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.
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 Peacemaker’s origin story, which wouldn’t have been explored in such dismal detail in the mainstream DC canon. It makes sense with Smith’s known characterization that he should be a detached and disturbed antihero. Ennis’ writing delivers on the promise, providing readers with a version of events that they haven’t seen before. Previously known for writing The Boys and Preacher, Ennis has written several stories which contain mature elements that wouldn’t be permitted for DC’s ongoing titles, as they cater to a more general demographic. DC Black Label has created an opportunity for writers like Ennis with a more provocative vision for characters than the iterations that fans have known.
Similarly, DC Black Label has lended itself to Superman: Year One, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Human Target, Rorschach, and a handful of other titles. The imprint is less concerned with things such as nudity, violence, swearing, drugs, and other elements which could earn a film an R rating. While the publisher’s ongoing titles tend to stick to PG and PG-13 territory, Black Label has become a place for more experimental takes on the DC Universe.
While the imprint continues to focus largely on Batman and his rogues gallery, DC Comics is missing an opportunity to experiment with characters who haven’t received such a dark and mature treatment before. In the past, creators have brought unconventionally darker, grounded takes to Green Arrow, Lex Luthor, Constantine, and others, but haven’t been able to explore them as deeply as Black Label would allow. As the imprint presses into Gotham City’s extensive cast of characters, Star City, Metropolis, and the Justice League Dark roster would do just as well for more mature storylines set outside of main continuity.
Although writer Brian Azzarello and illustrator Lee Bermejo’s Batman: Damned tends to receive attention for its titular Dark Knight, the DC Black Label limited series showcased what might be possible with a magic-based story that is far removed from the ongoing DC Universe titles. Constantine and Zatanna utilize magic to combat darker threats than those that they tend to fight, with a seriously disturbing rendition of the Enchantress. The book also features Justice League Dark members such as the Spectre, Deadman, Swamp Thing, and Etrigan, teasing the potential of an ensemble title from the imprint without Batman as a key part. As DC Black Label's Batman: Beyond The White Knight, Batman/Catwoman, and Batman: One Dark Night among others continue to delve into a darker Gotham City intended for older readers, DC should make note of other characters who would benefit from less confined visions.