If you didn’t already know DC Comics was all in on Peacemaker, now you know. But it seems they won’t attempt to capitalize on the character much after the show. Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1 appears to be a n oversized one-off, with no indication there will be another issue. Garth Ennis and Garry Brown tell a story that doesn’t need to be expanded upon, although it could serve as a jumping off point if DC decided to do more with the character under Black Label.
Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1
DC Comics
Written by: Garth Ennis
Art by: Garry Brown
Colors by: Lee Loughridge
Letters by: Rob Steen
As much as I’d like to see Ennis do more with Peacemaker under DC’s darker, out-of-main-continuity brand, letting Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1 be its own thing is probably for the best. Ennis could get weird with the character, but I also imagine he wouldn’t want to take John Cena’s interpretation and just build off that. Although it’s never plainly stated that Ennis’ Peacemaker story happens before his Suicide Squad story, it very much has that vibe. He was weird in the movie, but he wasn’t as goofy until the show. He’s not really either in Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1.
This character has potential to be DC’s Punisher, which makes Ennis an interesting option to work with the character. Even if DC wants to lean into his humor more, we all know Ennis can absolutely go there. He doesn’t do that here. Instead, Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1 is more of an origin story for both Chris Smith and his superhero name, Peacemaker. In fact, it’s a sad, twisted story about how he came upon the name.
As for the art, Brown is a great fit. This character isn’t a hero, and this is very much a dark story. You need an artist whose style reflects both of those qualities — enter Brown. And Lee Loughridge’s colors help readers comfortably make the jump between Peacemaker’s ridiculous past and the cold conversation taking place in the present.
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