Heroes, Villains, and Everything in Between

So, you know it’s just another day in the life of our favorite anti-hero, Peacemaker, where logic and reason take a back seat! In the latest episode of Peacemaker, Chris Smith, aka the guy who thinks peace is best achieved through excessive violence (you got that right), stumbles upon an alternate reality. There, he’s a total rockstar—everyone’s favorite hero! However, you might want to hold onto your stretchy pants because things go sideways fast when a group that calls themselves the Sons of Liberty crashes the party.

Who the Heck are the Sons of Liberty?

Unless you were living under a rock—or perhaps more accurately, in a ’90s comic book void—you might be scratching your head at this name. But let me drop some knowledge: the Sons of Liberty were originally rolled out in the magnificent issue of Superman #53. These guys aren’t exactly your friendly neighborhood vigilantes. They’re more of a shadowy organization bent on swapping out Uncle Sam’s government for one that fits their warped version of liberty. You could say they’re here for a good time and a long time—like, forever!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Back in the day, the Sons were so busy pulling off their shenanigans, they even kidnapped good ol’ Lana Lang to mess with Superman’s best buddy, Pete Ross. But I guess if you’re going to kidnap someone, it might as well be Superman’s crush, right? Talk about playing with fire! Spoiler alert: things end badly for the Sons when Agent Liberty decides he’s had enough of their nonsense and spills the beans, leading to their dramatic downfall. Talk about a family feud!

No Big Threats Here

Now, you might think that if Chris Smith can wipe the floor with the Sons of Liberty on his lunch break, Superman would be a piece of cake for them. But hold your horses! Back in the ’90s, when DC was trying to get all philosophical with Superman, these stories were surprisingly on point, connecting to real-world headlines and current events. The Sons were like a comic book reflection of those pesky right-wing groups, making our favorite Kryptonian reconsider what “the American Way” really means. Deep stuff for a superhero comic, right?

The Evolution of the Sons

And then, in a twist that no one saw coming, the Sons transformed into a more aggressive right-wing group after DC’s Rebirth fiasco. They were now facing off against the D-list hero known as the Ray. Talk about a matchup for the ages! This is hardly the criminal mastermind lineup you’d expect from DC. But hey, it makes perfect sense in the Peacemaker universe.

Reflecting on the Past

What’s fascinating is how the show ties Chris’ backstory into this mess. In his early days, Peacemaker was associated with the Pax Institute, which let’s face it, sounds like the name of a place that serves lukewarm coffee and has bad Wi-Fi. But in reality, it’s more sinister than it sounds. Chris himself is the son of a Nazi war criminal—if that doesn’t have sitcom potential, I don’t know what does! As Chris tries to mend his ways and become a decent person, you can’t help but think, “Is he really that far removed from the Sons of Liberty?”

Hope in All the Wrong Places

At the end of the day, the Sons of Liberty symbolize a weird kind of hope for Chris Smith. If someone as forgettable as Agent Liberty can snag a spot in the Justice League, who knows? Maybe one day, our boy Peacemaker can upgrade from his current gig and join the Justice Gang—or whatever they’re calling it these days. Fingers crossed!

Don’t forget to catch new episodes of Peacemaker season 2, airing every Thursday at 9 p.m. on HBO Max. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!