WARNING: Contains Spoilers for ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025)!DC’s new Absolute Universe has been reimagining the publisher’s most iconic heroes and villains with dark new twists and origins, sometimes making them more powerful than ever, as one rogue proves by delivering a crushing defeat to Superman. And if not for the intervention of another character, this Man of Steel-defeating villain would have ed Doomsday in his “I Killed Superman” club.

Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, and Ulises Arreola’s Absolute Superman #8 sees Kal-El return to Smallville, Kansas to visit an ailing Martha Kent. However, what was meant to be a quiet home visit quickly turns into dire straits when Lazarus Agent Lois Lane and the Omega Men’s Jimmy Olsen track the Man of Steel to the small town, unwittingly leading Brainiac’s Peacekeepers and the rest of the Lazarus Corps straight to him.

This issue marks the debut of a heavily modified Christopher “Peacekeeper” Smith, who shoots Kal-El with a Kryptonite bullet, igniting a no-holds-barred fight that surprisingly confirms Peacekeeper as one of the Man of Steel’s most formidable villains to date.

Who Is the Peacemaker of the Absolute Universe, And How Did He Become Half-Cyborg?

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025) - Art by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola

As some necessary background, Peacemaker Chris Smith originally made his debut in the early issues of Absolute Superman, where he appeared as one of many uniformed Peacekeepers. This role is part of the Lazarus Corps Force, a militant global police force that enforces the laws of a mysterious entity and oversees forced labor under the guise of peacekeeping. Throughout the series, Chris Smith has been singled out among the Peacekeepers, often shown using unnecessary force against civilians. Absolute Superman #4 shows the consequences of his unchecked aggression when a confrontation between the Peacekeepers and civilians reaches a boiling point, culminating in Smith gunning down dozens of innocent people.

Unsurprisingly, Superman is enraged by the massacre and nearly kills Smith for what he has done, barely managing to restrain himself. Smith takes advantage of the momentary distraction to escape, prompting Superman to spend the next several issues trying to track him down so he can face justice. However, Peacekeeper seemingly disappears after this encounter. Absolute Superman #7 reveals that Brainiac, head of Lazarus Corps R&D, has Smith as his captive and strapped to an operating table, where he is performing non-consensual body modifications on him in a scene steeped in body horror. Still, it isn't until issue #8 that Peacemaker’s terrifying new form is fully revealed.

Peacemaker vs. Superman: Chris Smith Gives the Man of Steel a Doomsday-Worthy Beatdown

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025) - Art by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola

Peacemaker returns to the Absolute Superman narrative with a bang (literally) in issue #8, making his grand entrance by sniping the unsuspecting Man of Steel with a Kryptonite bullet provided by Brainiac. With Superman down, Smith and his squad of Peacekeepers descend on him, and readers get their first look at Smith following Brainiac’s operation. He no longer resembles the standard Peacemaker. Instead, he has become a cyborg monstrosity, with the only remaining human part being his head. Various electrodes protrude from his skull, connecting to a massive robotic body that is clearly Brainiac tech, marked by its signature purple and grey color scheme.

With the Kryptonite bullet still lodged in Superman’s chest, Smith unleashes a brutal beatdown on the Man of Steel, literally throwing him through walls and pounding him into the rubble of nearby buildings that become collateral damage during their fight. Though Kal-El fights back as best he can, it is clear that Smith holds the upper hand, with Superman taking the brunt of the damage. As Sol, the AI in Superman’s suit, notes, Peacemaker Smith’s abilities have been significantly upgraded. With the solar energy in Superman’s cells rapidly depleting due to the Kryptonite radiation, the battle will kill him if it continues as it is. Luckily for Superman, Sol still has a Hail Mary card to play.

Peacemaker Forces Superman’s Suit to Enter ‘Low Solar Energy’ Battle Mode

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025) - Art by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola

After Sol’s assessment that the fight must end as quickly as possible to ensure Superman’s survival, despite the Kryptonian being in no shape to continue, Sol activates what is essentially the suit’s “low solar energy” mode. The suit provides Kal-El with full coverage, including a chrome full-face helmet. This chrome-like shell extends across his entire body, encasing him in a protective layer. The helmet and upper torso are adorned with spike-like extensions reminiscent of Earth-Prime’s Doomsday. Lava-like veins pulse across the chrome surface, with some breaking away from the suit to form energy tendrils that swirl around Superman.

Following the transformation, Sol reports that the suit’s “solar reserves” have been unlocked, along with the activation of its “tornado mode.” Fans immediately see the difference, as the Man of Steel begins to fight back with renewed strength, landing solid punches on Smith and using the suit’s gust-generating tornado mode to disarm and stun the other Peacekeepers. In a standout moment, Kal tells Smith that he just punched him “a thousand times in thirty seconds,” and warns him to “stay down.” For a moment, the tide of battle shifts in Superman’s favor, but the upper hand doesn’t last long, as Smith soon regains the advantage.

If Brainiac Hadn’t Intervened, Peacemaker Would’ve ed Doomsday in the “I Killed Superman” Club

Comic Page Comes from Jason Aaron’s ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 (2025) - Art by Rafa Sandoval & Ulises Arreola

Taking advantage of the fact that Superman did not kill him and is still holding back, Smith pulls a Kryptonite blaster from his suit and unleashes a barrage of Kryptonite bullets at the Man of Steel. The attack compromises the integrity of Superman’s suit, ultimately leaving him on the losing side once again. At this point, Superman is bullet-ridden and critically injured. Sol is no longer able to suppress the effects of the Kryptonite poisoning. As Kal lies helpless, Smith rises and levels his gun at Superman’s head, making it clear he is about to deliver the kill shot. However, Brainiac intervenes.

Brainiac wants Superman alive. To ensure that outcome, he electrocutes Smith before he can fire, effectively saving Superman’s life, even if only for his own purposes. This delay gives the Omega Men just enough time to arrive, rescue Superman, and haul him away before the Peacekeepers and Brainiac can capture him. Despite Superman's escape, it is clear that Smith would have and could have killed him if it were not for Brainiac. In the end, Peacekeeper nearly ed Doomsday in the exclusive "I Killed Superman" club.

ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #8 is available now from DC Comics!