For sure The Peacemaker made his breakout from relative obscurity in the second The Suicide Squad movie helmed by James Gunn. Given that he had to compete for screen time with Harley Quinn, it's remarkable how memorable John Cena's turn as Christopher Smith was. Doubtless Cena's relative fame helped elevate the character some, but his role in the movie is controversial from my perspective. He's once again a ruthless killing machine, not unlike the character's debut in the pages of Vigilante. He's a weapon, which the government chooses to point and shoot at those with whom they'd rather not deal. Unlike his fellow Suicide Squad members, he's not at the time a convict. This movie is a guilty pleasure of mine, as I'm ashamed by its banal treatment of savage and barbaric behavior, but at the same time I am drawn in by the relatively strong character arcs. The final battle is a dream come to the screen as the original JLA baddie comes to the big screen at long last.
The first Suicide Squad movie was a passable entertainment, but lacked focus and was so dark, both literally and thematically that it became difficult to fathom at all times. The second outing for the team was remarkable at just how brightly it lit the screen, quite literally.
I don't know if Peacemaker's TV show was a done deal before the movie even happened, but the movie sure set the stage for Peacemaker's breakout as a more complex creation on the small screen. More on that tomorrow.
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