Peacemaker: Who is the Hypocritical Pacifist?

If You Want Peacemaker, Prepare For War.

A man approaches a mansion. Mission Control said that terrorists are gathering there to plan an attack. His blood boils as he thinks of all the wars that could occur if they succeed. The people who could be hurt. He was given a few more mission parameters, something about stealth? Nah, that’s for bitches and he’s got a rocket launcher.

He breaks an old man’s neck as he hurries through the smoke. He poses as he pulls out an oversized revolver and shoots three women. A terrorist in warpaint is crawling away. The man kicks him and finishes the job with a shotgun blast to the crotch. He’s setting C4 when he hears a gasp. Several children are staring at the carnage. 

The man calls Mission Control and learns that they gave him the wrong address. The terrorists are across the street. He just shot up a birthday party and castrated a clown. Peacemaker cringes and flashes the kids a peace sign as he crosses the street.

Peacemaker is one of DC Comics’ most flawed heroes. He was a nobody with an ill-thought-out gimmick and ridiculous costume who found new life as a parody. So who is he? How did he become a hero? What’s the deal with the helmet? Let’s find out.

Peacekeeper: Peacemaker’s Backstory

Peacemaker debuted in The Fightin’ Five #40 in 1966. He was created by Joe Gill and Pat Boyette.

Christopher Smith was a non-violent U.S. diplomat frustrated by arms dealers and warmongers hiding behind the law. He created several weapons and a suit of advanced armor to fight against them when words wouldn’t work. Smith became Peacemaker, “the man who loves peace so much, he’s willing to fight for it!”

Readers learned that Peacemaker’s father was an escaped Nazi who killed himself after Chris discovered his secret. The revelation traumatized Peacemaker, causing hallucinations that his helmet was haunted by his father and everyone else he killed.

Peacemaker entered the DC Universe when they bought his publisher, Charlton Comics. He was recruited by Amanda Waller to keep the Suicide Squad in check and joined them on several missions. Peacemaker eventually died while using a helicopter for a kamikaze attack.

Blown to Peaces: Peacemaker’s History

Peacemaker stayed dead for several years. Two characters took up the mantle, but neither caught on with fans. Christopher Smith inexplicably came back to life and became a mentor to Blue Beetle. Peacemaker often regaled the new hero with tales of weird adventures he’d had and began confronting his hypocrisy.

2021’s The Suicide Squad reinvented Peacemaker by making him a parody of patriotic superheroes and toxic masculinity. He became comic relief, taking everything at face value while comically serious about his missions.

Peace Out: Peacemaker’s Powers and Personality

Peacemaker doesn’t have superpowers, but over-compensates with weapons. His arsenal includes oversized handguns, shotguns that fire pellets in the shape of a peace symbol, a collapsible shield, and blowdarts. He’s also a skilled martial artist, assassin, and infiltrator.

The helmets don’t just look goofy. Each one has advanced technology to mimic superpowers. Force fields, sonic booms, flamethrowers, anti-gravity for flight, human torpedo, shrinkage, and of course, a helmet that gives the wearer scabies. Maybe he shouldn’t have listened to his Nazi ghost dad for that last one.

Peacemaker has always been a madman. His original incarnation was constantly searching for excuses to use his weapons while insisting to himself that he had no choice. The modern rework is an arrogant manchild who wants to be taken seriously and has a good heart buried under decades of parental abuse. 

The Actors Who Play Him

Takehito Koyasu and Sean Patrick Judge – Sucide Squad Isekai
John Cena – Peacemaker, Superman (2025)

Didya Get All That?

A man who loves peace so much, he’s willing to kill for it.

Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max

Jared Bounacos

Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.