Episode 1 of Peacemaker Season 2 has just been released, and a lot of online buzz has been around a bisexual orgy scene that depicts full frontal nudity. Some seem to be concerned that kids might end up watching the show since the character, portrayed by the soon-to-be-retired wrestler John Cena, had a cameo in the more family-friendly Superman (2025) film, rated 12A by the Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO). However, I thought I’d give a little history on the character and why that particular concern is flawed and possibly biphobic in some cases.

Peacemaker, created by writer Joe Gill and artist Pat Boyette, originally debuted in Charlton Comics’ Fightin’ 5 #40  in November 1966. Originally depicted as a pacifist who would do anything to achieve peace, the character was changed into a vigilante when DC revived it, having acquired the rights after Charlton Comics went out of business.

Casual fans might be interested to know that Peacemaker was in Alan Moore’s original pitch for what became the Watchmen (1986-1987) comic series. DC decided later that Moore (and artist Dave Gibbons) could not use him, and the Watchmen version of Peacemaker became the Comedian—not that surprising when you look at the two characters.

Peacemaker made his big screen debut in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (2021), rated 15A by IFCO. He was sent by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) on a suicide mission and is the only one to remain loyal to her when the team, which included bisexual icon Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), turned on her and decided to fight the alien Starro the Conqueror.

Peacemaker kills the team leader, Rick Flagg Jr (Joel Kinnaman), and is in turn seemingly killed by another team member, Bloodsport (Idris Alba). However, the character is revealed to be alive in the post-credits scene, which sets up his spin-off series.

Peacemaker’s R-rated season one debuted in 2022. In the series, Amanda Waller puts him in a task force to stop a group of aliens called The Butterflies. The task force includes Waller’s daughter, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), and the season depicts her relationship with her wife, Keeya Adebayo (played by queer actress Elizabeth Faith Ludlow). Leota connects with Peacemaker on a personal level as they both have abusive parents.

The first season also hinted at the main character’s bisexuality. James Gunn credited John Cena with this direction, saying, “Peacemaker is an interesting character because he’s so f*cked-up in so many ways, and then in other ways, he is kind of weirdly forward-thinking. John does improv all the time, and he just turned Christopher Smith into this hyper-sexualized dude that is open to anything sexually. I was surprised by that. But I thought, ‘I guess it makes sense that this guy isn’t one-dimensional.’”

This was part of the conflict the character had with his racist father, played by Robert Patrick. In one scene, his father taunts him, “I knew you was unclean when you were born. I knew when you slept with the whores of polluted blood, and men.”

That was the most obvious hint about the character’s sexuality on screen. John Cena, to his credit, has always been matter-of-fact about the character’s sexuality. In one video, he suggests that the character would try Grindr if he failed to have success on Tinder: “The great thing about Peacemaker is that all apps are welcome, all the time.”

Then we come to the comments on Season 2, where the character is explicitly bisexual in an, let’s face it, explicit scene. Those who are surprised by this adult scene must have skipped Season 1, where there are also scenes of a sexual nature, albeit heterosexual.

Episode 1 sees Peacemaker picking up a woman in a biker bar, who turns out to be an assassin. The scene necessitated a fight with an almost naked Cena in his tighty whities, fighting an almost naked stunt lady—something that was outside the actor’s comfort zone.

“Yeah, that was day one. That was our first week of shooting,” Cena recalled. “Here was a lot of: it’s time to walk the talk. But I’m somebody who challenges everybody to try to lean into the uncomfortable in their own life. And I try to live by those same words. This was a great opportunity to do that, so nothing like stepping right into the fire.”

The orgy scene was not even the first scene in Episode 1 of Season 2, and there had already been some hints that the show was not for kids. This included a cameo by some of the Superman film’s Justice Gang.

In the opening scene, Peacemaker is driven by his friend Adebayo to audition for the group. During the interview, due to a faulty microphone set-up by Green Lantern (Nathon Fillon), Peacemaker overhears everything the Justice Gang has said, even when they are supposed to be off-mike.

Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn) asks Peacemaker what special skills he has. Green Lantern, crass as ever, quips, “Besides blowing dudes?”

Peacemaker storms out, but he did not take the barb as an insult. Leota asks how the interview went, and he responds, “Apparently, one of my skills is sucking d*ck… That’s not a put-down. That’s a fucking compliment.”

For me, it was great to see DC not shy away from the hinted bisexuality of Season 1 and make it a confirmed part of the character. It is just a small part of a complicated character, and I am looking forward to seeing where his life goes during the remainder of the series. Kudos to James Gunn, John Cena and everybody involved.