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WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Superman #4!
With a TV show, a major role in the Absolute Power crisis, and now his recent debut in Absolute Superman, Peacemaker has been enjoying the spotlight. While some of this media, particularly his live-action portrayal, have made him into a fan-favorite, DC’s latest twist concerning the character is about to make him truly unforgivable, serving as a stark reminder of his villainous streak.
Absolute Superman #4, written by Jason Aaron with art by Rafa Sandoval, follows Christopher Smith as he speaks with the Brainiac System about the events at the end of issue #2, revealing that he fired his weapon at civilians. Although no one was harmed, the system shuts him out despite his insistence on speaking to a real person.
Near the end of the issue, Smith and the other Peacemakers confront the Omega Men and later Superman, leading to the hero freezing them. The issue concludes with the other Peacemakers detaining Smith, revealing that once he was unfrozen, he had killed civilians.
Absolute Superman Pushes Peacemaker Back Into Villainy
Absolute Superman #4 – Written by Jason Aaron, Art by Rafa Sandoval, Colors by Ulises Arreola, Lettering by Becca Carey
The last page of Absolute Superman delivers a shocking display of brutality, setting the stage for Smith to closely resemble his mainstream counterpart. A consistent part of Peacemaker’s backstory across his mainline incarnations has been his relentless drive to preserve peace—no matter how violent he has to be. This trait is already present in the Absolute Universe, as shown when he confesses to the Brainiac System that he fears he might commit horrific acts in the name of maintaining peace. By the end of the issue, his actions turn that fear into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
While recent live-action portrayals, such as John Cena’s performance in James Gunn’s Peacemaker series, have cast the character in a more positive light, there has always been a dark side to him. In Paul Kupperberg’s 1983 Vigilante series, Peacemaker was responsible for unmasking Vigilante and destroying his civilian life. More recently, in Mark Waid’s Absolute Power event, he played a key role in Amanda Waller’s plans against Earth’s superheroes. Absolute Superman reestablishes Peacemaker’s comic book roots, firmly positioning him as a villain in this continuity.
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Peacemaker’s Descent Into Villainy Was Avoidable
Christopher Smith: A Victim as Much as a Villain
Despite the tragic ending of Absolute Superman #4—where Smith officially becomes a villain by killing civilians—the issue initially presents him as self-aware of his violent tendencies and instability, desperate for someone to recognize he is unfit for duty. However, his pleas are ignored by the Brainiac System, which dismisses his concerns and tries to gaslight him into believing that his equipment was defective, insisting that the solution is simply to issue him a new rifle. While Smith’s actions remain horrific, part of the blame falls on Brainiac, who orchestrated the situation, effectively pushing Chris toward a mental break that led to mass murder.
Though Peacemaker has been portrayed in a more empathetic light in James Gunn’s Peacemaker series, Absolute Superman #4 reminds readers of his true nature, making him truly unforgivable. His indiscriminate killing of civilians in the name of peace brings this universe’s version of Peacemaker closer to his mainstream incarnation, positioning him as both a future villain and a casualty of a broken system. While Peacemaker’s cinematic portrayal may differ, the Absolute Universe reinforces his mantra of peace at all costs—ultimately showing how it drags him further into villainy than heroism.
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Absolute Superman #4 is available now from DC Comics!
Peacemaker
Release Date
January 13, 2022
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