The DCU Already Has a Villain More Dangerous Than Lex Luthor

The DC Universe isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to its villains. In Creature Commandos, the titular team has to protect Pokolistan and one of the members of its royal family, Princess Ilana Rostovic, from a radical group known as the Sons of Themyscira. It soon comes to light that Rostovic is actually the one behind the whole scheme, and she has her sights set on the entire world. The vision that Amanda Waller sees of the villain standing over dozens of dead heroes is haunting, but it’s not the biggest threat to the DCU. No, Lex Luthor is the one holding all the cards when he launches his grand plan in Superman.

Despite having more money and influence than he knows what to do with, Luthor only has one goal: killing Superman. The billionaire believes that the Man of Steel is not helping humanity but making it lazy, which he won’t stand for. The hate runs so deep that Luthor threatens to destroy the entire world by opening a dimensional rift in Metropolis. Mister Terrific is able to shut down the portal in the nick of time, but there are still consequences for Luthor’s actions. Another DCU character doesn’t mind a little bit of collateral damage, though, as they’re about to follow in Luthor’s footsteps.

Rick Flag Sr. Is After More Than Just Peacemaker

Saving the world from the Butterflies in Peacemaker Season 1 puts Christopher Smith in good standing with the U.S. government. The anti-hero is free to head back home, hang out with his friends, and even interview for a spot with the Justice Gang. However, behind the scenes, the new head of A.R.G.U.S., Rick Flag Sr., is working on a way to take Peaecemaker down, wanting to get revenge for the death of his son in Corto Maltese. Peacemaker provides Flag with an opening when he heads through the Quantum Unfolding Chamber in his dad’s old house, setting off all kinds of alarms at A.R.G.U.S. After agents fail to capture Peacemaker the first time, Flag decides to use Emilia Harcourt to lure his target in during Season 2, Episode 4.

The plan works to perfection, and Flag gets his one-on-one time with Peacemaker. Unfortunately for the general, John Economos ruins the meeting by officially booking his fellow 11th Street Kid, but Flag isn’t all that upset. As he tells Sasha Bordeaux, everything is working out in his favor because he’s not as focused on Peacemaker as he is on nabbing the Quantum Unfolding Chamber. While Flag claims he wants to avoid another incident like Metropolis, the line between right and wrong probably isn’t very clear to the military man, who may change his tune after seeing what dangers the multiverse holds.

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The DCU Multiverse Is Either Going to Tempt or Corrupt Rick Flag Sr.

Flag’s lust for power is a bit surprising, given that he seems like a stand-up guy in Creature Commandos. However, the Luthor fiasco might have opened his eyes to how weak he is in the grand scheme of things. One way to level the playing field would be to have access to an entire multiverse full of information. Flag could send A.R.G.U.S. agents through every door in the chamber and have them report back on what they find. That way, the United States can prepare for every situation and never be caught off guard by another rogue villain who wants to play god.

On the flip side, travelling to alternate universes might be too much for Flag to handle. After all, the one Peacemaker is trying to call home has its very own version of Rick Flag Jr., who is still alive and working at A.R.G.U.S. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side, though, as there’s evidence that supports the theory that the alternate reality is actually a version of Earth-X, full of Nazi sympathizers who want to kill anyone who doesn’t look like them off the map. If that turns out to be the case, Flag is surely going to consider wiping the universe off the multiversal map, as it’s tarnishing his son’s legacy. And what’s to stop him from doing the same to other realities that he doesn’t like once all the pieces are in place?

Peacemaker Season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.

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