All eyes were on how James Gunn planned to start the DCU. When it was revealed the starting product would be Creature Commandos, some people scratched their heads. Is this animated series able to jump-start a new universe? It was a strange start, simply because (similarly to Gunn’s The Suicide Squad) audiences didn’t know these characters. After seeing season one of Creature Commandos, I can say that Gunn has delivered a very entertaining start to an exciting world. Especially If you’re a fan of something like The Suicide Squad, you won’t be disappointed.
Set loosely after the events of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) decides to build a new team for dangerous missions. Led by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), a new task force of monsters (amply titled Task Force M) is formed. Their mission involves stopping the sorceress Circe from ending the world. As their mission gets underway, everything is not as it seems for our titular team. What follows is an entertaining and highly violent start to this new universe. Granted, that may not be such a fun experience for every viewer.
Like Gunn’s other superhero projects (like the Guardians of The Galaxy franchise), the series takes a jokey tone. I certainly cannot deny that I laughed steadily throughout the entire series. With that, simply saying the series is funny serves as both a good and bad thing. That level of humor also serves as a detriment to the more serious stakes. When things have to get serious, they never quite land (in most cases) as intended. This is particularly evident in how the story over these seven episodes is structured.
Every episode moves the story forward and gives us background on a specific Commando. For the most part, these moments offer a more emotionally grounded experience. An example of this can best be viewed in episode four. Without spoilers, I can say it is one of the most emotionally moving pieces of television I’ve seen in years. It tells us so much about a character without overstating their welcome. On the flipside, certain characters (like David Harbour’s Frankenstein) get saddled with a level of comic relief over strict depth. The balance of the two makes things feel occasionally off-kilter.
In most cases, the series can be described as having tonal whiplash. At the moment, the humor, violence, and sexual innuendos have to be heard and seen to be believed. Gunn knows how to go for the joke and, in most cases, delivers. Granted, in the grand scheme of things, it’s the least effective component of the series. What worked best for me was the massive heart Gunn gives these characters. For some, its messy shifts in tone could come across as endearing to audiences. With that, something still puts Creature Commandos ahead of the tracks among the Gunn cavalcade of superhero projects.
No matter the heartfelt moments, these characters continue to be criminals. Glimmers of humanity never give way to their more violent nature. At their core, these characters remain the “creatures” they are meant to be. However, I’d be lying if I said Gunn does not hit some engaging, emotional beats to get us to care. Instead, viewers become invested in them. It’s yet another tonal tightrope walk that works in the series. That would not work without the strong case of voice performances.
James Gunn has been vocal about these voice actors appearing in future DCU projects. After seeing the series, it’s hard to deny how exciting that idea is. To credit Gunn, Creature Commandos has universally perfect casting across the board. David Harbour, Frank Grillo, Maria Bakalova, Indira Durma, Alan Tudyk, Sean Gunn, and Zoë Chao add dimensionality to these animated figures. They all deliver big humorous moments, but it’s the dramatic heft they bring to this heightened setting that leaves an impact. Not only does it remain emotionally involved, but it provides an engaging story to boot.
One more noticeably exciting aspect is how contained the story of Creature Commandos is. Easter eggs of other DC (potentially DCU) projects are scattered throughout the series. For more diehard comic fans, those references will serve as narrative catnip. They’re exciting nuggets that tease an exciting future ahead. For non-DC comics fans, those references don’t detract from the story. They can exist as interesting teases for what’s to come that don’t require previous knowledge. For some, that could be considered a “nothing” insight into a superhero television show. Whereas in an overcrowded world of superhero content, Creature Commandos doing this is a massive success.
Creature Commandos serves as a highly entertaining start to the DCU. However, not all of it succeeds due to wild tonal shifts. It’s consistently funny, but that humor doesn’t always gel with the darker and more violent action. What’s undeniable is that all of the pieces prove to be an entertaining experience. The talented cast helps amplify a messy tonal balance, delivering fascinating results. Each character leaves audiences wanting more and wondering about their place in the future universe. At the end, it leaves fans excited for what could come next.
Creature Commandos is now streaming on MAX.
Learn more about the show, including how to watch, on the MAX website for the title.
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