Alan Moore, known for his uncompromising stance on adaptations of his comics, has shown disdain for almost all of them. In fact, he recently demanded that the profits from any adaptation of his works be donated to the Black Lives Matter organization. However, surprisingly, there is one adaptation that received his approval: “For the Man Who Has Everything,” a 1985 comic featuring Superman and illustrated by Dave Gibbons. A rare bird within his bibliography in every sense, this work was adapted into the series Justice League Unlimited, created by Bruce Timm in […]
Alan Moore, known for his uncompromising stance on adaptations of his comics, has shown disdain for almost all of them. In fact, he recently demanded that the profits from any adaptation of his works be directed to the Black Lives Matter organization. However, surprisingly, there is one adaptation that received his approval: “For the Man Who Has Everything,” a 1985 comic featuring Superman and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.
A rare bird within his bibliography in every sense
This work was adapted into the series Justice League Unlimited, created by Bruce Timm in 2004. In a context where Moore has openly criticized other adaptations like V for Vendetta and Watchmen, his approval of this episode is both unusual and significant. Timm, concerned about the possibility of adapting the material without Moore’s consent, decided to contact the writer, who responded positively, stating that it would be an honor for him to adapt it.
Despite the fact that the episode presented in the series introduced some changes compared to the original comic, the result was well received. Dwayne McDuffie, one of the producers, revealed that Moore had seen the episode and enjoyed it, which is notable considering the writer’s history with adaptations. Although Moore has never publicly expressed his opinion on the episode, McDuffie’s testimony adds considerable weight to this claim.
Although Moore remains critical of most adaptations of his work, this exception highlights the possibility of a more positive relationship between content creators and their original works, opening an important dialogue about respect and interpretation in the world of film and television adaptations.
In cinema and television, some of the less famous superheroes from comics have managed to succeed. Iron Man was not among Marvel’s favorites when he took the movies by storm. Not to mention The Guardians of the Galaxy. There are exceptions, like Batman or Spider-Man, but the new wave of superheroes seems to have found more fertile ground in those superheroes who are not already endorsed by the general public. A good example is Peacemaker. The origins of the character Peacemaker are known to the public for being the character that inspired The Comedian from Watchmen of […]
In cinema and television, some of the less famous superheroes from comics have managed to succeed. Iron Man was not among Marvel’s favorites when he took the movies by storm. Not to mention the Guardians of the Galaxy. There are exceptions, like Batman or Spider-Man, but the new wave of superheroes seems to have found more fertile ground in those superheroes who are not already endorsed by the general public. A good example is The Peacemaker.
The origins of the character
The Peacemaker is known to the public as the character that inspired The Comedian from Alan Moore’s Watchmen. That is to say, he was not a well-known character at all. He was vaguely known by those familiar with Moore’s work, but very few people had a direct and close relationship with the character himself.
The character, in fact, did not become part of the DC universe until relatively recently. It would not be until the event Crisis on Infinite Earths in 1988 that he would officially become part of the DC universe, because until then the idea was for the Watchmen characters to replace them in DC. But with the not-so-friendly breakup between Moore and DC, the American company decided to take the Charlton characters, the company that originally inspired the Watchmen characters, and officially integrate them into the DC universe.
Since then, they have been characters that have rarely had weight within the DC universe. And Peacemaker in particular has been a figure with very little weight. He died in a minor event, The Janus Directive, returned to life years later as a mentor to Blue Beetle, and ended up being part of the lineup of the seventh incarnation of the Suicide Squad. This is how he appeared in the group’s movie, and during the pandemic, James Gunn decided to continue his series with an 8-episode show that was a complete success that caught everyone by surprise.
John Cena, the star of the series
The first season of the series introduces us to Peacemaker, who is forced to join A.R.G.U.S, a special operations squad that seeks to identify and eliminate parasitic creatures in the form of butterflies that hijack human bodies. This will lead him to a series of dramatic missions, filled with comedy, where he will have to face his worst enemy: his own past and the disconnection from his present. Learning that it’s not just about saving people, but also about how it’s done.
Although the series works due to Gunn’s wonderful scripts, another reason it has resonated well with the audience is the one that might be least expected at first glance. And it’s that John Cena does a spectacular job as Peacemaker.
In fairness, Cena is not a very good actor. He is too stiff, his range is not very broad, and he always ends up playing himself. This is true in WWE and not very different in Hollywood. But in The Peacemaker, he knows how to bring to life a character that is completely disconnected from the present because he is, in essence, a person with a completely military mindset who is unaware that he is a bit pathetic. Or to be fair, quite pathetic.
That’s where Cena shines as an actor. His range is limited, but he knows how to play with it as Peacemaker. He has a comedic knack, especially knowing how to be the butt of the joke, which adds depth to the character, and he has no problem showing vulnerability, even if he doesn’t have the depth of other more gifted actors, like Dave Bautista for example, without straying from wrestlers turned actors. And that makes a character like Peacemaker fit him like a glove: it feels tailor-made for him because, in many ways, it’s a continuation of what he has been doing his whole life in WWE: being a good soldier. Only now, with a character that has many more nuances than that.
A second season that we can enjoy now
With the premiere of the second season, we can expect many things, although nothing concrete. Gunn and Cena have remained secretive about the character and the future of the series, so we don’t have anything particularly relevant about it. However, we do know one thing: the character will continue to evolve.
If there is one thing that characterized the first season, it was the change of Peacemaker throughout it. Whatever threat he faces in this second season, what is to be expected is that we continue to see how he keeps changing and evolving as a person. Even if he is still going to be a jerk who, upon seeing Aquaman, brings up how true it is that he romantically likes fish. Something that no one confirms or denies.
Premiering today, August 21, on HBO Max, there is no scenario where the series could disappoint its fans. It’s Peacemaker, it’s John Cena, and it’s James Gunn. Following the story of the recent Superman, we can expect to see the future of the DCU here, and just for that, it’s worth watching. But even if it weren’t, after the first season, there are very few reasons not to continue watching this series.
