Peacemaker Proves DC's Mature Label Needs to Expand Beyond Batman
As DC’s line of stories intended for more mature readers called Black Label expands to characters outside of Gotham City like Peacemaker, it is proving the full potential of the imprint. Creators have produced numerous dark and gritty Batman comics, but many heroes and villains in the DC Universe would benefit from unrestricted storytelling set outside of mainstream canon.
Throughout DC Black Label’s history, the imprint has seen many Batman titles, including the Batman: White Knight series, Batman: Reptilian, Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, Batman: Last Knight on Earth, Batman: Three Jokers, Batman/Catwoman, and more. Whether a title from the imprint focuses on the Dark Knight or one of his villains, Gotham City has been an overplayed location. As writers such as Frank Miller and Grant Morrison have crafted darker and more “adult” Batman stories than those allowed in DC’s main ongoing titles, Black Label as a vehicle for more gritty tales of the Caped Crusader feels redundant and unnecessary.
Related: Read Comics That Inspired 'The Batman' For Free On DC Universe Infinite
With the recent release of Garth Ennis’Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace through DC Black Label, the limited series is proving the potential for stories outside of Gotham City. Similarly explored by the HBO Max series, Ennis’ work considers the real world implications of Christopher Smith’s Peacemaker persona. Even the covers of the title don’t waste any time setting an impression for the violent premise, with some covers featuring puddles of blood, and others depicting Peacemaker in the midst of a shootout. The limited series features art by Garry Brown and colors by Lee Loughridge, with covers by Juan Ferreyra.
The first issue delves into
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