Creature Commandos First Two-Episode Review: Has Potential But Some Misses

The first two episodes of Creature Commandos are now out on Max which launches James Gunn’s new DCU.

The series is everything you expect from something that comes from James Gunn. It’s definitely his formula we’ve come to know from Guardians of the Galaxy, Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad. There’s a team of misfits. There’s music. There’s adult humor and jokes. There’s cool action. The dialogue is done well. There’s goofiness.

What I like

I really like the style of animation a lot. Like a really lot. Hats off to the artists. It’s brightly colored and photorealistic. It’s what I call American animation. It’s more like what I grew up with as a kid while watching GI Joe and Transformers. The style of animation makes for awesome comic book art. It’s more what DC fans expect from their animation.

I like the music, too. The episode feature songs most people aren’t familiar with, and the songs fit perfectly with the action. Fans have come to expect Gunn’s stuff to feature songs, so far, it hasn’t gotten old.

I also like the overall story. It takes place a couple of years after The Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller is barred from using humans so instead she uses monsters. The story follows Waller forming “Task Force M” as a result of an invasion in a foreign country that is friends with the U.S. government, with Rick Flag Sr. in charge of the team.

What characters I like

My favorite character is the Bride of Frankenstein by far, which makes sense as she is the focus of the series. She’s bad ass and gets all the cool parts and cool fights. She’s pretty sexy.

My second favorite character is Doctor Phosphorus. He’s voiced by Alan Tudyk who is no stranger to voice acting. Lots of cool jokes here.

Maria Bakalova’s Ilana Rostovic is also super sexy. Especially that accent. Super hot. Definitely not complaining.

The fight with Circe is also done well. Hopefully she makes her way into live-action. Anya Chalotra! Yes, please!

What I didn’t like

What I didn’t like was the opening two minutes. Of course, Gunn has to take shots as right-wingers. It comes off cringe as fuck and forced as fuck.

So Circe (it’s pronounced Sir-SEE not Sir-SAY) hires what and recruits who? She gets American incels to join her and somehow fight in Eastern Europe? Huh? How does that make any sense?

And how does her promising that once the downfall of Pokolistan is achieved, she will lead the Sons of Themyscira to conquer Themyscira make any sense? Why the fuck does Circe want to conquer Pokolistan? Why not just go straight to Themyscira? Why the fuck do the Sons of Themyscira want to conquer Themyscira? Because per the episode, Themyscira is “all-female” and “woke?” I suppose Gunn couldn’t help himself after what happened at Disney.

More cringe comes with it learned the reason the U.S. is friends with Pokolistan is to get their oil. Eyeroll.

I also don’t like that nothing happens when the Creature Commandos arrive in Pokolistan. I expected there to be a big war going on, between the locals and Circe and her army (if you want to call them that) but there’s only those two losers spying on Task Force M. Huh? I thought it was an invasion?

How about instead of the goofy Americans that were there on Jan. 6th, Circe recruits an army of demons or some shit? And then Task Force M is brought in to clean house? Nope.

The episode are short, like really short. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought they would be nearly an hour, at least 45 minutes each. So as there are only 7 episodes and they are like 20 minutes each, Creature Commandos is basically a 2.5 hour movie divided into episodes. The first episode was a bunch-of-nothing happening but the second episode makes up for things. I’ll say the short episodes do pack a bunch, go by quick, and aren’t boring at all. It works.

Which characters didn’t I like?

I’m surprised, as I didn’t really like Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. He comes off as kind of a pussy, I thought. I figured he was supposed to be this Black Ops military man that’s a bad ass. His son was killed in action two years ago, but he’s kind of a pushover. There’s no reaction or anything when Waller mentions his son died (we’re all waiting for that). Maybe Gunn is saving that for Peacemaker Season 2. Rick Flag does come through in episode 2 (pun intended).

Speaking of being a pussy, holy shit, David Harbour’s Eric Frankenstein is a big bitch and simp. That I wasn’t expecting. I was a fan of the New 52 comic Frankenstein and the Agents of Shade (art is really cool) and while it’s been a while, I can’t remember Frank being such a bitch. Somebody let me know if he is indeed like that in the comics.

Speaking of Frankenstein, so Task Force M is formed featuring The Bride and it just so happens their first mission is to go to her home country??? And then this brings Frankenstein into the series? Way too convenient, almost lazy. I was wondering where Frankenstein was when they first showed the monsters in Bella Reeve.

I also don’t like the previews. Don’t watch them! Way too many spoilers. WTF! I think if you watch the previews following the first and second episode, it spoils the whole fucking show!!! (check out a first look at the David Corenswet Superman in DCU animation)

The Verdict

The verdict on the fist two episodes of James Gunn’s Creature Commandos? It’s good. It’s worth a watch. I think it’s more for the hardcore comic fans. I like it a lot better than the MCU’s animated series, especially What If..? I’m definitely going to be sticking around to finish the series. I’ll say it doesn’t get me totally psyched for what Gunn is going to do with the DCU, but it has at least further piqued my interest.

The fist two episodes of James Gunn’s Creature Commandos get an 8/10.

Oh yeah, I found it hilarious Gunn put himself in the intro. Wow.