In December 2024, Max released a new DC animated series, “Creature Commandos,” directed by James Gunn. The series is a sequel to Gunn’s 2022 series “Peacemaker” and his 2021 film “The Suicide Squad.”
The Suicide Squad, in all its iterations, is a group of high-powered yet apprehended supervillains who assemble to take on high-stakes, covert missions in exchange for time off of their prison sentences. The team is led by Amanda Waller, who implants bombs in the brains of the team members that will detonate if they disobey.
In “Creature Commandos,” Waller is no longer allowed to put bombs in human brains or force them to go on dangerous missions. However, nothing prevents her from using nonhuman entities.
Enter Task Force M — “M” for “Monster” — aka the Creature Commandos, a task force made up of those who are powerful yet inhuman. The line-up includes The Bride, Weasel, Doctor Phosphorus, G.I. Robot and Nina Mazursky.
The Bride –- as in the Bride of Frankenstein — is a sardonic, cynical yet secretly soft-hearted, 7-foot-tall woman made of discarded corpses. She constantly battles off Eric Frankenstein, who perceives them as “destined to be together,” despite The Bride’s hatred for him. Weasel is just what he says he is: a four legged canine-like rodent, or rodent-like canine, who is practically unkillable.
Doctor Phosphorus was a scientist researching cancer cures and radiation when he became involved with the mob, failed to meet his end of the deal and was turned into a skeleton man with glowing green skin made of pure radiation. G.I. Robot is a discontinued military robot from World War II, whose sole purpose and joy is killing Nazis. Nina Mazursky was a kind human girl, but her father spliced her DNA with that of a fish to save her life from a rare birth defect where her lungs were outside of her body.
The characters are a delight on their own, but Gunn’s story really allows them to shine. The Creature Commandos’ mission is to protect Ilana Rostovic, the soon-to-be-crowned ruler of Pokolistan, who agreed with the United States and struck an oil trade agreement.
Attempting to usurp the princess is an Amazonian witch named Circe with an army of incels. However, as time wears on, the less clear it becomes who can be trusted as a web of political intrigue and deadly human foley ensnares the main cast.
In an era where many action films feel less like art and more like military propaganda, “Creature Commandos” makes some bold thematic statements: the government is never your friend, Nazis are never your friend, entitled men are never your friend and neither are the women who cater to them. The only people you can really rely on are other freaks like you.
How true, James. How very true.
“Creature Commandos” is also a deeply and delightfully nostalgic take on comic books and superhero media. It harkens back to a time when animation was 2D, character silhouettes were bold, cell shading was crisp and rich and you could say that Nazis are bad and no one would disagree.
The soundtrack is also incredible. Gunn has had a talent for song choice since “The Suicide Squad,” but the soundtrack for that film and for “Peacemaker” were very heavy on American glam rock. They fit their respective films excellently, but I assumed that was just Gunn’s taste.
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However, seeing “Creature Commandos” highlighted Gunn’s skill for music choice. Much of the soundtrack was done by Gogol Bordello — an American band featuring members from across the globe — and thus has lyrics in many languages. It creates a feeling of placelessness, suiting the made-up nation of Pokolistan, as well as thematically paralleling the endearing mishmash that is the “Creature Commandos” cast.
“Creature Commandos” is an excellent show with a sharp wit, a strong artistic vision and a lot of heart. It may be Gunn’s best project to date, and that says a lot coming from me. I highly recommend it, as well as all of Gunn’s previous works.
Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
