Attention: The following content reveals plot details from “Peacemaker Tries Hard #3.” Proceed with caution.
In the latest installment of DC Comics‘ “Peacemaker Tries Hard” by Kyle Starks, Steve Pugh, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey, we find Peacemaker facing a distressing situation. The notorious DC villains have snatched Peacemaker’s beloved dog, Bruce Wayne. Determined to retrieve his faithful companion, Christopher Smith joins forces with an unexpected ally from the Golden Age of heroes.
While carrying out a mission assigned by Amanda Waller, Peacemaker encounters a dog that captures his heart. Their bond grows stronger over time, making it even more devastating when the villain known as The Brain steals the precious pup away. This cruel act stings Peacemaker deeply, especially since his abusive father had never allowed him to have a dog in the past.
In order to rescue Bruce, Peacemaker forms an unlikely partnership with Monsieur Mallah, The Brain’s superintelligent gorilla servant. Monsieur Mallah harbors a desire to obtain Deathstroke’s DNA for a specific purpose—to create a new body. With a sample of Slade Wilson’s DNA in hand, Monsieur Mallah betrays Peacemaker by shooting him in the back. The Brain reveals his intention to keep the dog and abandon the former Suicide Squad member to perish.
Amidst this chaotic situation, Peacemaker finds himself teaming up with an unexpected hero from the Golden Age: the Red Bee. Unbeknownst to Peacemaker, the Red Bee has been discreetly monitoring his activities while serving as his parole officer. Can these two unlikely allies put their differences aside and work together to rescue Bruce? The fate of Peacemaker’s loyal companion hangs in the balance.
The Red Bee’s Aid
In issue #3 of “Peacemaker Tries Hard,” an despondent Peacemaker returns home to tend to his wounds. After patching himself up and getting back into his gear, he encounters Richard, his bearded parole officer, who informs him of a parole violation for crossing state lines. Richard insists that Peacemaker must face imprisonment as a consequence. Reacting impulsively, the helmeted hero attacks the older man. To his surprise, Peacemaker witnesses Richard effortlessly evading his punches. With the help of a lone bee, Richard distracts Peacemaker and manages to handcuff him. As Peacemaker is being prepared for prison, he shares the story of his dog, Bruce, which sparks a change of heart in Richard. Richard reveals that he is, in fact, a hero himself—the Red Bee.
In a playful banter, Peacemaker humorously refers to Red Bee’s superhero attire as a “super blouse.” When Red Bee mentions his ability to control trained bees, Peacemaker initially expresses admiration. However, his enthusiasm dwindles when Red Bee confesses that he only possesses one bee, which he keeps in his belt buckle and deploys when necessary. Red Bee urges Peacemaker to have faith in him, reminding him that he wouldn’t have been assigned to his case if he lacked the qualifications. A brief flashback reveals Amanda Waller assigning Richard to assist Smith, referring to him as “sharp as a sack of wet mice.” Reluctantly, Peacemaker agrees to collaborate with Red Bee, and together they embark on a mission to rescue Bruce, as the issue concludes.
Red Bee is a lesser-known character from the Golden Age era of comics, making his debut in “Hit Comics” #1 published by Quality Comics, created by Toni Blum and Charles Nicholas. Richard Raleigh, a masked vigilante without superpowers, relied on trained bees and a stinger gun to combat his adversaries. The character’s inherent silliness is reflected in his colorful costume, featuring flowing transparent arms. Utilizing his background as an assistant district attorney, Red Bee applied legal expertise to solve some of his cases. Similarly to the older Red Bee depicted in “Peacemaker Tries Hard,” he had a single bee named Michael as his loyal sidekick, kept inside his belt.
Although Red Bee’s history was erased following the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” a revived version of the character emerged in “All-Star Squadron.” Joining the patriotic superteam known as the Freedom Fighters, Red Bee tragically met his demise during their inaugural mission while battling a group of Nazis. Despite his death, Red Bee made occasional appearances, including a notable one in “Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths” #1.
A successor to the Red Bee mantle named Jenna Raleigh was introduced in “Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters.” Jenna, the great-niece of the original character, operated in an armored suit and harnessed the power of electric bees, granting her a hybrid insect-human physiology. After her involvement in two volumes of the contemporary Freedom Fighters series, Jenna has since faded into obscurity within the present-day DC Universe.
The Legacy of Red Bee
Red Bee is a lesser-known character from the Golden Age era of comics, making his debut in “Hit Comics” #1 published by Quality Comics, created by Toni Blum and Charles Nicholas. Richard Raleigh, a masked vigilante without superpowers, relied on trained bees and a stinger gun to combat his adversaries. The character’s inherent silliness is reflected in his colorful costume, featuring flowing transparent arms. Utilizing his background as an assistant district attorney, Red Bee applied legal expertise to solve some of his cases. Similarly to the older Red Bee depicted in “Peacemaker Tries Hard,” he had a single bee named Michael as his loyal sidekick, kept inside his belt.
Although Red Bee’s history was erased following the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” a revived version of the character emerged in “All-Star Squadron.” Joining the patriotic superteam known as the Freedom Fighters, Red Bee tragically met his demise during their inaugural mission while battling a group of Nazis. Despite his death, Red Bee made occasional appearances, including a notable one in “Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Crisis on Infinite Earths” #1.
A successor to the Red Bee mantle named Jenna Raleigh was introduced in “Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters.” Jenna, the great-niece of the original character, operated in an armored suit and harnessed the power of electric bees, granting her a hybrid insect-human physiology. After her involvement in two volumes of the contemporary Freedom Fighters series, Jenna has since faded into obscurity within the present-day DC Universe.
The Resurgence of Red Bee
Interestingly, Red Bee has experienced a (sort of) mini-comeback within the realm of DC Comics. In the pages of “Flashpoint Beyond,” the name Red Bee resurfaced when Ladybug emerged as one of the forgotten sidekicks erased from history due to the events of Flashpoint. Ladybug, although technically a new character, was plucked from the Golden Age and identified as Red Bee’s loyal sidekick. Gifted with the ability to shrink in size, she fought alongside Red Bee. More recently, Ladybug made an appearance in “Star Girl: The Lost Children,” where she became stranded in the present timeline and joined the new Young Justice Society, alongside Stargirl and other forgotten sidekicks.
Considering that “Peacemaker Tries Hard” doesn’t seem to be part of the main DC Universe canon, it is unlikely that Ladybug will appear alongside Red Bee. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to observe the sudden resurgence of Red Bee’s name within the pages of DC Comics, after several decades of absence. This Golden Age hero is among the few from that era expected to have a role in stories set in 2023. Witnessing him as an older man donning his eccentric costume and assisting Peacemaker provides a fitting modern interpretation. Despite his unconventional appearance and powers, Red Bee proves to be Peacemaker’s most valuable ally in his quest to reclaim his beloved dog.