What is checkmate? The introduction of the DC team is explained in the Peacemaker epilogue

Stay tuned for spoilers for the “Full Nelson” Season 2 finale, so beware.

James Gunn, the creator of “Peacemaker” and architect of the DC Universe, hasn’t committed to a third season, but there may be a good reason why. After the Season 2 finale, “Full Nelson,” it may be because the “Peacemaker” story will continue under a new title.

In the first season of “Peacemaker”, the ARGUS government agency was the team’s employer. This season, ARGUS was under the new management of Rick Flag (Frank Grillo), who was understandably upset that Peacemaker/Christopher Smith (John Cena) killed his son Rick Jr. (Joel Kinnaman). Back in “Suicide Squad.” ARGUS shifted to a more aggressive role, and by the end of “Full Nelson”, he left the heroes behind to form their own agency: Checkmate, “Making The World Better”.

In the comics, the Checkmate are a chess-shaped spy team, assigned codenames based on rank (with kings and queens at the top and pawns at the bottom). Like a game of chess, Checkmate’s “pieces” are divided by color: the “white” section handles intelligence, and the “black” section handles field operations.

The full lineup on this new chessboard is Peacemaker, Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland), John Economous (Steve Agee), Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), Vigilante/Adrian Chase (Freddie Stroma), former ARGUS agents Sasha Bordeaux (Saul Rodriguez), who is also a cyborg, and Langston Florey (Tim). promoter) as well as mercenaries Judomaster (Nhut Le), is probably our favorite addition.

The foreshadowing was there if you look back in hindsight. Liotta was trying to start and advertise her own security company earlier this season. Her mother too Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, set to get her own show)who in the comics was the “White Queen” in Checkmate. Judomaster and Sasha are also related to Checkmate in the comics, such as it is Rising star “Superman” Mr. Terrific (Eddie Gathegi).

Checkmate’s debut in “Peacemaker” is not a random choice. The team first appeared in DC Comics in 1988, created by writer Paul Kupperberg and artist Steve Irwin. That same year, Kupperberg wrote a four-issue mini-series called “The Peacemaker” which was re-established Peacemaker (originally a Charlton Comics character) For the capital world. He later portrayed Peacemaker as an agent of Checkmate in the agency’s comedy series.