‘Creature Commandos’ Review – James Gunn’s DCU Gets Off To A Monstrous Start

It feels like it’s been no time at all since the beginning – and subsequent end – of the DCEU. What started with controversy in the modernistic infamy of Man of Steel ended in the same with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. There really never was a point of widespread satisfaction between fans and critics alike within the franchise, and after more than a decade of those ups and downs, the bigwigs at DC finally decided to overhaul their cinematic universe entirely. Enter: James Gunn.

Whether or not stealing what is arguably Marvel’s most beloved director to run their own universe was an intentional stab is unclear; what is clear is that DC is tired of their second-rate reputation on the big screen and that they’re fully committed to changing it.

Of course, Gunn’s first big film is slated for next summer, in Superman, but the official beginning of his new canonical timeline begins this month on the small screen. Creature Commandos, another entry in the James Gunn rag-tag ensemble of misfits universe (the JGEMU), is an adult-oriented animated series that not only looks to popularize characters who are foreign to the mainstream spotlight but officially introduces audiences to the DCU.

The first episode makes obvious the sheer lack of time there is to waste. The stakes are higher than ever before; DC has already wasted a decade meandering about in a cinematic universe with no vision, and this is Gunn’s chance to right that wrong out of the gate, as well as to begin to prove himself as a creative on a larger scale. With Creature Commandos, he accomplishes both with flying colors.

Gunn’s introduction to this world is expectedly violent and fittingly tongue-in-cheek. We open on Rick Flag Sr. and Amanda Waller detailing the series’ setup with less subtlety than a freight train. But again, it works, because everybody knows what this show has to accomplish and nobody is worried about taking it slow.

We’re introduced to our team of so-called “military super humans”, consisting of a weasel, a werewolf, a vampire and more, all led by Flag. They’re sent off to resolve a foreign conflict before they can so much as learn to tolerate one another; thus the destination, and the inherent roadblocks along the way.

Gunn’s knack for these sorts of antihero teams has not diminished one bit. If anything, he’s gotten even better. It was a bold move to open your new universe with a bunch of characters that the casual audience doesn’t know, but just as he did with Guardians of the Galaxy back in 2014, he makes it work here.

Particular highlights are Alan Tudyk’s Doctor Phosphorus and Zoe Chao’s Nina Mazursky. The former is a flaming human incident with severe anger (and trust) issues, while the latter is a fish lady who walks around in her own personal tank and says more with her eyes than her words.

Gunn’s careful comedic writing weaves these two personalities in and out of the journeys of the rest, and vice versa. There’s a lot to keep up with here, but with this being a series (and Gunn’s first, at that) there’s ample time to do so. The pace applied is remarkable and dire in equal parts, and when you’re not intertwined with the characters, you’ll be happy to engage in the action.

Creature Commandos looks brilliant. It’s a simple aesthetic shadowed by occasional shocking subject matter, jagged lines and inky colors. Everyone’s pasts are prominently visible in grimacing expressions and outward, often rejected advances of emotion. Battles fall through floors and break down walls; pots and pans swing, everything catches fire, and none of the team bothers to stick around and clean up. Not even Flag, who spends more time avoiding the memory of his son (a confirmation that Gunn’s The Suicide Squad remains canon) than he does focusing on the task at hand.

On top of all that, Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova), the person the team has set out to protect, is pursuing Flag romantically. He’s at the center of the entire show and, without spoilers, is a true gem of a character. He feels like a genuine extension of Joel Kinnaman’s live-action iteration of his son, and Frank Grillo’s performance brings all the pain and gruff that should come with such a militant role. He’s another finely-tuned moving part in a machine that has no business running as well as it does.

It’s a cacophony of chaos packaged in Gunn’s signature gung-ho style, and truly, the universe would’ve been hard-pressed to get off to a better start. Even where the show drags along on occasion, there’s a defined purpose to the mundanity. Gunn and his brand-new DCU have a hit in Creature Commandos. This is the definition of a must-see for anyone still remotely interested in cape content. This may give many new hope in a genre that has recently struggled to generate excitement… and it’s only the beginning.

Creature Commandos will debut exclusively on Max on December 5, 2024.