Warning! SPOILERS ahead for Peacemaker

HBO's Peacemaker series has been bringing quite a few different heroes and villains into the DCEU canon, thanks to its plethora of references, and a good number of them are some of the strangest characters DC Comics has to offer. While Peacemaker (John Cena) has been activated for a solo mission separate from Task Force X, Chris Smith has referenced and learned about some of the most ridiculous characters along the way, while also confirming the existence of some key Gotham villains in the DCEU (thanks to Peacemaker's apparent beef with Batman). Although they probably won't be seen on-screen, becoming canon is pretty significant  - however odd they may be.

Thus far, the new Peacemaker series from director James Gunn has been following Peacemaker and a support team apart from the greater Suicide Squad run by director Amanda Waller. However, despite the entirety of Task Force X not being deployed, the threat Peacemaker is facing seems to be just as big. While his team is constantly contending with his obnoxious antics, they've also managed to point Smith in the right direction to help with Project Butterfly - which involves literal alien butterflies secretly mind-controlling humans across the globe. However, the smaller number of heroes in Peacemaker has been balanced with quite a few new characters becoming canon through hilarious jokes and conversations.

Related: Peacemaker Episodes 4 Asks 6 Questions About DCEU Heroes & Villains

While there are heroes and villains beyond Peacemaker who are featured and have roles in the series such as Peacemaker's partner Vigilante, Judo Master, and White Dragon, the heroes and villains listed are those who have simply been brought into the DCEU's canon via references Smith and company have made in passing. Likewise, it's very unlikely that some of these particular characters will actually be featured in Peacemaker (or ever in the DCEU), though the new name drops do make them canon all the same.

Bat-Mite

Batman and Bat-Mite

In Peacemaker episode 2, Smith is being stitched up by John Economos, one of the Task Force X analysts who defied Waller in The Suicide Squad and got sent to Peacemaker's mission as a punishment. Sure enough, Peacemaker is incessantly making fun of Economos, eventually driving the analyst to fire back by saying he'd rather work with Harley Quinn, Weasel, or Bat-Mite than him. Naturally, Peacemaker has no clue who Bat-Mite is, and Economos explains that he's a "two-foot-tall interdimensional imp who stans Batman." Remarkably, Economos isn't lying or exaggerating. Bat-Mite was created in 1959 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, created to be a counterpart to the interdimensional Superman foe Mister Mxyzptlk. However, Bat-Mite truly is a major Batman fan, being more irritating to the Dark Knight as opposed to being an actual threat. Now that he's in the DCEU, one can only imagine the imp flying around and annoying a live-action Batman to no end.

Doll Man

Doll-Man-Peacemaker-Hero

In Peacemaker episode 3, Chris Smith expresses his feelings that "homunculi" make him uncomfortable, referencing the small stature of Judo Master. However, he also makes a reference to Doll Man, a DC version of Ant-Man who can shrink down to six inches at will. Despite being less popular than Marvel's Ant-Man or DC's Atom, Doll Man was introduced in 1939 as the original shrinking superhero, initially being a property of Quality Comics whom DC acquired and eventually introduced into the DC universe in the 1970s.

Matter-Eater Lad

Matter-Eater Lad eating a fence in DC Comics

In Peacemaker episode 4, Chris is having a conversation with Clemson Murn (the lead on Project Butterfly) sharing that his sense of normal has been skewed after a past team up with Matter-Eater Lad. One of the strangest heroes of all time, Matter-Eater Lad's real name is Tenzil Kem, a member of the Legion of Superheroes created in 1962. Hailing from the planet Bismol whose people developed the ability to eat any kind of matter no matter how indestructible, Matter-Eater Lad is a strange force to be reckoned with despite his awful name. Likewise, Peacemaker mentions that the DCEU's version is apparently quite crazy, eating an entire Wendy's when they took too long making his french fries.

Related: Peacemaker: What The Real Butterfly Secret Plan Is

Riddler

Riddler in the comics

While arguing about Batman and his effectiveness with his dad's nosy neighbor, Peacemaker confirms the existence of a handful of classic Gotham villains the Dark Knight has fought. This includes Edward Nygma's Riddler, created in 1948 by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang. Using his mind and an affinity for riddles and puzzles, Nygma often forces Bruce Wayne to use his brains over his brawn, as the villain desperately tries to prove himself Batman's intellectual better. While the Riddler will be the primary antagonist in Matt Reeves' upcoming The Batman, it won't be a part of the DCEU. As a result, this serves as confirmation that the Riddler exists in the greater cinematic universe as well, though some Easter eggs teased his existence in prior DCEU projects such as green question mark graffiti being seen in Batman v Superman.

Mad Hatter

mad hatter smiling in the comic books

Peacemaker episode 4 also sees Chris Smith confirming Jervis Tetch's Mad Hatter, a mind-controlling villain themed after the Alice in Wonderland character of the same name. Using hats with groundbreaking mind-control technology, the Mad Hatter is a constantly underrated member of Batman's rogues, created in 1948 by Bill Finger, Lew Sayre Schwartz, and Bob Kane. He's also featured often with an entourage of thugs who are likewise patterned after other Alice in Wonderland characters such as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Dormouse, and Alice herself.

New Joker

Joker comics

One of the more interesting references from Peacemaker is his reference to the Joker during his Batman argument. While Peacemaker is somewhat complicated as far as its place in the DCEU timeline, the claim is made that Batman doesn't kill people, something Ben Affleck's Batman absolutely did. Combined with a Wayne Industries logo that's different from ones seen in the past, it seems as though Peacemaker's timeline features a new Batman whose "no kill rule" is still intact. As such, this must mean that there's a new Joker as well that's not Jared Leto's version who was seen in David Ayer's Suicide Squad (as well as in Zack Snyder's Justice League).

More: Peacemaker Just Admitted Batman's No Kill Rule Is Ridiculous

Peacemaker releases new episodes every Thursday on HBO Max.

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