Timala Elliott
Timala Elliott
Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1
DC Black Label
Written by Garth Ennis
Art by Garry Brown
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Rob Steen
The Rundown: Christopher Smith is interviewed by Dr. Sedgwick for a recommendation.
Christopher meets with Dr. Sedgewick and the two have a discussion regarding his requirements for assignment to a new unit. He then details a series of traumas from his past. Afterwards, his military career is relayed including an infamous assignment. When Dr. Sedgewick airs her suspicions, Christopher then relays the secret activities of his crew members. He also shares information regarding her current activities and his perception of them. Finally, he gives a commentary on his first trauma and how it informed all his later decisions.
The Story: Garth Ennis crafts an impressively written account of the history of Peacemaker. This one-shot narrative of one of DC most interesting members of the Suicide Squad is both terrifying and emotionally stimulating. This is not the goofy and often clumsy character from the current media. Christopher Smith is a dark, brooding figure with psychotic tendencies. And I find him to be the perfect anti-hero.
I love it when a story takes malevolent behavior and gives it a sympathetic turn based on perspective. By the end of this episode, I was both understanding and horrified by Christopher’s behavior. Especially as his narration included a window into the formation of his call-name. I can’t say enough good things about this issue and I can’t praise Ennis’s creativity enough. This work was brilliant, and I hope we see more of this iteration of Peacemaker.
The Art: The artwork in this edition is created in a modern format. There is a chaotic nature to many of the illustrations that fits the tone of the story. And I find it fascinating that this is juxtaposed with the calmer scenes that depict the mannerisms of Peacemaker. I found this to be a brilliantly created issue that is both engaging and transportive.
Peacemaker: Disturbing the Peace #1
