Creature Commandos Episode 1 recap: Meet DC’s new monsters

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As a seasoned gamer and avid DC Universe fan, I can confidently say that Creature Commandos Episode 1 is a refreshing, offbeat gem in the realm of superhero entertainment. After years of navigating through the labyrinthine DCEU, James Gunn’s DCU offers a breath of fresh air and an opportunity to explore lesser-known corners of the universe.

In Episode 1 of Creature Commandos, you’ll find a humorous, eccentric start to the storyline about our main characters, the DC Universe’s special team, who are tasked with safeguarding the princess from Pokolistan.

Following a ten-year run of the DCEU’s mixed bag of films, both hits and misses, as well as continuous calls (and criticisms) for the Snyderverse, the arrival of James Gunn’s DCU signals a fresh start, sweeping away the past.

To be honest, when I first started out, Gunn didn’t exactly have plans to kick off the franchise with this animated TV show. It’s all about a gritty, violent team of misfits, which is quite different from our usual heroic stories, especially since it has nothing to do with Superman, our initial cornerstone.

Indeed, that’s exactly why it’s so fitting: it serves as a prelude to what follows and offers the filmmaker a chance to explore comfortable grounds, and Episode 1 succeeds admirably in doing so.

Rick Flag meets the Creature Commandos

The series opens in Belle Reve, a prison home to all sorts of weird, wonderful, and dangerous people (and creatures). Rick Flag and Amanda Waller watch a news report from Pokolistan (not a real place, by the way) where Circe, a rogue Amazonian, has recruited a group of right-wing men who call themselves the “Sons of Themyscira” – as Flag says, “what a bunch of clowns.”

She has two objectives: to bring down Pokolistan and ascend to the Themysciran throne, a position she believes is rightfully hers.

Nevertheless, Waller expresses concern since Pokolistan maintains friendly relations with the U.S., specifically due to unmined oil reserves. In fact, Princess Ilana Rostovic has been actively discussing oil deals with the U.S. government.

Instead of directly using them, Waller plans to utilize non-human entities from the Non-Human Detention Unit as an alternative, due to Congress’s ban on Task Force X.

This group consists of the Bride, Doctor Phosphorus (whom Waller humorously suggests could perform a vasectomy on Flag for free with his radiation), G.I. Robot, Weasel (one of the few soldiers who lived through “Project Starfish in Corto Maltese”), and Nina Mazursky, the most intelligent and rational among them all.

As Flag and Waller enter their lounge, they instinctively lunge at them, but Waller swiftly activates her phone’s button, sending a jolting electric shock their way. “Let’s label this operation as Task Force M,” she announces, initiating the opening credits sequence (where James Gunn makes an exciting cameo!).

Flag and the Commandos fly to Pokolistan

Flag and his crew climb aboard a helicopter en route to Pokolistan. “I understand that not everyone is thrilled about this operation,” he says, to which they respond with nonchalant shrugs and wisecracks, while Weasel chews on the restraints securing him.

G.I. Robot ponders if his focus on hunting down Nazis might give him away as a possible Nazi himself, whereas Doctor Phosphorus labels him a murderer of children, yet we don’t have additional information about that at the moment. The Bride swiftly recognizes they are in Pokolistan, but she doesn’t provide an explanation for her worried response.

As I, a devoted fan, navigate towards the princess’ grand castle, my heart pounding like a drum, I can barely contain my anxiety (to the point that Weasel accidentally soils himself). Upon arrival, we’re subjected to some good-natured ribbing by her guards, with one even casually exclaiming, “What’s up!” without a trace of irony.

In the open air, Ilana engages in fetch with Weasel while Nina appreciates the scenic vistas from the castle. G.I. Robot laments not having eliminated any Nazis as of yet, but Nina assures him they’ll locate some together. Ilana expresses contentment at their company, acknowledging that they are all a tad peculiar.

Flag informs Ilana that Weasel allegedly murdered 27 children, yet he’s never displayed any signs of aggression, so she needn’t fret over him. However, Ilana harbors resentment towards her homeland, believing it’s mired in antiquity, and she thinks that America holds the key to her nation’s advancement.

“Flag shares with Ilana that her son (Joel Kinnaman’s character in DCEU) passed away during The Suicide Squad. She responds by saying something like, ‘I believe your son was a great man, but I have a preference for older men.’ As they continue talking, she guides him upstairs. However, Flag declines her advances and doesn’t engage in sexual activity.

The Bride chases her past while Rick Flag fights Doctor Phosphorus

That evening, everything appears tranquil; Weasel is sound asleep, G.I. Robot talks to himself outside the princess’s chamber, Nina indulges in a bath, while Rick finds it hard to drift off. Nina spots the Bride exiting the castle, and unable to persuade her to remain, she follows her instead.

They depart in a taxi, driving past Pokolistan’s rundown dwellings and individuals on the sidewalk. At the same time, Flag encounters Doctor Phosphorus rummaging through his drawer for his phone, leading to a harsh altercation (imagine getting slapped every time as if you were resting your head on a hot stove).

They collide into the kitchen below them, where Flag locates an oven mitt and successfully subdues him. “I’m not here to torment you,” he explains, “we’re supposed to be on the same side.” He cautions that Waller would activate the electric shock button repeatedly if he attempted to flee, more times than he could withstand.

The Bride makes it to where she’s headed – her original hometown and Eric Frankenstein’s dwelling, a place he once called home as well. A senior citizen contacts Frankenstein with the news that the Bride has come back.

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2024-12-05 18:05