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James Gunn’s popular DCU series Peacemaker dropped an Easter Egg into the sixth episode of its second season that has effectively introduced the concept of Marvel characters in the DC Comics franchise.
Editor’s note: This article will contain spoilers for Season 2, Episode 6 of Peacemaker, “Ignorance Is Chris.”
In Peacemaker season 2, episode 6, Chris Smith’s (Peacemaker’s) friends follow him into an alternate dimension after he abandons his old life to live as his doppelgänger.
Once inside, the group is quickly separated, and Vigilante immediately sets off to find his own double. When he finally does, James Gunn — who wrote and directed the episode, one of many he’s helmed this season — uses the moment to slip in a nod to one of the internet’s most famous memes, effectively pulling an iconic Marvel hero into DC canon: the Spider-Men pointing at each other meme.
Season 2, Episode 6 of Peacemaker made a joke about Spider-Man, introducing the concept of Marvel characters into the DCU
The gag is made explicit when the characters declare, “We Spider-Man meme’d,” leaving no doubt about the reference and therefore officially introducing the concept of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man into the DCU.
#Peacemaker spoilers
Spiderman exists as a fictional character in the DCU confirmed pic.twitter.com/wAJZEEuDna
— anna 🛸 showgirl era ❤️🔥 (@ahsokasconvor) September 26, 2025
It should be noted this isn’t the first time that the franchises have cheekily referenced each other, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made a handful of references to Batman existing as a fictional character in the universe a few times over the years in projects such as Black Panther (via the diegetic soundtrack), Eternals, and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
Season 2 of Peacemaker has proven to be another win for Gunn’s newly launched DC as it has a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which comes on the heels of the Gunn-directed Superman having an 83% critics score en route to over $615 million at the global box office and an immediately greenlit sequel, which is scheduled to release in July 2027.
The next project in the DCU — whose live-action efforts officially began earlier this summer — will be the Craig Gillespie-directed and Milly Alcock-starring Supergirl, which is currently scheduled to hit theaters on June 26, 2026.
After Supergirl, DC Studios will release Clayface, which is currently in production with a script from Midnight Mass and Doctor Sleep writer/director Mike Flanagan. Clayface, directed by Speak No Evil filmmaker James Watkins, will star Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen / Clayface alongside Naomi Ackie and Max Minghella.