The second season of Peacemaker wrapped up with big changes for the DCU, introducing the prison planet Salvation and a new team called Checkmate. However, many fans were left waiting for a promised major DC character appearance that never happened. Despite heavy speculation and teases from creator James Gunn himself, Superman did not make an appearance in the season finale.
The Tease of a Major DC Cameo
Before the season ended, James Gunn built excitement by talking about the final episodes. He said that “really big, big stars from the DC Universe” would appear near the end of the season. This led to a lot of guessing about which hero might show up.
The first season’s recap, which explained the butterfly invasion, included a silhouette of Superman. This, along with Peacemaker’s own cameo in the Superman movie, made it seem like a fair trade was coming. Many thought it was almost certain that David Corenswet’s Man of Steel would return the favor.
Other Rumored Characters Who Didn’t Appear
Superman wasn’t the only character fans expected to see. Several other major DC figures were rumored to make an appearance but were absent from the final season.
- Blue Beetle: Gunn had previously praised the Blue Beetle movie and expressed interest in bringing the character into the DCU. This led to theories that Jaime Reyes could help fight the Nazi regime on Earth-X.
- G.I. Robot: After the show revealed that Peacemaker’s perfect world was actually the Nazi-controlled Earth-X, a cameo from G.I. Robot seemed perfect. This character, who is known for hating Nazis, was a popular fan prediction, especially with rumors of a future live-action appearance.
- The Creature Commandos: With Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr., who leads the team in the animated Creature Commandos, playing a major role, a crossover with his monstrous team seemed like a natural fit. However, they remained in their cells at Belle Reve.
- Brainiac: Some of the biggest speculation was that the finale would directly introduce a major Superman villain. With Gunn noting the season leads into Man of Tomorrow, many thought one of ARGUS’s dimension-hopping scenes would unleash Brainiac.
Which Major Characters Did Appear in Season 2
While some hoped-for heroes were missing, the season was still packed with DC characters. The show firmly established its place in the new DCU with several key appearances.
- The Justice Gang: The season premiere featured Peacemaker’s failed tryout for the Justice Gang, bringing back Guy Gardner’s Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) from the Superman movie.
- Lex Luthor: The mastermind played by Nicholas Hoult appeared in an earlier episode, meeting with Rick Flag Sr. from his cell in Belle Reve after the events of Superman.
- A Superman Kaiju: In a clever connection, the giant monster that Superman and the Justice Gang fought in Superman appeared on Earth-X. Peacemaker, his father Auggie, and his brother Keith suited up as the “Top Trio” to fight it, showing they were the main heroes of that world.
A Finale Focused on New Beginnings
The season finale, “Full Nelson,” ultimately focused on setting up new elements for the future of the DCU instead of bringing in established heroes for a last-minute cameo. The plot centered on ARGUS discovering a habitable dimension they name Salvation, which Flag Sr. plans to use as a new prison planet for metahumans.
Disgusted by this plan, the core members of the 11th Street Kids—along with defecting ARGUS agents—form a new independent organization called Checkmate. Their goal is to make the world better outside of the official system. The season ends with Peacemaker being betrayed by Flag Sr., who leaves him stranded on Salvation as revenge for his son’s death.
Also Read: James Gunn Shares Behind-the-Scenes Photo from Peacemaker Season 2 Finale with Lex Luthor
