The first reactions for James Gunn’s Creature Commandos series are in, and again per the norm, they are overwhelmingly positive.
Typically what always happens with first reactions is that the early reviews offer said movie or TV show is the best thing since sliced bread. You have to wonder if they said something negative if they would ever get the chance for an early review again or a chance to interview the creators, promote the projects, etc. From our own experience, we gave a DC animated movie a so-so review years ago and never again received a free copy or heard from them again.
Of course, the early positive shill reviews doesn’t necessarily mean said project is bad (or good), so keep that in mind.
No pun intended, even James Gunn jumped the gun as he posted a screenshot on threads showing Creature Commandos with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score. Well, there were only ten or less reviews at the time.
Hilariously, then Comic Book Movie shilled and said the same, who is one of Gunn’s select sites to get an early look at the first two episodes along with sites like Comic Book, IGN, and Collider and Screen Rant who are owned by the same VC-funded Canadian company that has threatened independent site Giant Freakin Robot.
What do the reactions say for James Gunn’s Creature Commandos?
As of this posting of this article, presently there are only 15 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: 14 are positive and 1 is negative.
What does the negative review say?
The The lone negative review comes from Inverse who doesn’t seem to like that Creature Commandos is R-rated, as the reviewer seems to feel the previous Zack Snyder DCEU was also too “nihilistic and brutal.” Worth a mention is that Creature Commandos being R-rated doesn’t necessarily mean Gunn’s entire DCU will be of a similar tone. It seems Gunn’s Superman will actually be quite different, and I think all of Gunn’s DCU projects will have different tones:
“If DC was going to drop the nihilistic and brutal aspects of DC’s previously shared continuity, that’s not happening here. If anything, Creature Commandos doubles down on the old grimdark DCEU vibe rather than forging a new path.”
What do the positive reviews say?
Checking what the above mentioned sites say about Creature Commandos:
CBM:
Delightfully deranged, Creature Commandos is a crazy, captivating, instant classic that puts the new DCU on the map while offering fans an endless list of reasons to return each week. James Gunn has delivered a monstrous must-see.
Comic Book:
Creature Commandos channels the quintessential heart and dark humor that have become calling cards of James Gunn’s found-family stories, and delivers the best possible start to the budding DCU.
IGN:
James Gunn’s classic recipe of lovable weirdos, great music, and lots of jokes and violence is on full display, but in a new, fresh way that’s presented well in animation.
Screen Rant:
Creature Commandos marks the official start of the DCU, and with a team of monstrous antiheroes leading the charge, it’s off to a good start.
Collider:
If this series is any indication, the future of the DC Universe is in very good hands.
Regarding the rest of the positive reviews, they praise James Gunn’s knack for creating quirky, heartfelt, and action-packed stories. Described as “feverishly funny” and “devilishly cool,” they offer the series balances gory violence with emotional depth and dynamic character development.
Critics praise its humor, music, and ability to humanize its bizarre cast, calling it “a riotous good time” and a “colorful and action-packed introduction” to the DCU. While some reviewers mention Gunn’s tendency to repeat familiar formulas, others note that Creature Commandos still feels fresh and distinct, marking an excellent start to the DCU’s new chapter.
Creature Commandos premieres with its first two episodes December 5, 2024 on MAX.
