Peacemaker (character)

Peacemaker is an antihero originally owned by Charlton Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. The Peacemaker, Christopher Smith, first appeared in Fightin' 5 #40 (November 1966) and was created by writer Joe Gill and artist Pat Boyette. In his debut appearance, he was depicted as a pacifist willing to do anything to bring peace to the world. When DC Comics acquired Peacemaker they changed the character, as depicting him as a violent vigilante haunted by the ghosts of his past. Smith's incarnation would later be killed, and though another incarnation of Peacemaker would follow, Smith's incarnation would later be brought back and become a recurring character. Peacemaker appears in media set in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) and DC Universe (DCU) movie franchises, in which he is portrayed by John Cena. This incarnation, Christopher "Chris" Smith, appears in the DCEU film The Suicide Squad (2021) and the DCU film Superman (2025), in addition to starring in the television series Peacemaker (2022–2025). Though largely forgotten following the 1980s, Peacemaker's appearances in The Suicide Squad and his television series were credited with reviving the character's popularity. Critics have highlighted the television incarnation of the character, and Cena's performance has been praised. Cena's incarnation's bisexuality has also been the subject of discussion from critics.