The most in-your-face explanation for what’s going on with Peacemaker in the new DCU can be found outside of San Diego Comic-Con.
Simply put—as soon as you walk in past the HBO Max activation marquee for the Peacemaker “Peacefest” in the Gaslamp District, you see a sign that reads, “Relax, it’s a state of emergency; you’re fucked’, dude.”
io9 was invited to scope out the space, which allowed for some rocking fun as you walk in through a Quantum Portal into the “altered dimension” of the Peacemaker universe. Hmm, we suspect Lex Luthor’s pocket dimension, and that crack Clark and Mr. Terrific noticed at the end of Superman, might have something to do with this.
The timed experience gives you a chance to look at some of the props for the series, which returns August 21 on HBO Max. One of the major things we noticed right away was the giant Mighty Crabjoys poster adorning one of Peacemaker’s helmet walls, so we at least get the sense that Superman might not be the only person in their fan club. Which really, lucky for Peacemaker, in case he needs help from Big Red whenever Rick Flagg Sr. finally gets around to revenge.
Peacefest also invited con attendees to get their rock show on to the show’s theme song with a live band, while stations offered the usual photo-ops, drinks, and some Mortal Kombat stations to celebrate Peacemaker’s addition to the roster for Mortal Kombat 1. One of the signs our Peacemaker friends might be in danger was also literally this TV under a “Lost and Found” sign with an arrow pointing to the show playing on a real fuzzy and deteriorating VHS tape.
It was, however, the closing song that gave way to some really distressing spoiler-ish answers. As the show ended, the band left, but Peacemaker sent a message to GTFO while another flashed across his face: “Warning: Alternate Dimension Collapsing.” We know season 2 is going to be dealing with bridging the gap between the old DCU and DC Studios’ post-Superman, canon, but this makes it feel like stakes are going to be very dire as Peacemaker tries to make it over to the new normal in one piece… especially as we know there’s going to be some Peacemaker vs. Peacemaker shenanigans as well. We’ll find out more at the San Diego Comic-Con panel later this week!
Check out the gallery below for more hints and a look inside Peacefest.
Stay tuned here at io9 for more SDCC ’25 and Peacemaker coverage.
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