Bloody Hell, Peacemaker Just Blew a Hole to Superman's Next Big Bad?! (And It's Not Who You'd Think)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
The *Peacemaker* Season 2 finale trapped Chris Smith on a desolate planet named 'Salvation,' strongly hinting at the comic book storyline *Salvation Run* and potentially setting up the terrifying New God DeSaad as the main villain for James Gunn's upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* film, forcing Superman into a desperate alliance.
Right, so apparently *Peacemaker* thinks we're all ready for another reality-bending cliffhanger, and mate, they delivered. I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared, potentially setting up a genuinely terrifying villain for James Gunn's upcoming *Man of Tomorrow* film. This article was inspired by and built upon insights from Jake Kleinman's piece for Polygon.
You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well? That's what James Gunn just did with the *Peacemaker* Season 2 finale, pulling a rabbit out of a multiversal hat that has me more intrigued than a new dungeon raid with legendary loot on the line. While we're all still twiddling our thumbs waiting to see if there'll be a third season of the show, Gunn's already confirmed that this season is a direct lead-in to his *Superman: Legacy* (or as he now calls it, *Man of Tomorrow* – gotta keep us on our toes, eh?). And if the finale is anything to go by, we might have just gotten a massive clue about who Kal-El will be squaring off against.
**The Great Escape That Wasn't (For Peacemaker, Anyway)**
Full spoilers below for the end of *Peacemaker* Season 2, so if you haven't seen it and hate being surprised, well, you've been warned, mate.
So, the grand finale kicks off with ARGUS, led by the surprisingly intense Rick Flag (Frank Grillo, looking like he's ready to chew scenery and spit out shrapnel), poking around the multiversal doorway that Chris Smith, our beloved Peacemaker, so kindly handed over last episode. What are they looking for? Turns out, a 'habitable planet' – a bit of real estate in another dimension where Flag reckons they can banish all of Earth's metahumans. He dubs this charming new locale 'Salvation.' Because nothing says 'inescapable jail' like a name that promises salvation, eh? Classic corporate PR speak, even in an interdimensional context.
But the punchline, the true digital tea leaf, comes at the very end. ARGUS, ever the subtle bunch, kidnaps Chris Smith himself and shoves him through this shiny new doorway. Flag, not a total monster (or so he claims), explains that Chris is merely his 'test subject' to ensure Salvation is, you know, actually habitable. Because who better to stress-test a dimension-hopping prison than the bloke who just helped them find it? The doorway then winks out of existence, trapping Chris alone on this alien rock. Just before the credits roll, we're treated to a delightful cacophony of off-screen roars – sounds that, to my curious ears, definitely hint at something large, toothy, and very, very hungry. Dinosaurs, perhaps? Or something far worse? It's like dropping into a new MMO zone without any gear, mate. What happens if you get munched on in another dimension?
**Salvation Run: The Comic Book Lowdown**
To really get a handle on what this all means for the larger DC Universe tapestry Gunn is weaving, we need to take a quick spelunking trip into the hallowed halls of DC Comics history, specifically the glorious madness that was *Salvation Run*.
Published way back in 2007-2008 as part of the *Final Crisis* crossover event (which was, let's be honest, a mind-bender and a half), *Salvation Run* was a seven-issue limited series. The core idea, apparently, even had a sprinkle of George R.R. Martin's creative fairy dust on it – so you *know* it's going to involve grim consequences. Written by Bill Willingham and Lilah Sturges, with art by a whole squad of talented folks, the premise was beautifully simple: Amanda Waller (the queen of questionable ethics, bless her chaotic heart) and the Suicide Squad round up a heap of supervillains and banish them to a distant planet, also called Salvation. We're talking Lex Luthor, Joker, Killer Croc, Bane, Deadshot, Gorilla Grodd, Hugo Strange, Clayface, Mister Freeze, Poison Ivy... the whole rogue's gallery. Even a few morally grey characters like Catwoman got chucked in for good measure, just to spice things up.
The initial idea was just to let them duke it out and hopefully thin the herd. But, as with all good comic book plots, there was a twist. Turns out, Salvation wasn't just some random cosmic rock. Oh no, mate. It was actually a 'training planet' for the New Gods of Apokolips, that charming hellscape ruled by the one, the only, Darkseid. And even worse, this delightful little penal colony was under the authority of one of Darkseid's most utterly disturbing lieutenants: DeSaad.
**DeSaad: Superman's Next Big Headache?**
If you're not familiar with DeSaad, let me tell you, he makes Rick Flag look like a Care Bear. In the comics, DeSaad has one very specific job: he's Darkseid's chief torturer. And he's not just a brute; he's a genius who absolutely *adores* inventing new, excruciating ways to inflict suffering. He's pretty much immortal, sometimes super strong, and occasionally boasts powers like telepathy and emotion control. In short, he's the kind of bloke who sends shivers down your spine just reading his name. He's not just a villain; he's a *concept* of pure torment.
Now, if James Gunn is indeed riffing on the *Salvation Run* plotline – and with the prison planet’s name and Peacemaker’s predicament, it’s a fairly safe bet he is – then it stands to reason he could be setting up DeSaad as the DCU's next big bad. Think about it: a foe so profoundly evil and powerful that he could force Superman and Lex Luthor (who, let's face it, usually need a lot of convincing to be on the same side, especially if Lex feels responsible for creating this interdimensional mess) to team up. That's a truly terrifying threat, the kind that demands a whole new level of heroics.
We're taking some speculative leaps here, for sure, like a wizard trying to decipher ancient runes with a half-remembered incantation. But based on the *Peacemaker* Season 2 ending, DeSaad has rocketed up the rankings for who could be the main antagonist in *Man of Tomorrow*. And if that's not enough to get your heart thumping like a boss battle drum, imagine this: DeSaad could also serve as a brilliant appetizer for Darkseid himself, setting the stage for a proper Justice League movie further down the line. It's like finding a legendary mini-boss before the final raid; you know the true horror is yet to come.
Thankfully, we won't have to wait an eternity to find out if my digital tea leaves are reading true. *Man of Tomorrow* is currently expected to start filming in April of 2026. Until then, I'll be re-watching *Peacemaker* and wondering what other comic book deep cuts Gunn has waiting to blow our minds. What happens if Peacemaker eventually finds a way back home, only to discover Darkseid's minions are already there? Now *that's* a thought for another day, mate. What do you reckon?
Tags: DCU, Superman, Peacemaker, James Gunn, Comic Books
Original article: Polygon