In this spoiler-free review of Creature Commandos, Josh gives his thoughts on the first premiere of the revitalized DC Universe under James Gunn.
It’s the dawn of a new DC Universe. James Gunn’s Creature Commandos will be the first installment of DC Studios’ new continuity, which is expected to span movies, television, animation, video games, and more. It’s been nearly two years since James Gunn and Peter Safran announced the new direction for the DC Universe, so there has been a lot of anticipation leading up to Creature Commandos. Does it live up to the hype?
The series focuses on Task Force M, a group of monsters and misfits assembled by Amanda Waller. Under the leadership of Rick Flag Sr., the Creature Commandos embark on a typical Waller mission, stopping an international conflict. On its surface, the story feels similar to a typical Suicide Squad story, but the characters give this animated series its unique flavor.
From the moment the series was announced, internet commentators have compared the premise to other Gunn projects like The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Guardians of the Galaxy. After all, it’s another story about a group of misunderstood misfits coming together as a team. However, Creature Commandos goes in another direction. G.I. Robot, Weasel, Bride, Nina Mazursky, and Doctor Phosphoros don’t have the earnestness or heart that characters like Star-Lord, Drax, or Mantis have…and that’s a good thing.
Image courtesy of DC Studios
Tonally, the series feels more like The Suicide Squad than it does Guardians, which shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the premise. However, Gunn’s TSS was about misfit criminals, while Creature Commandos is about monsters. It’s hard to articulate the difference, but it changes the DNA of the show. The way characters interact with the world and each other is fundamentally different than how Task Force X did. Speaking of tone, make no mistake, this is an adult series. There are sex scenes, gratuitous violence, and raunchy humor.
The series borrows a page from Lost, with episodes featuring flashbacks that explore the character’s origins. Those were entertaining, and many times I found myself more engaged in the flashbacks than I did in the present-day scenes. G.I. Robot’s backstory was a particular highlight.
The actors do a great job with the material. Some of the best moments come from Indira Varma (Bride) and Zoe Chao (Nina Mazursky). Their interplay is fun, and their relationship is one of the highlights of the series. David Harbour’s Frankenstein is another highlight, giving the series some of its best comedic moments.
It’s worth noting that most of the actors have spent their careers doing live-action. There is a difference between the way a live-action actor performs a line, and the way a voice actor does. For example, Alan Tudyk is an actor who is no stranger to DC cartoons. Compare Tudy’s performance as Doctor Phosphoros with his other castmates. The other characters sound like they’re in a movie, while Tudyk sounds like he’s in an animated show. Speaking of which, the animation isn’t heavily stylized or colorful. It’s the typical color palette and movement you might expect from other adult animation shows. Mind you, this isn’t a complaint, just an observation to set expectations.
Since this series is the first entry of the new DC Universe, there are lots of questions on how this sets up the new continuity. There are fun references to other corners of the DC Universe, and hints about other characters we’ll meet in future projects. Aside from that, this series feels like it could’ve been released in 2022 as another entry of the DCEU. This makes sense, since Gunn has said he wrote this before he was given the job as co-head of DC Studios.
While this is a strong first outing for the new DC Universe, I think it’s best to look at it as an animated series that just happens to be the first outing. If you loved Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad (which I did), then you’ll love Creature Commandos. It’s a great look at the oddball corner of the DCU, and the characters who inhabit it.
