Peacemaker Season 2 isn’t just continuing the chaotic adventures of John Cena’s brash anti-hero — it’s laying groundwork for James Gunn’s new DC Universe (DCU). Among the biggest teases so far is a clear nod toward Martian Manhunter, a founding Justice League member and one of DC’s most iconic extraterrestrial heroes.
In episode 3, Vigilante casually mentions Martians while ranting about alien threats. His description of a creature with “one big eye” mirrors the Absolute Martian Manhunter comic design, a darker reimagining of the character. For long-time fans, this feels like more than a throwaway line especially since Gunn has a history of planting subtle details that later turn into major reveals.
What makes this tease important is Gunn’s approach to storytelling. He envisions a “lived-in DCU,” where heroes, villains, and references blend naturally into everyday dialogue rather than staged introductions. That means Martian Manhunter could first appear as a background hint, before becoming a fully realized character in Peacemaker, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, or Man of Tomorrow.
If Gunn does bring him in, Martian Manhunter’s calm, tragic alien presence would contrast sharply with Peacemaker’s loud, reckless personality -creating the kind of unexpected “buddy dynamic” Gunn thrives on.
More importantly, it signals that the DCU is expanding beyond Earth, building scale and mythology while keeping Gunn’s signature quirky, grounded tone intact. Fans are already buzzing that this could be the first step toward the Justice League of the new DCU.
