Peacemaker is really like no other superhero out there as the outcast’s misguided intentions already make him the butt of most jokes in his own series. There’s really no other character in DC Comics like him but, at its heart, the series also highlights the differences in style between this world and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and its influence on the style of one James Gunn.

There is such a thing now as movies having Gunn DNA, from his early work in Super to the relatively unknown franchise that made him a household name, Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn is a self-confessed fanatic of the fringe characters rather than being someone who dreams of making the next Batman, Avengers or Spider-Man, an aspect that ultimately defines part of his unique style. That, coupled with the extra perk of no longer being constrained by Marvel's family-friendly approach lets Gunn flourish making superhero movies no one else could or is even willing to try.

RELATED: Peacemaker Episode 4 Easter Eggs

Nobody Loves An Underdog Like James Gunn

Peacemaker Episode 4 Review

When Kevin Feige first announced the Guardians of the Galaxy movie in 2012, it’s possible many more people outside the comic book die-hards knew Rocket Raccoon from his appearances in Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and not as a Marvel headliner. The MCU didn’t have the easiest of times finding someone to write and direct the Guardians, and though somewhat hesitant, Gunn jumped on board partly due to the ability to add more of his personal touch to it.

As someone who has gone on the record to say he finds most superhero movies boring, it’s clear how important it is to Gunn to be able to infuse his work with a certain air of uniqueness. The dancing, music, and humor are ways for him to express that, but even without the perpetual use of graphic violence and sex, Gunn’s camera work is quite distinct when compared to other Marvel movies, the same way his characters are.

The Guardians of the Galaxy take themselves less seriously than any other MCU hero, but using that self-deprecating humor simply wouldn’t work with someone as confident as Tony Stark, as virtuous as Steve Rogers, nor as beloved as Spider-Man. That is why Peacemaker, DC’s ultimate underdog, was always his favorite Suicide Squad member for a spinoff as there are no jokes crass or cruel to be had at his expense.

Although it might still be too early to call if Peacemaker will get a second season or not, working with obscure characters grants Gunn far greater freedom as there is no need to tie their stories to many things in the troubled DCEU. Conversely, the MCU’s interconnectivity is something he probably has to keep in mind now, especially since the Guardians are among the few heavy hitters left from the Infinity Saga.

R-Rated Fun Is Where It’s At For Gunn

Peacemaker-and-Vigilante

The most glaring difference between Marvel and DC, at least from Gunn’s perspective, are the extra creative liberties afforded by a studio that’s allowed him to oversee two big projects with both the added potential and limitations of having an R-rating stamped onto them. Whereas the main goal for Disney’s MCU productions is to reach as wide of an audience as possible, all with the hopes of smashing that billion-dollar ceiling, DC gives Gunn room to make the other type of films he’s directed.

It’s hard to put a price on this, but the fact that Warner Bros. chose to keep its only proven winner, Batman, pegged to a PG-13 age rating does speak volumes of its willingness to please Gunn’s writing desires. Naturally, this is only possible for smaller franchises, so when Gunn took over The Suicide Squad there was little pressure on him to surpass the previous film, which posted great financial numbers but performed terribly with fans and critics.

The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker are superhero movies where Gunn’s shackles have been taken off, thus allowing him to expand his humor through the use of foul language, sex, and satire that’s just shy of being offensive. It’s not that Gunn is so basic that he needs naked people and swear words in his script to make things work, it’s that his style benefits from that because if there’s such a thing as film d’auteur when it comes to superheroes, Gunn’s vision is mostly pure irreverence.

Peacemaker opening scene intro

Gunn has said that Peacemaker is about social commentary, and to carry forward that vision he wants to make viewers believe there’s a hint of good in Christopher Smith, he’s just a misunderstood soul raised in lousy circumstances, as is suggested by Leota Adebayo in a few occasions.

Of course, there’s plenty of condemnation for the neo-nazis because Gunn is not naive to pure evil, but besides Peacemaker’s White Dragon father and his followers, everyone has redeemable qualities in the show. Marvel can use Red Skull, Hydra, and Nazis as historic relics, but do not expect to see modern white supremacists depicted in the MCU anytime soon.

There’s little reason to believe Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be anything but another Gunn hit for the MCU, and when that happens he’ll have three PG-13 blockbusters under his belt, however, it seems like after that he might be happier aiming at success for a restricted audience. Not only is it a more impressive feat, but DC’s is allowing Gunn to cherry-pick his projects and carry them out as he sees fit, and though he might not be able to fix the MCU, he can certainly envision a way to give one side of it some much-needed identity to run it unlike any other entertainment product out there. And we're all gonna have blast while he's doing it.

MORE: LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Looks Like a Definitive Celebration of Star Wars