are killed instantly. Indy and Marion agree to leave the Nail with gypsies.
Appearances[]
Characters[]
- Ben Ali Ayoob
- Marcus Brody
- Juan Carlos
- Juan Carlos' cousin (Mentioned only)
- Jesus Christ (Mentioned only)
- Phuri Dai
- Hassan
- Ismailis
- Indiana Jones
- Jose
- Kali (Statue only)
- Maximilian
- Don Quixote (Mentioned only)
- The Flying Michavich Brothers
- Rashid
- Abner Ravenwood (Mentioned only)
- Marion Ravenwood
- Torino
- Torino's brother-in-law (Mentioned only)
- Torino's sister (Mentioned only)
Artifacts[]
- Arnhem Calendar Ring
- Fourth Nail
Locations[]
- Australia
- Spain
- Barcelona
- El Blacksmith
- Gispy Camp
- Barcelona
- Cairo (Mentioned only)
- Mediterranean Sea (Mentioned only)
- Switzerland (Mentioned only)
- USA
- Connecticut
- The Raven's Nest (Mentioned only)
Groups[]
- Aborigines
- Arnhem Cult (Mentioned only)
Creatures[]
- Cat (Mentioned only)
- Cattle
- Chicken
- Dog
- Dinosaur (Mentioned only)
- Donkey
- Fly (Mentioned only)
- Goose (Mentioned only)
- Hedgehog (As food)
- Horse
- Mule (Mentioned only)
- Shark (Mentioned only)
- Panther (Mentioned only)
- Rabbit (Mentioned only)
- Rat
Miscellanea[]
- Fedora
- Gargoyle
- Indy's pistol
- Bullwhip
- Quinkam Era (Mentioned only)
- Spear
- Sword
Collections[]
Behind the scenes[]
Development[]
For the two-parter "The Fourth Nail" story, David Michelinie researched Trevor Ravenscroft's 1972 occult book The Spear of Destiny, about Adolf Hitler's pursuit of the Lance of Longinus. It led Michelinie to think about utilizing the Fourth Nail for the potential supernatural properties it could bring to an Indiana Jones story. His use of the Ismailis came about after reading an article in a gun magazine, incorporating them because they thought them looked like ninjas.[1]
The story marked Kerry Gammill's return to The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones following the eighth issue, as he was busy building an office in his garage, hence why Dan Reed briefly took over for "The Gold Goddess" two-parter.[2]
Continuity[]
In the first issue, Monday is mistakenly translated as "Lune" instead of "Lunes" when Indiana Jones sees the day written in the advertisement of the bullfight's stock pen.
Cover gallery[]
| ADVENTURE TIMELINE | ||
|---|---|---|
| previous | next | |
| 1936 | 1936 | 1936 |
| The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones: "The Gold Goddess" |
The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones: "The Fourth Nail" |
The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones: "Deadly Rock!" |