Welcome to the Couch Club, our recurring column devoted to all things #DCTV! This week, Sami DeMonster discusses why Peacemaker’s multiverse-spanning second season feels so much like a comic book.
Peacemaker is back—this time part of the new DCU! With six episodes now available for streaming, the series just seems to be getting better as the multidimensional shenanigans unfold. I’ll admit that I never thought I’d care for a show following The Suicide Squad’s goofy, justice-themed character, but Peacemaker is a good time that’s both absolutely crazy and full of heart—and I excitedly tune in every week.
Peacemaker’s second season is the second live action project to join the DCU following the success of the new Superman movie. James Gunn and Peter Safran clearly love comics and have a real vision for this new universe, and the new season of Peacemaker is the perfect example of that. Like comic books, Peacemaker isn’t afraid to take risks and get weird. From a myriad of eccentric and comedic cameos to some serious alternate dimension-jumping, it feels like you’ve been transported straight into the pages of a DC comic book with each new installment. Here are a few reasons why this series feels so much like a comic book!
The show’s peppered with cameos, appearances and references that make the world feel lived in. From small moments like White Rabbit leaving her meeting with the Justice Gang in a huff, to seeing familiar faces like Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and—yes—Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, the show is full of details and surprises that remind us that this is set in the newly established DCU. It’s the same universe that Superman exists in, but not all stories within the DCU are going to have the same tone, leaving room for so many different types of stories and subgenres.
Peacemaker’s mature tone adds to the world of the DCU. Peacemaker is a gory and raunchy action-comedy that also has dramatic moments that give this show a lot of heart. Allowing a live action series that exists in the mainstream DCU to be unapologetically dark and weird is part of what makes the series feel like it jumped straight from the page to the screen. Stories like Superman and Peacemaker coexist in the comics, so it feels only right that they also coexist in DC’s new shared cinematic universe.
Flashy costumes and gadgets embrace the campy fun nature of superhero comics. Peacemaker’s costume design has been compared to that of a clown by Harcourt…and she isn’t exactly wrong. His suit is both cool and ridiculous, and do not even get me started on his bulbous helmets with various powers. Embracing the fact that costumed individuals are an integral part of the world of DC, Peacemaker doesn’t shy away from its slightly ridiculous nature, with Peacemaker and Vigilante often choosing to wear their costumes in settings where they are the only ones doing so. In a world of heroes and villains, I love seeing characters fully suited up!
Eccentric characters drive the story and add to the comic book feel of Peacemaker. Peacemaker and Vigilante are two examples of big personalities on the show. But this squad of unexpected heroes, balanced by the more grounded characters of Harcourt, Economos and Edebayo, drives the show. This is a story that celebrates the flaws of the main characters while giving them so much humanity. Even a certified sociopath who expresses himself through oddly relatable and funny socially awkward moments like Vigilante gets his chance to defy expectations with moments that round out his character and show us that sociopaths aren’t inherently “evil.” Themed characters like Judomaster, Vigilante and Peacemaker himself embrace the sometimes silly nature of superhero stories, but the real narrative begins as we watch these characters deal with their own internal struggles.
But it never gets too serious. Peacemaker Season 2 also includes a squad of bloodthirsty eagles. One notable moment this season is when Eagly gets an entire subplot of his own where he must confront a culturally-appropriating, eagle-hunting villain. In the process, Eagly is revealed to be the ruler of eagle-kind and secretly has the ability to call upon an army of bloodthirsty birds. I mean this as a compliment—it’s a weird twist, and it’s exactly why the show works so well. This moment reminds me of one of the first series I read when getting into comics over a decade ago—the New 52 Harley Quinn run.
In true comic fashion, Peacemaker features some multidimensional shenanigans. In the first season, we learn that Peacemaker’s father has a Quantum Unfolding Chamber that contains 99 doors to alternate dimensions. As Chris struggles to find a purpose in life as a rejected superhero and copes with killing his abusive father, he drunkenly discovers a dimension like his own—this one where his father and brother are still alive and Peacemaker is celebrated as a beloved and respected superhero. Driven by grief and depression, Chris finds himself spending a lot of time in this new dimension after he accidentally kills his doppelgänger and takes his place, Rick and Morty style. While doing so, Chris also pursues a romantic relationship with a very different version of Emilia Harcourt—which really does feel like a violation of their friendship.
But other dimensions aren’t all fun and games, sometimes they are a major threat. Chris then decides to run away to this alternate dimension, but in last week’s breathtaking sixth episode, his fellow 11th Street Kids follow him through the portal to bring him home. Things then get shockingly dark in a horrific—but brilliant—twist that leaves viewers with more questions than answers. How will the 11th Street Kids make it out of this situation? What happens if they are followed back to their dimension? It was a true stunner of an ending…but it’s one that does have its roots in comics and DC’s established multiverse.
Peacemaker’s balance of raunchy, dark moments and deep emotional stakes with a focus on character development makes this story unique, impactful and definitely worth a look if you enjoyed Superman (though the show definitely earns its M rating, so put the kids to bed first). Along with Superman, Peacemaker is establishing the foundations of the DCU and I can’t wait to see this incredible cinematic universe continue to expand and grow!
Peacemaker Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max. Look for new episodes every Thursday.
Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and reviews comics every week on social media. Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.
