War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing, which is why Christopher Smith fights to maintain harmony as Peacemaker. In a world full of endless wars, he’s here to make sure everyone lays down their arms—even if he has to kill everyone to make that happen. We got our first taste of exactly what that means in last summer’s James Gunn blockbuster, The Suicide Squad. Now, John Cena’s Peacemaker is ready to ride again with an original HBO Max series that was also written by Gunn. So, to help us ensure that Thursday’s premiere is…well, peaceful, we thought we’d look at Peacemaker’s comic book history for a few conflict resolution tips. Here are five Peacemaker-approved ways to bring the peace!
 

Make Sure Everyone in the Room is Willing to Negotiate

Christopher Smith knows peace is within our grasp. We just have to be willing to negotiate. How do you get all sides to the table? According to Peacemaker, you do it by killing everyone that’s trying to escalate the violence (naturally!). That way the only people left are the pacifists who work for peace.

As Smith slaughtered a group of terrorists in Peacemaker #1, he believed each bloodied corpse put the world one step closer to peace. It’s an extreme measure for sure, but nobody can ever accuse the Peacemaker of being subtle.

Show the Enemy How Destructive War Is

If you want peace, you have to be prepared to show the other side how bad war is. Peacemaker gave a good demonstration of this in Peacemaker #4, when he took out an enemy camp with a ridiculously over-the-top aerial assault. The carnage that Peacemaker caused was traumatizing enough to put even the most bloodthirsty general off of fighting. We can argue about how harmful violence is, but until it’s experienced firsthand, villains can't comprehend the full horror of their actions.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Mess

The path to peace can be a bit uncomfortable, and that’s okay. Peaceful negotiations can get tense, but sometimes you have to make a mess to achieve peace. For example, in Peacemaker #2, Smith smashed through a wall shouting, “Show yourself, pimp!” before blasting his target. Was it a messy way to make an entrance? Absolutely! But Peacemaker knows that sometimes a broken wall, an angry shout and a barrage of bullets is the only way to start a peaceful discussion.

Have a Bigger Weapon Than the Other Guy

One great way to resolve a conflict is by making sure your weapons are bigger than everyone else’s. And according to Christopher Smith, you need big guns to defend the peace. That’s why Peacemaker flies his own fighter jet, complete with a state-of-the-art missile system, machine guns and heavy armor. Think of it as the Peace Plane, if “peace” means flying through the air blasting everything in your path.

Ignore Any Nazi Ghosts Screaming in Your Brain

We admit that not all experiences are universal, but sometimes the best way to maintain peace is to ignore the ghost of your late Nazi father screaming in your head. As detailed in Peacemaker #1, Smith’s father in the comic was a Nazi warlord who operated one of the biggest death camps in Europe. Wolfgang Schmidt took his own life when his Nazi past resurfaced, traumatizing his young son. Ever since then, Christopher has heard his father’s voice in his head, criticizing him during his missions. Thankfully Smith knows better than to follow the advice of a murderous Nazi, and he doesn’t let it get in the way of his quest for world peace. While that’s admirable, we’d still be a bit more comfortable if he saw a therapist.

Disclaimer: If it wasn’t already ridiculously obvious, we’re joking here. Do NOT try any of these peacekeeping methods. In fact, don’t try ANYTHING that Peacekeeper does. He’s a psychopath and an imbecile whose pacifist methods leave a lot to be desired... Still, the guy’s a riot, so if either before or after watching Peacemaker, you want more of him, check out the 1987 Peacemaker limited series by Paul Kupperberg, Tod Smith and Pablo Marcos.

About that miniseries, it’s free to read right now on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE. Click here to check it out!

Peacemaker debuts January 13 on HBO Max. Not yet a subscriber? Sign up today to enjoy the best of DC movies and TV.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DCComics.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.