‘Creature Commandos’ Review: A Strong DCU Start, But Too Familiar to Feel Truly Fresh

The moment fans of DC adaptations have been waiting for has finally arrived as ‘Creature Commandos’ is ready to release. ‘Creature Commandos’ is an animated TV show for adults, loosely based on DC Comics.

The series follows a secret team of monsters assembled by Amanda Waller and marks the first project in the new DC Universe (DCU). With seven episodes, all written by James Gunn, the show features Dean Lorey as the main producer and Yves “Balak” Bigerel as the director. The impressive voice cast includes Steve Agee, Maria Bakalova, Viola Davis, David Harbour, and more.

Announced in January 2023 by DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, the series was already in development, with the cast revealed in April 2023 and animation handled by Bobbypills studio.

Now that we’ve covered the technical aspects of the show, let’s dive into what it’s really like. First, it’s important to note that while ‘Creature Commandos’ is technically the start of the DCU, as James Gunn and Peter Safran have mentioned, it’s only a small taste of what the DCU will ultimately become.

As mentioned in our brief introduction, without giving too much away, after disastrous outcomes with the Peacemaker and Suicide Squad teams, Amanda Waller can no longer rely on human subjects for her covert operations.

To get technical, Waller scours the cells of Belle Reve and assembles a new team, led by Rick Flag Sr. This team consists of various ‘freaks,’ all guilty of heinous crimes and who cannot be considered human by any means

The team consists of Nina Mazursky, an amphibious scientist; G.I. Robot, a military android created to kill Nazis; and Weasel, who we already know. Also included are Doctor Phosphorus, a permanently radioactive former scientist; The Bride, an undead creature created to serve as Frankenstein’s bride; and Rick Flag Sr., voiced by Frank Grillo.

The show – while solid – brings nothing new to the genre, especially in the context of Gunn’s previous works

‘Creature Commandos’ clearly feels like a continuation of ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Peacemaker.’ Just to remind you, the entirety of ‘Peacemaker’ Season 1 is canon to the DCU, except for the Justice League scene, which will be addressed in the show.

That said, you won’t get the feeling that you’re watching the launch of a new cinematic universe. The episode structure follows a predictable formula: a segment to introduce each character, a moment designed to tug at your heartstrings, a comedic break, an action sequence, and ultimately, very little time spent advancing the main plot or explaining what’s really going on.

With only 7 episodes, each on average lasts around 25 minutes, you can’t really set up any elaborate storyline. If you have high expectations, don’t have them. Speaking of formulaic elements, the team dynamics are almost exactly the same as in most of Gunn’s superhero works.

The dynamics between the members of ‘Creature Commandos’ easily resemble those of ‘Suicide Squad’ or ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ to the point where you might not even realize you’re following a different team. You’ve got the sassy, badass female, the dumb brute, the cold scientist, the endearing human character who (mostly) gets the job done, the animal companion, and the chaotic neutral character—it’s all there.

Character development is well done, as you get to know the motivations and backstories of each team member. ‘Creature Commandos’ feels more like an origin story for the characters rather than setting up an overarching plot. Despite relying on familiar tropes, the characters are humanized and relatable.

Despite the strong character development, it’s still hard to fully connect with the team and care about them. Gunn’s trademark humor is evident throughout, with plenty of gore and references that fans of various franchises will enjoy.

Personally, I loved David Harbour’s portrayal of Frankenstein and his lines, and since he’s likely to be a fan favorite, he gets just the right amount of screen time—not too much, but enough to leave you wanting more.

The animation is fluid and well done, and the overall aesthetics managed to skirt stereotypes

Gunn wanted the series to seamlessly integrate into the larger DC Universe, allowing characters and locations to appear across movies and shows. For instance, while the team initially designed Belle Reve prison to have a gothic and elaborate look, Gunn insisted it aligns with the simpler design seen in The Suicide Squad. New locations, like Frankenstein’s mansion, were also created to match this aesthetic.

Despite this, Gunn emphasized that he wasn’t imposing a single ‘look’ on the DC Universe, allowing each project to have its own unique style. ‘Creature Commandos’ features a grounded yet stylized design inspired by Eastern Europe, which contrasts with the look of ‘Harley Quinn.’

The Eastern European locations avoid the typical dreary, gloomy stereotypes often seen in other media. The action and characters are well-animated, with a clean style that evokes a nostalgic 90s cartoon vibe.

Overall, if this level of animation continues, the future looks bright for the studio’s animated projects.

The soundtrack was easily one of the best aspects of the show

In August 2024, James Gunn announced that Kevin Kiner and Clint Mansell, both of whom worked on ‘Peacemaker,’ would be composing the music for ‘Creature Commandos.’ The theme song is ‘Moliendo Café’ by Venezuelan artist Hugo Blanco. To set the show’s musical tone, Gunn drew inspiration from bands like Gogol Bordello and the Dresden Dolls.

Each episode features a different song inspired by Eastern Europe vibes, with the track from the first episode being especially catchy and likely to make its way onto your regular playlists.

The voice acting is solid overall, despite some cast members having limited experience in this area.

The show doesn’t require prior DC knowledge, but by the end, it relies heavily on the larger universe to hold up

The best part of the show is that it doesn’t require prior knowledge of DCEU properties to enjoy. Both Rick Flag’s and Waller’s motivations are well-explained, so you don’t need to catch up on ‘Suicide Squad’ or ‘Peacemaker.’

The team is obscure enough that only hardcore fans will notice the deviations from the source material, making it easy to jump in without any prior knowledge since it’s the start of a new universe.

However, by the end of the show, you’ll realize it heavily relies on upcoming projects, and the original story doesn’t fully wrap up—it mostly teases what’s to come.

The verdict

Let’s start with the best aspects of the show: solid animation, strong character development, great voice acting, and a standout soundtrack. The humor and references hit the mark, showcasing Gunn at his best as he focuses on a team of misfits and embraces the weirdness of it all.

The humor, gore, and references will definitely appeal to fans of Gunn’s previous works, and the TV-MA rating gives him the freedom to show some messed-up (but funny) moments. Gunn balances comedy, drama, emotional beats, and action expertly, and ‘Creature Commandos’ demonstrates this just like his previous projects.

Now, let’s focus on the weaker points of the show. It feels too similar to Gunn’s previous works, as he once again sticks to his “comfort zone.” ‘Creature Commandos’ was always a strange choice to kick off a new universe, and it feels even stranger when you notice elements from Gunn’s previous DCEU projects.

It can be difficult to separate the DCEU from the DCU. However, to his credit, Gunn has mentioned that the transition between the two universes will be seamless, so this may just be a personal issue for me.

The show relies too heavily on the broader DC Universe, making it feel like it doesn’t stand on its own. The structure is formulaic, with little focus on advancing the main plot, and the story feels more like an origin than a fully developed arc.

While the character development is strong, it’s hard to fully connect with the team or care about their fates due to the lack of a solid, self-contained story. The show ultimately teases future projects without offering much resolution, leaving the narrative feeling incomplete.

If you were expecting something new and groundbreaking, don’t hold your breath. This show isn’t that. However, if you’re tuning in for more of what Gunn does best—quirky misfits, weirdness, humor, and endearing moments—you’ll definitely enjoy it.

6/10

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