Peacemaker and Eagly: The DC Rule That Only Animal Sidekicks Get Justice

In the expansive and often chaotic tapestry of the DC Universe, justice is a concept that is rarely simple and almost never absolute. Heroes are flawed, villains are redeemable, and the line between right and wrong is constantly blurred. Yet, in this moral gray area, there is one unwritten rule that seems to hold true: only the animal sidekicks get pure, unadulterated justice. And nowhere is this more evident than in James Gunn’s hit series, Peacemaker, and its breakout star, the emotional support eagle, Eagly.

The first season of Peacemaker saw its titular character, a deeply flawed and morally compromised vigilante, grapple with his violent past and abusive upbringing. While Christopher Smith’s journey toward redemption was a long, painful, and often incomplete one, his loyal pet, Eagly, remained a beacon of purity. Eagly’s loyalty was never in question, his love for Peacemaker was unconditional, and his moments of simple, uncorrupted affection—most notably his signature hug—were the emotional core of the series. While Peacemaker struggled with his own brand of twisted justice, Eagly was a reminder that true, simple goodness still existed, and he was the recipient of a different kind of justice: the unwavering love and loyalty he deserved.

From Krypto to Eagly: The DC Legacy of Animal Justice

The trend of animal sidekicks receiving a form of justice that their human counterparts are denied is not new to the DC Universe. It’s a pattern that runs through decades of comics and adaptations, from the most famous to the most obscure.

• Krypto the Super-Dog: Perhaps the most famous animal sidekick in all of comics, Krypto is a paragon of loyalty and virtue. While Superman often grapples with complex moral dilemmas and the weight of being a symbol, Krypto’s actions are always in service of protecting his master and fighting for what is right. In a world full of betrayals and moral ambiguities, Krypto’s heroism is always straightforward and pure, and he is a consistent source of comfort and unadulterated goodness.
• Ace the Bat-Hound: In the dark and gritty world of Gotham, where even Batman is a flawed and brooding hero, his dog Ace is a source of simple, uncomplicated justice. Ace’s mission is to protect his master and the innocent, and he does so without question or internal conflict. Unlike Batman, who must constantly struggle against his own inner demons, Ace’s motivation is always clear, and his actions are a model of pure, canine loyalty.
• Dex-Starr the Red Lantern: Even in the darkest corners of the DC Universe, this rule holds. Dex-Starr, a cat who was once an innocent stray, was a victim of immense suffering and a traumatic past. His rage, a justifiable response to the cruelty he endured, earned him a Red Lantern ring, turning him into one of the most powerful and feared beings in the cosmos. His “justice” is a brutal and fiery retribution against those who have wronged the innocent, a form of poetic justice that is rarely afforded to the human characters in the Red Lantern Corps.

The Emotional Heart of the DCU

The success of Eagly, and his prominence in the recent seasons of Peacemaker, serves as a testament to this enduring trend. As DC Studios co-head James Gunn builds a new, interconnected DC Universe, he seems to understand the unique emotional role that these animal characters play. They are not merely sidekicks or comic relief; they are the emotional core, the moral compasses that show us what true, simple heroism looks like. While human heroes like Peacemaker are complex, flawed, and constantly in search of redemption, the animals are already there, having found their own brand of justice in a world that so often denies it to everyone else.