The first installment of the new DC Universe, led by director and screenwriter James Gunn, has finished its first season.
“Creature Commandos” was a great choice to kick off a new cinematic universe. It allowed Gunn to do what he does best: take a relatively unknown group of ragtag heroes or villains, and make them loveable badasses.
The Creature Commandos features six unique and troubled characters. From a Nazi-murdering robot to one of Victor Frankenstein’s creations, the cast leaves little room for dull moments.
The show kicks off immediately with a face familiar to many fans of DC Comics: Amanda Waller. She is the leader of A.R.G.U.S., a secret government agency that performs many secret missions for the United States.
Most of the show takes place in the fictional country of Pokolistan, where the main cast is assigned to protect the country’s princess from an invading foe.
Interpersonal relationships and manipulation unfold later in the show, which creates a sense of anxiety toward the end.
In the beginning and throughout the series, there are references to previous DC storylines that Gunn directed. While those old storylines like 2021’s “The Suicide Squad” were a part of the previous cinematic universe, Gunn confirms that everything referenced in Creature Commandos is canon according to his posts on BlueSky.
This means that “The Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker” play a part in the new universe.
“Peacemaker is almost entirely consistent with that canon other than the Justice League; ‘The Suicide Squad’ has a lot of consistencies but I think of it as an imperfect memory,” Gunn said.
Another familiar face in the show is Weasel, who was last seen alive at the end credits of “The Suicide Squad” after surviving the massacre at the beginning of that film.
In the show, Weasel’s character is more fleshed out and his backstory is revealed. The tear-jerking reveal of its past brings a different side to the character that turns it from comic relief to a tragic monster.
A common theme between all the characters is their gut-wrenching origin stories.
Each episode showcases a character’s backstory and the majority of them are given humanity and sympathy, despite being labeled villainous monsters.
Gunn uses music to drive a character and the storyline’s theme and feeling to the next level. He has been doing this with heroes for a long time. This includes the “Guardians of the Galaxy” soundtrack, which is dubbed the “Awesome Mix.”
In this show, Gunn utilizes a ton of Eastern European music which drives home the setting of Pokolistan. This provides a unique layer of audio storytelling that keeps the viewer in the setting.
“Creature Commandos” is a fascinating and engaging show. Each episode is around 20 minutes and there are a total of seven episodes, which can be viewed on Max.
This is great for those who have trouble committing to longer format shows, but will be a negative for those who love binging.
Overall, “Creature Commandos” is an epic beginning to a new DCU and shows that Gunn has a lot left to give in the comic cinema world.