We wanted to title this review “What do you mean who the fuck am I? I’m Peacemaker” but opted to be more PG. Kyle Starks brings it in full James Gunn spirit with Peacemaker Tries Hard! from DC Black Label.
After being released from the Suicide Squad, Peacemaker wants to try and do normal superhero stuff for a change. However, when busting up a terrorist ring introduces Christopher Smith to the cutest dog he’s ever seen, he finds the unconditional love he’s been denied his whole life. That is, until the dog is kidnapped right out from under him by a super-villain who has some very un-super-heroic plans for Peacemaker’s brand of ultraviolence. Will he help an infamously unstable super-powered criminal steal the world’s most valuable—and dangerous—DNA?
Starks has been known as an outstanding comedic comic writer, but more recently has focused on the horror genre with amazing books such as Devil on my Shoulder, Where Monsters Lie, and Those Not Afraid. Kyle returns to his roots a bit with Peacemaker and knocked it out of the park. However, it’s not just a comedy book. The DC Black Label series is action packed with a great story that takes notes from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker television series.
In addition to stellar one-liners, awkward moments, and the action-packed sequences you’d expect from a superhero comic, Starks also brings together a cast of characters that may have been forgotten or less-used in modern comics. Love seeing these lesser-known characters get a moment to shine.
Along with Kyle’s spectacular writing, legend Steve Pugh nailed the artwork which pairs extremely well with the Peacemaker character and Starks’ story. It’s always nice to see the mixture of what you’d expect on the small screen with the comic style blended together.
If you are a fan of the Gunn’s take on the Peacemaker character in The Suicide Squad and self-titled HBO Max series, Peacemaker Tries Hard! is for you. The look, feel and story follow in the footsteps of the on-screen version of Christopher Smith.
The paperback collected edition of Peacemaker Tries Hard! hits shelves at your local comic shop and bookstores everywhere on February 10, 2026 from DC Comics.
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