Last Updated on December 4, 2024 by Stephinie Heitman
The Creature Commandos is a 2024 Action and adventure, Animation TV series created and written by James Gunn. The film stars Steve Agee, Maria Bakalova, Anya Chalotra, Zoë Chao, Frank Grillo, Sean Gunn, David Harbour, and Alan Tudyk. The series consists of 7 episodes total and will be released on December 5, 2024.
The new DC Universe created by James Gunn starts this week with an animated show called The Creature Commandos, a team created with the appearance of monsters for tasks that require another kind of team. As for some people, this team might be just a copy of Suicide Squad with monsters, this team has existed in the DC Comics universe for more than forty years. Created in 1980, it destroyed many of the characters that resembled the Universal Monsters for the most part and a Gorgon but in the setting of World War II.
What is The Creature Commandos All About
They later met G.I. Robot and became the core team of G.I. Robot. It has been revived in the most recent series during The New 52 period with Frankenstein by Grant Morrison and The Bride. Of course, there are so many variations out there this must have been his favorite, he has taken the idea and changed it a little to begin this new version of the TV/Movie version of the Universe. This has been connected to what he has done throughout the previous series, having Peacemaker season one take place shortly after the event and featuring an unnamed team of prisoners led by Rick Flagg Sr., voiced by Frank Grillo, going over to Europe to protect a small nation threatened by Circe, the foe of Wonder Woman from DC.
The team here comprises The Bride, voiced by Indira Varma, a woman who is very much bitter with life as a means of guarding their heart and feelings because of how the world has been to her ever since she was created a long time ago. She isn’t depicted as the usual comic reader type here, but she is one of the favorites and in essence, the protagonist of the series.
Doctor Phosphorus, voiced by Alan Tudyk, is undoubtedly the most malicious character that is in this team, The Bride, and he is as good at sarcastic remarks as she is. He is good in terms of visuals in the show and his emotionless skull face brings out a lot of dry humor in his dialogue.
Another character which is voiced by Tudyk is also featured in the series, which is quite unexpected. G.I. Robot is voiced by Sean Gunn and is an android that was made for use during World War II to kill Nazis but is quite out of place in a world-post war; Weasel is a character in a comic book that was given to G.I. Robot to help him adapt to the new world but has done more harm than good to him; Robot itself is very confused about what is going on and is one of the earliest emotional
From being an exemplary character in the Suicide Squad film, Weasel gets a little bit of character development which is a rather splendid reimagining of the figure from its comic book origin. It seems to me that one of the show’s achievements can be observed in this character.
For example Nina Mazursky, a merwoman of sorts; she is played by the talented Zoë Chao and is the most innocent member of the group. She is technically the black sheep of the team, the one who does not belong here, and provides the team with an identity to express how insane and violent everything is. She sometimes wishes to be like Gorgon of the old comics who never felt comfortable being a soldier but had to be one. In the animated feature, we have Eric Frankenstein, or just Frankenstein voiced by David Harbour. This character is very different from the Morrison version that initializes it, yet he belongs to this story and, seemingly, to this world already.
This is not the character who mostly speaks the dialogues of Paradise Lost while eliminating other monsters like an undead Arnold Schwarzenegger action-hero type of character here; he is excessively romantic and a violent toxic lover and stalker. Filled with jealousy and emotions that are more like the actual Frankenstein than what films, most shows, and even comics have turned him into, he is just a bonus to the whole ordeal and something that is a threat to The Bride like that of Nemesis to Jill Valentine in Resident Evil 3. Present throughout the movie, persistent, the vampire is a relentless predator focused on getting his Bride.
The story feels like it takes the Commandos for a ride, but the main plot is kept intact and each episode is equally complemented by the focus on the history of every member of the team. This never feels slow as we get to learn more about the characters and their development as people while also advancing the plot. This appears more like a DC comic, unlike the way things were done in the DCEU. Well, allow me to be more specific; it reminds me of this Vertigo comic where you have the guard rails pulled off, but it remains mature and feels like it is in the DCU and matters. Like many stories of Animal Man, Swamp Thing, and others, these backgrounds give each monster a tragic touch and an explanation as to why they are what they are.
It just gives the story a different stroke of identity while at the same time maintaining being welcoming and something that one would be interested in reading more of especially from a reader’s or, writer’s point of view or even for a re-read by the writer. Thus, one begins to develop a personal interest in each of the team members here. Now those who are connected to the A.R.G.U.S. organization, don’t know you as much as you know them.
You have Viola Davis as Amanda Waller and Steve Agee as John Economos; they look the part as you have also seen them. Of all the characters, Flagg Sr. suffers from a serious lack of exposition; however, as he will most likely appear in more projects, the audience will be given more of him in the future, as his purpose here is to provide the cast with comic relief.
There is quite a good action in the animation with a nice fight and action rhythm from time to time. It is somewhat violent, with limbs being severed and the even worse happening, so if it is not your cup of tea, avoid the show. Big bold black colors used in the character designs help in the distinction of the characters during the big scenes, which feature a huge number of on-screen characters. On the same note, it also does not look like many of the other DC animated projects that have been produced in recent years.
To go with the action-comedy nature of the show, it is very colorful and has a lot of bright lighting. At the same time, the show will be compared to Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad immediately; that is a bit unfair when people are assembling into a team. It’s not clear if they are like the Guardians, a family, or the squad like the team, or even the Peacemaker group.
What it does do is something DC has a history of doing which is to take an obscure character and spin it into something precious, and I feel that in regards to The Bride, it does just that. Essentially, this is a show you don’t necessarily need any background knowledge of – simply watch and get in on the ground floor. Creature Commandos of DC is an entertaining, enjoyable, touching, and funny cartoon show and a perfect beginning for a brand-new DC.
Creature Commandos 2024 Parents Guide & Review
Creature Commandos is rated TV-MA by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA)
Violence and Gore: The series features graphic animated violence, including brutal fight sequences and combat. Limbs are severed, characters are maimed, and blood is often depicted.
Characters like Doctor Phosphorus with his flaming skull and Frankenstein’s gory and decayed features add unsettling visuals. Some scenes involve torture or suffering, emphasizing the darker tone of the show.
The violence is amplified with monster-like creatures engaging in brutal attacks, including dismemberments, impalements, and explosions.
Themes of obsession and stalking are explored, especially through Frankenstein’s toxic and relentless pursuit of The Bride, which adds a psychological layer to the violence.
Language: Strong language: Profanity is frequently used, including words like “fk” and “st.” Characters often use sarcastic and biting language that may include crude humor.
Sexual Content: While explicit nudity or sex scenes are absent, there are mature discussions and implications about relationships, obsession, and emotional manipulation. Frankenstein’s toxic romantic behavior is a recurring theme. Some dialogue contains suggestive remarks, though not overly explicit.
Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking: Characters are occasionally shown drinking in casual settings or after missions . While there is no on-screen drug use, some dialogues may include references to substances or intoxication.
Overall Recommendation: The Creature Commandos is suitable for mature audiences who can handle graphic animated violence, dark humor, and complex themes. It is not appropriate for children or younger teenagers. Parents should preview episodes or check reviews to gauge comfort levels with the content.
