All 3 DCU Checkmate Members Who Also Signed Up In The Comics (& 5 More Who Could Still Join)
By Dan Bibby
October 12th, 2025
Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Peacemaker season 2 finale.
Peacemaker season 2 ended with the live-action debut of Checkmate, but the DCU's version of the agency has a very different lineup from its comic book counterpart. Currently, there are only three members of Peacemaker's Checkmate team who also signed up in the DC source material. That doesn't mean there aren't other DCU characters waiting to join the roster.
The antihero black ops agency made its comic book debut in 1988. Its roster has changed over the years, and several characters have come and gone. Therefore, I expect something similar to happen in James Gunn's DC cinematic universe. It should also be noted that Gunn has placed characters into his initial Checkmate lineup who were never members in the comics.
For example, Rip "Judomaster" Jagger (Nhut Le) ends Peacemaker season 2 as part of Checkmate, but it was actually Rip's son who joined Checkmate in the comics. Similarly, original characters like Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) and Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) never appeared in the comics at all, let alone any of the previous iterations of Checkmate.
At present, there are a total of five characters who have made their on-screen DCU debut, are not currently part of Checkmate, but have been part of the agency in the source material. With the DCU still in its earliest stages, there is plenty of time for those characters to make their way to Checkmate if that's what James Gunn has in mind for them. Three current Checkmate members in the DCU were part of the roster in the comics.
The antihero black ops agency made its comic book debut in 1988. Its roster has changed over the years, and several characters have come and gone. Therefore, I expect something similar to happen in James Gunn's DC cinematic universe. It should also be noted that Gunn has placed characters into his initial Checkmate lineup who were never members in the comics.
For example, Rip "Judomaster" Jagger (Nhut Le) ends Peacemaker season 2 as part of Checkmate, but it was actually Rip's son who joined Checkmate in the comics. Similarly, original characters like Langston Fleury (Tim Meadows) and Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks) never appeared in the comics at all, let alone any of the previous iterations of Checkmate.
At present, there are a total of five characters who have made their on-screen DCU debut, are not currently part of Checkmate, but have been part of the agency in the source material. With the DCU still in its earliest stages, there is plenty of time for those characters to make their way to Checkmate if that's what James Gunn has in mind for them. Three current Checkmate members in the DCU were part of the roster in the comics.
Chris Smith - A.K.A. "Peacemaker"
Current DCU Affiliation: Checkmate
If you hadn't heard of Peacemaker or Checkmate before James Gunn took over the DCU, don't beat yourself up about it. Both are pretty deep cuts, but they do both exist in the comics. The main difference is that John Cena's Peacemaker is a founding member and leader of Checkmate, whereas the character in the comics has a less prominent role within the organization.
Adrian Chase - A.K.A. "Vigilante"
Current DCU Affiliation: Checkmate
Freddie Stroma's Vigilante is the second member of the DCU's version of Checkmate to follow in his comic book counterpart's footsteps. While the character is very different in both mediums, Adrian Chase is a member of the agency in both the source material and the live-action adaptation. Interestingly, in the comics, there was another antihero who also went by the moniker of Vigilante. He was called Pat Trayce, and he signed up to join Checkmate as well. It remains to be seen if he factors into Gunn's plans.
Sasha Bordeux
Current DCU Affiliation: Checkmate
Sol Rodríguez's Sasha Bordeaux is the third and final comic-accurate member of the Checkmate lineup, with no other DCU agents apart from Peacemaker and Vigilante ever being part of the team in the source material. Like Peacemaker and Vigilante, Bordeaux also started as an incredibly obscure comic book character. Now, Gunn has worked his magic and made her a more recognizable figure.
Michael Holt - A.K.A. "Mr. Terrific"
Current DCU Affiliation: The Justice Gang
Mister Terrific didn't join Checkmate in the comics until 2006, and Edi Gathegi's version of the character is currently too busy being part of the Justice Gang to join forces with Peacemaker and the others. After debuting in 2025's Superman movie, Gathegi's performance made him an immediate fan favorite. So, I wouldn't be surprised if the DCU's Mister Terrific eventually followed a similar path to the comics in terms of joining Checkmate.
Maxwell Lord
Current DCU Affiliation: The Justice Gang
The DCU's Maxwell Lord, played by Sean Gunn, is the founder and financial backer of the Justice Gang. So, while it's probably unlikely that he'll want to align himself with Checkmate, I wouldn't rule it out either. The Justice Gang doesn't exist in the comics, although the characters on its roster do. As a result, it becomes difficult to predict whether the DCU iteration of the antihero will become part of Checkmate like he did in the comics. The possibility remains, though.
Lois Lane
Current DCU Affiliation: The Daily Planet
Lois Lane is, by far, the most iconic DC character on this list. She's appeared in countless comic book runs, as well as making the jump to live-action on many occasions. Currently played by Rachel Brosnahan in the DCU, Lois is so committed to her journalism career at the Daily Planet that it's unlikely she'll ever join Checkmate in any official capacity. On the other hand, she's already proven herself capable of doing whatever needs to be done to both save the day and get the inside scoop simultaneously. Don't count her out.
Amanda Waller
Current DCU Affiliation: ARGUS
Although Viola Davis played Waller in both Suicide Squad movies, it's her voice performance of the character in Creature Commandos that cements her as part of James Gunn's new DCU canon. Her brutal approach to defending her country is a trait that is consistent in the comics and her on-screen appearances. So, while the ARGUS director is deeply disliked within the Checkmate walls for how she has treated its members in the past, an uneasy collaboration could still be on the cards between Waller and Checkmate. This would at least loosely reflect her Checkmate membership from the source material.
G.I. Robot
Current DCU Affiliation: Task Force M
G.I. Robot would be Sean Gunn's second Checkmate character if both the Nazi-killing machine and Maxwell Lord joined the agency. There are various characters to bear the name G.I. Robot in the comics, but the one who joins Checkmate is called J.A.K.E. #6.1. It's kept obscure in Creature Commandos whether it's J.A.K.E. #6.1 or not who's part of Task Force M, but I think it's likely that Gunn isn't planning to introduce more than one version of G.I. Robot. Perhaps the tricky part is figuring out a believable way for him to escape or be freed from his indentured service to ARGUS in the DCU. Only then could he really join Checkmate like he does in the comics.
Those who have seen Creature Commandos will know that G.I. Robot seems to die relatively early into the show's run, but he's later revealed to have been significantly rebuilt and upgraded. He joined Checkmate in 2008 in the source material, but he would probably need to make the jump to live-action for him to do the same in the DCU. With characters like Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. and Steve Agee's John Economos already appearing in canon animation and live-action projects, I don't see why G.I. Robot can't also eventually join the version of Checkmate we've seen in the Peacemaker season 2 finale.
Those who have seen Creature Commandos will know that G.I. Robot seems to die relatively early into the show's run, but he's later revealed to have been significantly rebuilt and upgraded. He joined Checkmate in 2008 in the source material, but he would probably need to make the jump to live-action for him to do the same in the DCU. With characters like Frank Grillo's Rick Flag Sr. and Steve Agee's John Economos already appearing in canon animation and live-action projects, I don't see why G.I. Robot can't also eventually join the version of Checkmate we've seen in the Peacemaker season 2 finale.
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