Warning! This submit incorporates SPOILERS for Peacemaker season 2, episode 1
After Superman, I am fairly shocked the place James Gunn seems to be taking the DCU subsequent. Peacemaker season 2 has simply premiered, starring John Cena’s titular Chris Smith as he embarks on a brand-new misadventure involving an alternate dimension. Nevertheless, it appears as if the groundwork for an overarching DCU narrative has already been laid.
In Peacemaker season 2’s premiere, Smith discovers one other dimension, one the place an alternate Peacemaker is a revered superhero with a loving household. Nevertheless, ARGUS is aware of Chris is utilizing his father’s Quantum Unfolding Chamber (a pocket universe not in contrast to Lex Luthor’s in Superman). That stated, ARGUS appears to have extra issues related to the way forward for larger DCU at massive.
In James Gunn’s Superman, Lex Luthor took benefit of rising issues about metahuman affairs to show public opinion towards the Man of Metal. Acquiring the US authorities’s approval to launch PlanetWatch, Luthor was allowed to take Superman into custody after releasing the complete message from Kal-El’s mother and father to Superman, having wished their son to overcome Earth.
Likewise, Superman motivated his fellow metahuman allies to intrude in Boravia’s invasion of Jarhanpur. Within the aftermath, the ending of Superman noticed the Secretary of Protection talking with new ARGUS director Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) about how “metahumans at the moment are making the principles“.
Likewise, it appears as if the general public’s metahumans issues are persevering with in Peacemaker season 2. Based on a information report watched by Rick Flag Sr., there have been a number of metahuman escapes from each Belle Reve and Gotham Metropolis’s Arkham Asylum:
“There must be an answer. That is the third metahuman escape from Belle Reve or Arkham up to now two months. We have to discover a technique to defend individuals from what’s quickly turning into an existential risk.”
Even past Superman, it seems as if the general public’s worries about metahumans aren’t going away anytime quickly within the DCU. Likewise, LordTech CEO and Justice Gang financier Maxwell Lord additionally confirmed that rising mistrust in metahumans is turning into an even bigger drawback.
Is This The Overarching Plot Of Gods and Monsters?
Holding all that in thoughts, this appears to be the DCU’s first ongoing plot, although one which feels fairly shocking. In spite of everything, it appears as if all metahumans normally are being feared, and that features the DCU’s heroes.
Seeking to the unique comics, that is one thing we have seen extra in Marvel Comics in comparison with DC, like with the X-Males or Spider-Man, or with the unique Civil Warfare occasion and the laws requiring superheroes to register with the federal government.
Usually, the heroes of DC Universe are considered as beloved heroes who’re most of the time built-in into the accepted techniques of justice (even Batman following his early years).
Nevertheless, this does not appear to be the case within the DCU…a minimum of not but. That stated, widespread metahuman concern does look like an apt recurring narrative for the DCU’s first chapter: “Gods of Monsters”.
In mild of those rising metahuman fears, it is value noting that there is not but a serious Justice League crew within the DCU like we see within the comics. At current, we’ve the Justice Gang, which very a lot seems to be a precursor to the League which may someday type sooner or later.
Working within the Corridor of Justice (which appeared as if they’ve simply moved in), maybe the Gang ultimately evolve right into a full League, incomes much more of the general public’s respect and admiration, which might assist mitigate the present public’s metahuman unrest.
In spite of everything, that actually appears to be Maxwell Lord’s intention by increasing the Justice Gang’s roster (even when they do reject Chris Smith in Peacemaker season 2’s premiere).
At any fee, it appears as if ARGUS has its sights set on stopping one other “Luthor Incident” in Peacemaker season 2, a precedence mission that appears to be taking precedent partially on account of Rick Flag Sr’s apparent vendetta towards Chris Smith on account of Peacemaker having killed his son in 2021’s The Suicide Squad.
That stated, maybe ARGUS will shift its focus again to metahumans and its containment efforts within the DCU’s future. Who is aware of? Maybe Rick Flag dropping the ball by obsessively specializing in Peacemaker is what’s going to assist Amanda Waller get her job again, who’s at the moment going through congressional hearings after she was compelled to step down.
As shocking as this potential overarching arc is perhaps, the concept that the rising variety of metahumans is one thing to be feared is smart, whereas additionally being a fairly fascinating idea going ahead.
Fortunately, Superman proved in his personal film that metahumans could be a drive for good, although will probably be attention-grabbing to see how future occasions and public perceptons will have an effect on the remainder of the DCU’s “Gods and Monsters”, in the remainder of Peacemaker season 2 and past.
New episodes of Peacemaker season 2 launch Thursdays on HBO Max.