‘Creature Commandos’ Review: A Promising Start for the DCU, But Lacking Freshness

As a long-time fan of James Gunn’s unique blend of humor, heart, and chaos, I eagerly anticipated diving into the world of “Creature Commandos.” Having binged my way through his previous works like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Peacemaker,” I was excited to see how he would bring his signature style to an obscure team of misfits in this animated series.

DC Comics enthusiasts eagerly anticipated this, and now the long-awaited animated series for mature audiences, titled “Creature Commandos“, has arrived. This production draws inspiration from the world of DC Comics.

As a gamer, I’m diving headfirst into an exciting new adventure in the DC Universe (DCU) with a secret team of monsters, all brought together by Amanda Waller. This is the debut series for this fresh universe, and it’s masterminded by the talented James Gunn. Dean Lorey takes the helm as the main producer, while Yves “Balak” Bigerel directs our journey. The star-studded voice cast features Steve Agee, Maria Bakalova, Viola Davis, David Harbour, and many others. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in these seven thrilling episodes!

In January 2023, James Gunn and Peter Safran took on their roles as co-CEOs at DC Studios and unveiled a new series they had been working on previously. The cast for this project was introduced in April 2023. The animations were skillfully created by the studio Bobbypills.

Having delved into the technical aspects, let’s discuss the essence of the show itself. It’s worth mentioning that although Creature Commandos kicks off the DC Universe, as James Gunn and Peter Safran stated, it merely offers a glimpse of what’s in store for the DC Universe in the future.

Previously mentioned, we’ve hinted that a predicament arises when Team Peacemaker and Suicide Squad encounter issues. Consequently, Amanda Waller finds herself unable to utilize ordinary humans for her covert operations. Instead, she resorts to the inmates at Belle Reve Penitentiary, assembling a new squad under Rick Flag Sr.’s leadership. This team comprises of ruthless, beastly criminals who have been stripped of their humanity due to their heinous actions.

This team consists of Nina Mazursky, a versatile amphibious researcher, G.I. Robot, a combat-oriented android initially built to fight Nazis, and Weasel, whom you’ve encountered previously. Additionally, Doctor Phosphorus, once a scientist now permanently radioactive, The Bride, an afterlife creature modeled as Frankenstein’s bride, and Rick Flag Sr., famously voiced by Frank Grillo, are part of the team as well.

The show is good, but it doesn’t offer anything new to the genre, especially when compared to Gunn’s previous works

It’s evident that the vibe of Creature Commandos strongly resembles that of Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. Notably, the whole first season of Peacemaker belongs to the DC Universe, with the exception of the Justice League scene, which will be addressed within the series.

As a dedicated viewer, I must admit that the episodic structure feels quite repetitive, lacking the unpredictability that typically kicks off a captivating cinematic universe. Each episode seems to follow a familiar pattern: an introduction for each character, a heart-tugging segment, some humor, a thrilling action scene, and not enough focus on advancing the main narrative or clarifying events as they unfold.

In this series, comprising just seven episodes, each roughly 25 minutes long, the narrative depth may not meet your expectations due to its brevity. If you’re hoping for a more intricate storyline, you might find it somewhat lacking. Additionally, the team dynamics share some similarities with those in Gunn’s previous superhero productions.

The dynamics of the Creature Commandos squad mirrors that of both Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy, making it appear as if they’re all part of the same team. You’ve got your strong, wisecracking female, the dim-witted but powerful male, the aloof scientist, the efficient yet lovable human, the loyal animal companion, and the unpredictable character – it’s a familiar blend.

In this comic book series, “Creature Commandos,” the creators have skillfully crafted the character development, enabling readers to grasp the reasons behind each team member’s actions and learn about their past experiences. It appears that this story could be considered an origin tale for these characters instead of establishing a long-term, expansive narrative. Despite adhering to common plot structures, the characters seem authentic and resonate with the audience.

Yet, even though they’ve made significant progress, it can still be challenging to truly empathize with them or feel invested in their story.

In this rephrased version, the text conveys that Gunn’s distinctive humor permeates throughout the production, accompanied by an abundance of gore and nods to various franchises that enthusiasts will appreciate. My preferred lines stemmed from David Harbour’s portrayal of Frankenstein, and given his probable popularity among viewers, he receives a suitable amount of screentime – enough to pique curiosity for more.

The animation is smooth and well-executed, and the overall look avoids relying on stereotypes

Gunn aimed to align the series with the broader DC Universe, allowing for shared appearances of characters and locations across films and television productions.

Initially, Belle Reve prison was envisioned with a grandiose and gothic appearance, yet Gunn ensured it aligned with the more straightforward design depicted in The Suicide Squad. Similarly, new settings like Frankenstein’s mansion were crafted to follow this style.

Despite his intentions, Gunn made it clear that he wasn’t aiming to impose a single aesthetic on the DC Universe. Instead, each project would have its unique style. For instance, the design of “Creature Commandos” is grounded yet stylized, drawing inspiration from Eastern Europe, thereby distinguishing it visually from the appearance of “Harley Quinn”.

Instead of the usual drab and somber appearance common in other media, the settings in these Eastern European productions exhibit a vibrant, refreshing look. The animation is dynamic and the characters are vividly portrayed, giving off an engaging, clean-cut style reminiscent of 90s cartoons.

In essence, should they maintain this high-quality animation, their studio appears poised for success in future animated productions.

The soundtrack was definitely one of the standout parts of the show

In August 2024, James Gunn disclosed that Kevin Kiner and Clint Mansell, contributors to “Peacemaker”, are creating the music for “Creature Commandos”. The title track is “Moliendo Café” by Venezuelan musician Hugo Blanco. Inspired by bands such as Gogol Bordello and the Dresden Dolls, Gunn aims to establish the show’s musical ambiance.

Each episode features a different song with an Eastern European influence, and the song in the first episode is catchy enough to make it onto your playlist.

Despite some cast members having limited background in voice acting, the performances across the board are quite robust.

The show doesn’t require any prior DC knowledge, but by the end, it depends a lot on the larger universe to make sense

One way to rephrase the given sentence in a natural and easy-to-read manner is: “The most appealing aspect of this show is that you can enjoy it without having prior knowledge about other DCEU films. The motivations behind Rick Flag’s and Waller’s characters are thoroughly explained, so there’s no need to watch movies like Suicide Squad or Peacemaker beforehand.

The team’s adaptations are subtle enough that just the hardcore fans might recognize variations from the source comics. It’s straightforward for newcomers to join in, given that this is the beginning of a fresh storyline within a new universe.

Instead, as the performance concludes, you’ll understand that it heavily depends on upcoming events, and the narrative doesn’t provide a satisfying resolution – instead, it lays the groundwork for future developments.

Yay or nay?

To kick things off, let’s talk about the outstanding aspects of this show: the animation is top-notch, character growth is well-executed, voice acting is excellent, and the soundtrack is powerful. The humor and nods to pop culture are spot on, demonstrating Gunn at his creative peak with a group of oddball characters, fully embracing the quirkiness.

In a manner reminiscent of his prior works, Gunn’s latest creation is packed with wit, grisly elements, and nods that will undoubtedly resonate with fans. Moreover, the TV-MA rating grants him the freedom to present some darkly humorous scenes, much like he did in his previous endeavors. Gunn excels at harmonizing comedy, drama, emotional sequences, and action, a skill evident throughout his past projects.

Now, let’s talk about the potential drawbacks. The show seems overly reminiscent of Gunn’s past creations since he tends to rely on what he’s familiar with. Starting off with Creature Commandos in a new universe was already an unusual choice, and it becomes even more peculiar when you notice similarities to his previous DC Extended Universe endeavors.

In this series, it feels challenging for me to distinguish between the DCEU and the DCU. Although Gunn assures us the shift between these cinematic universes will be seamless, I may find it difficult to accept on a personal level.

The production seems overly reliant on the broader DC Universe, giving off an impression that it lacks self-sufficiency. The narrative flow tends to be foreseeable, with minimal effort spent on progressing the primary narrative, and instead, it leans more towards setting up an origin story rather than a well-rounded arc.

Despite well-crafted character growth, the lack of a compelling, standalone narrative makes it difficult to feel deeply invested in the team or their fate. Ultimately, the series hints at upcoming ventures, yet fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete.

If you were expecting something new and groundbreaking, don’t! This show isn’t that. But if you’re watching because you enjoy Gunn’s style—weirdness, misfits, humor, and heartwarming moments—then you’ll definitely love it.

6/10

2024-12-02 20:14