As someone who has been a die-hard fan of James Gunn’s work since the days of “Slither” and “Super,” I must say that “Creature Commandos” is a delightful addition to his ever-growing universe. This animated series, much like a phoenix rising from the ashes, doesn’t feel like an event, even though it technically marks the beginning of Gunn and Safran’s reboot of the DC Universe.
The “Creature Commandos” series, despite being the beginning of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s reboot of the DC Universe on Max, doesn’t come across as a significant occasion. In fact, it feels casual, even though it is. This lighthearted and humorous tone contrasts sharply with many other franchise debuts that are often heavy and burdened by obligations to larger narratives. The series, which is written entirely by Gunn and directed by Matt Peters and Sam Liu, is surprisingly free of the usual weightiness, despite its ultra-violent, profane antihero narrative. This sense of freedom is something that Gunn and Safran’s DCU should aim to maintain as they move on to more prominent characters in the future.
The structure of “Creature Commandos” is undeniably and boldly inspired by “The Suicide Squad,” which was James Gunn’s debut in the DC Universe in 2021. (As the director of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” he stepped into the DC realm as a hired gun, delivering the semi-remake “The Suicide Squad” five years after David Ayer’s version, and then creating the “Peacemaker” spinoff series for HBO Max.) The character Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis, continues her live-action role from before. Due to restrictions on deploying human prisoners in high-risk missions, she resorts to using non-human inmates as a legal loophole instead. Essentially, the idea of villains turned heroes remains, but with even more eccentric characters who don’t require CGI for their portrayal.
The Commandos appear to be led by Captain Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), but it’s actually The Bride (Indira Varma) who takes the reins in reality. She’s a reanimated corpse and has been living in the public domain for some time. Alongside her are G.I. Robot (Sean Gunn), an old World War II machine designed to eliminate Nazis; Weasel (also Sean Gunn), a silent, rodent-like creature from the same universe as “The Suicide Squad”; Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), a flaming skeleton; and Nina Mazursky (Zoë Chao), a calm, extremely intelligent fish-woman reminiscent of characters from “The Shape of Water.
Locking this group into position requires just a brief time span. (“Creature Commandos” is particularly economical, with each episode averaging about 25 minutes in length.) However, as the overarching narrative progresses, the Commandos are sent to a fictional Eastern European country to safeguard Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova). Gunn uses flashbacks to give each team member their moment in the limelight, reminding us that monstrosity is often a matter of perspective. These reminders could easily feel contrived or overdone, but Gunn skillfully combines them with a darkly humorous tone. Circe leads an army of neckbeard incels and crushes beer cans using her magic; instead of the Monster, the Bride’s spurned lover — portrayed by David Harbour — is simply known as “Eric.
Harbour gives a tour-de-force vocal performance as the iconic work of Dr. Frankenstein: part pathetic, part menacing, part surprisingly erudite, and sometimes all three at once, like when he’s monologuing about his unrequited crush to a terrified taxi driver. Gunn’s spin on the classic characters is a novel one, with the Bride detesting and bloodily rebuffing her entitled, lovelorn suitor. A clever montage illustrates their relationship through the centuries, with Eric chasing the Bride from the Continent to the Wild West and back again — like Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, if one of them were an abusive creep.
The animated series “Creature Commandos” frequently employs animation artfully, mirroring its comic book origins. It often results in comical scenes, especially with exaggerated violence and gore. Occasionally, there are brief instances of beauty before the show eliminates a character permanently. Despite being a cartoon, Gunn gives the series a gravity that it earns independently. Similar to “Guardians,” “Creature Commandos” excels at stirring emotions for previously unknown characters, mainly because they are underdogs. Interestingly, Batman makes a brief appearance in Doctor Phosphorus’ storyline, rather than the other way around, much like “Guardians.” Additionally, similar to “Guardians,” “Creature Commandos” boasts a unique soundtrack, primarily featuring Gogol Bordello, which reflects both the setting and the show’s lively, chaotic atmosphere.
Beginning the debut of DCU takes a backseat to the introduction of “Creature Commandos,” which is fitting given the circumstances. Unlike established characters such as Superman who are on the verge of their prime time, this new team of anthropomorphic outsiders faces less pressure. The Creature Commandos align well with Gunn’s familiar creative style and are directly linked to a past successful project. Instead of a grand entrance, it’s more of a smooth transition, offering viewers an enjoyable experience without unnecessary distractions.
You can now stream the initial two episodes of “Creature Commandos” on Max. The subsequent episodes will be broadcast every Thursday.
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2024-12-05 17:16