What to know about ‘Creature Commandos’ and James Gunn’s new DC universeGunn launches his new DC Comics cinematic universe (known as the DCU) with the new Max series.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/2024/12/05/creature-commandos-dcu-james-gunn-explained/
Nina Mazursky, GI Robot, the Bride, Rick Flag Sr., Dr. Phosphorus and Weasel in “Creature Commandos.” (Max/Warner Bros.)
This article contains light spoilers for “Creature Commandos.”
When Marvel Studios kicked off its cinematic universe in 2008, it began with a semi-realistic and grounded story of a playboy billionaire who built an iron suit (in a cave!) to conquer his enemies. A few years later, in 2013, Warner Bros. and DC Comics leaned into a darker Christopher Nolan-inspired universe (filled with guns, timeline plot holes and lots of “Martha!”) for its own sprawling DC extended universe (or the DCEU, as its unofficially called).
So in 2024, James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-CEOs of DC Studios, chose a different way to jump-start its rebooted DC Comics cinematic universe: “Creature Commandos,” an animated series that debuts on Max on Thursday, Dec. 5. Gunn, who wrote all seven episodes before the show was even green-lit, went deep into the annals of DC Comics lore and spotlighted zany, comic book weirdness for the new venture.
What makes it so weird? The series stars a Nazi-killing robot, an empathetic but feral weasel, a radioactive skeleton, a swamp creature, Frankenstein’s bride and, yes, even Frankenstein himself (the monster, not the doctor). If this sounds a little offbeat, that’s because it is.
Here’s an 11-point guide to the show and how it helps set the table for Gunn and Safran’s new DCU.
Who are the Creature Commandos?
The show wastes little time introducing viewers to its lead characters — and all of them sound pretty ridiculous in description.
There’s Doctor Phosphorous (a radioactive skeleton), the Bride (a vengeful force of nature created to love Frankenstein), Weasel (a doglike weasel with very little brains but a sympathetic heart), GI Robot (a Nazi-killing machine) and Nina Mazursky (a swamp creature with a sense of humor).
The group, led by military man Rick Flag Sr. (voiced by Frank Grillo), travel to the country of Pokolistan to help a young princess fight off a magic-wielding witch named Circe (who, in the comics, is a supervillain and longtime foe of Wonder Woman known for turning people into animal hybrids).
In the comics, the Creature Commandos are sometimes referred to as Task Force Monster, or Task Force M. And they’re even weirder. First introduced in the “Weird War Tales #93” issue in 1980, the group has included werewolves, vampires, mummies and a gorgon.
What is the format?
“Creature Commandos” is not a gargantuan film like 2013’s “Man of Steel,” which launched the original DCU. Instead it’s a cartoon. The style is traditional, with French animation and anime influences. Warner Bros. worked with the Paris-based company Bobbypills on the production.
“You’re starting this big, massive, new DC film universe and you’re starting it with an animated show,” said the show’s supervising director, Rick Morales. “I don’t know if it’s risky, but it’s just something that you wouldn’t see. Like, a big studio launched this giant franchise with a cartoon. I love that.”
Dr. Phosphorus using his powers in “Creature Commandos.” (Courtesy of Max/DC/Warner Bros.)
What should you know about the characters?
You don’t need to know much about the Commandos before watching the show. Gunn and Co. do a good job recapping the character backstories.
The quick rundown for you: GI Robot (voiced by Sean Gunn) likes to kill Nazis in World War II; the Weasel (also voiced by Sean Gunn) is a weird creature who knows more than it lets on; Frankenstein (voiced by David Harbour) swoons after the Bride (voiced by Indira Varma); Doctor Phosphorus (voiced by Alan Tudyk) is a scientist who got into trouble and became a radioactive villain; and Nina Mazursky (voiced by Zoe Chao) is a swamp creature who lacks confidence in herself.
Gunn, who wrote all seven “Creature Commandos” episodes, replicated what he did with “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Suicide Squad,” giving audiences heavy loads of action followed by character-centric storytelling with deep emotional notes.
“It has the kind of heart and action and comedy that I think people hope to see from James,” said showrunner Dean Lorey. “And so I’m excited for people to see that because I think it’ll be sort of inspiring for what’s to come.”
GI Robot and Nina Mazursky in “Creature Commandos.” (Courtesy of Max)
What is the DCU?
The new DC Comics cinematic universe (or “DCU,” as it’s being called) is a series of interconnected movies and shows based on DC Comics characters under the leadership of Gunn and Safran.
The pair first announced their lineup of forthcoming projects in October 2023. Though Gunn has said the “Peacemaker” series starring John Cena, which debuted in 2022, will be mostly canon to the DCU, “Commandos” gives us our first real taste of what will happen in his universe.
Following “Creature Commandos,” the new DCU will continue with summer 2025’s “Superman” film and a second season of “Peacemaker,” set to debut next August. Other approved projects for the DCU include “Lanterns,” a show about the Green Lantern Corps., a Supergirl film and the Batman-centric “The Brave and the Bold,” among others.
Is the show connected to the older DC canon?
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“Creature Commandos” is the first show in the new DCU, but that doesn’t mean it’s not slightly connected to the older DC cinematic lore.
Viola Davis plays Amanda Waller, a ruthless government official, in the show. Davis as Waller has been a DC Studios staple since the character’s introduction in 2016’s “Suicide Squad.” She also appeared as Waller in Gunn’s stand-alone sequel, “The Suicide Squad,” from 2021. Davis has also played Waller in a few other DC projects, such as “Birds of Prey” (a sequel to the 2016 “Suicide Squad”) and “Black Adam” (the DC film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson). Both of those films were a part of the old DC canon, called the DC Extended Universe, which was centered on Henry Cavill’s Superman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman and Ben Affleck’s Batman.
Similarly, the show’s military leader, Rick Flag Sr., helps bridge the gap between the DCEU and the new DCU. Flag’s son, Rick Flag Jr., appeared in both 2016’s “Suicide Squad” and 2021’s “The Suicide Squad.”
Rick Flag Sr. and Amanda Waller in “Creature Commandos.” (Courtesy of Max)
Should you watch anything first?
“Creature Commandos” works as a stand-alone. You don’t need to watch anything else or do any homework beforehand. That said, the John Cena “Peacemaker” series — a spin-off of “The Suicide Squad” that streams on Max — proves somewhat important to “Creature Commandos” as Peacemaker’s DNA is all over this show.
Not only do we get a few fresh cameos linked to that show, but we get a little acknowledgment about Peacemaker himself — a sign that the vigilante antihero may have a big role to play in whatever Gunn has cooked up. This makes sense given that the show has been celebrated by critics and audiences alike.
Frankenstein and Rick Flag Sr. in “Creature Commandos.” (Courtesy of Max/Max/Warner Bros.)
Do you need to know the DC Comics lore?
No, but it helps.
“Creature Commandos” has some nods to pretty deep cut characters from the DC universe. This isn’t about Flash, Green Lantern or the Teen Titans. Instead this show has a small-time Batman villain in Doctor Phosphorus, not to mention Frankenstein and maybe a certain Daniel Craig-ish military sergeant. Gunn dug deep to give casual viewers a taste of some new characters. This doesn’t include all the other supporting characters who weave their way in and out of the show.
“We’ve got a cast of characters here that DC fans haven’t really seen before,” Morales, the supervising director, said in an interview. “And so it’s exciting to me to sort of introduce all these new players.”
Is there any music?
If you’ve seen Gunn’s earlier projects, you know he’ll sometimes mix superhero battle sequences and yacht rock. Such is the case with “Creature Commandos,” which has a very catchy theme song and always ends on a musical note. Plenty of other soft rock staples permeate the show, a sign that Gunn’s style might work its way into the DCU as well.
“I read all seven scripts and then reread them,” said Zoe Chao, who plays Nina. “I was struck by how full it was down to the music cues, which you don’t often get in scripts either. You could play the track while reading it and you just see it all.”
Circe in “Creature Commandos.” (Courtesy of Max/Max/Warner Bros.)
Any fun cameos?
We won’t spoil these, but prepare yourself for some pretty wild cameos from other DC Comics heroes. According to showrunner Lorey, both Safran and Gunn had specific characters they wanted to include in the series.
They had — particularly James had — very specific ideas of what characters could be in the background of a shot,” Lorey said. “A lot of times it was really just honoring what James felt was important to him and I guess potentially to the future of the DCU.”
Will the Creature Commandos return?
According to the showrunners, all the voice actors were cast for their roles assuming that they might appear in future DC live-action projects. For example, Grillo said he will appear as Flag Sr. in the upcoming “Superman” film directed by Gunn and in Season 2 of “Peacemaker.”
It’s still unclear whether “Creature Commandos” will get a second season, or whether other cast members will appear in future projects. But Harbour said he visited Gunn on the set of “Superman” during production earlier this year (though he’s not expected to appear in it).
Still, he’s down for a return in the future. “I mean, how fun is it to think about like Frankenstein running around somewhere or like Batman’s out there and Superman’s out there, the Justice League is out there,” Harbour said. “For them to run into each other in a movie, I think is, yeah, it’s pretty exciting.”
Are there any post-credit scenes?
Yes, make sure you stay for the credits after the final episode of the season. There’s a fun post-credit tag that sets up where the characters might appear next.
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