| Creature Commandos | |
|---|---|
_logo.jpg){kind=logo} | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | James Gunn |
| Based on | Characters fromDC |
| Showrunner | Dean Lorey |
| Written by | James Gunn |
| Starring | |
| Music by | |
| Opening theme | "Moliendo Café" byFanfare Ciocarlia |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Kandace Reuter |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 22–28 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO Max |
| Release | December 5, 2024 (2024-12-05) – present |
| Related | |
| DC Universe television series | |
Creature Commandos is an Americanadult animatedsuperhero television series created byJames Gunn for the streaming serviceHBO Max. Based onthe eponymous team fromDC Comics, it is produced byDC Studios andWarner Bros. Animation as the first television series and the first installment in theDC Universe (DCU). The series focuses on ablack opsteam of monsters assembled byAmanda Waller. All seven episodes of the first season were written by Gunn, withDean Lorey serving asshowrunner andYves "Balak" Bigerel assupervising director.
The series features anensemble cast includingIndira Varma,Sean Gunn,Alan Tudyk,Zoë Chao,David Harbour, andFrank Grillo. After James Gunn andPeter Safran became co-CEOs of DC Studios in October 2022, they announcedCreature Commandos in January 2023. Production on the series had begun by then and casting was underway. The cast was announced that April. Bobbypills and Studio IAM provided animation for the series.
Creature Commandos premiered on the streaming serviceMax on December 5, 2024, with its first two episodes. The series received positive reviews from critics, who praised the voice performances, animation, and Gunn's storytelling. It is the first entry in the DCU'sChapter One: Gods and Monsters. In December 2024, the series was renewed for a second season.
After the events of thefirst season ofPeacemaker (2022),Amanda Waller assembles ablack opsteam of monsters led by GeneralRick Flag Sr.[1][2]
Additionally, severalDC Comics characters make non-speakingcameo appearances in the series, including:
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [36] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Collywobbles" | Matt Peters | James Gunn | December 5, 2024 (2024-12-05) | |
The nation ofPokolistan is under attack by theAmazonian sorceressCirce and her followers, the Sons of Themyscira. As theUnited States is interested in Pokolistan's petroleum,A.R.G.U.S. directorAmanda Waller tasks GeneralRick Flag Sr. with entering Pokolistan to help their heiress andde facto ruler, Princess Ilana Rostovic, stop Circe. Due to Congress shutting down Waller'sTask Force X program[a] for putting human lives in jeopardy two years prior,[b] she recruits a team of non-human inmates fromBelle Reve Penitentiary; theBride,Doctor Phosphorus,G.I. Robot,Weasel, andNina Mazursky; and codenames them "Task Force M". After meeting Ilana, Flag and the team settle in her castle. Ilana makes sexual advances towards Flag, which he brushes aside. Later that night, Phosphorus sneaks into Flag's room to steal his remote detonator, which allows Flag to electrically shock the others should they disobey orders. Flag discovers this and defeats Phosphorus in a fight. Meanwhile, the Bride, followed by a reluctant Nina, sneaks out of the castle to visit the Bride's birthplace, an abandoned mansion in Pokolistan. An old woman living nearby notifiesEric Frankenstein of the Bride's appearance. | |||||
| 2 | "The Tourmaline Necklace" | Sam Liu | James Gunn | December 5, 2024 (2024-12-05) | |
In 1831, Eric requests that his creator, Dr.Victor Frankenstein, create a bride for him from female cadavers. After successfully doing so, Victor teaches the Bride how to speak and function normally, to Eric's dismay. Despite Eric's advances, the Bride remains fearful of him, causing him to run away. Sometime later, Victor presents the Bride with atourmaline necklace. The two of them fall in love and have sex, which Eric witnesses. Eric subsequently murders Victor, causing the Bride to attack him. In the ensuing fight, Victor's mansion burns down and the Bride runs away. In the intervening centuries, Eric chases the Bride across the world despite her rejecting him in every encounter. In the present, Ilana tends to Flag's wounds, then seduces him once more, leading to them having sex. Meanwhile, the Bride and Nina successfully search Victor's mansion for the necklace. They are attacked by Circe, who was alerted to their presence by the Sons. Circe fights and defeats the Bride. Nina contacts Flag for assistance, but one of the Sons shoots her helmet, breaking it and rendering her unable to breathe. The Sons then capture Nina and the Bride. | |||||
| 3 | "Cheers to the Tin Man" | Matt Peters | James Gunn | December 12, 2024 (2024-12-12) | |
In flashbacks, G.I. Robot joins theEasy Company in fighting duringWorld War II. In the 1960s, the United States government hands the decommissioned G.I. off to scientistWill Magnus for study. In the 2000s, G.I. is found in an antiques shop by collector Sam Fitzgibbon, who accepts the former into his home. Eventually, G.I. learns that Sam is part of aneo-Nazi group and carries out his directive: to kill all Nazis and their allies. After killing Sam, among other neo-Nazis, G.I. is arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in Belle Reve. In the present, Task Force M arrives at Victor's mansion to find that Nina and the Bride were left alive. Flag realizes that Circe and the Sons have already left to attack Ilana's castle. The team returns to find the castle under siege. Ilana kills two Sons to avoid capture. Flag tells G.I. that the Sons are Nazis, so G.I. responds by shooting and killing the Sons. Circe destroys G.I. and nearly kills Ilana before being stopped by Weasel and Phosphorus. A defeated Circe exclaims that Task Force M has doomed the world by stopping her. | |||||
| 4 | "Chasing Squirrels" | Sam Liu | James Gunn | December 19, 2024 (2024-12-19) | |
In flashbacks, Weasel befriends and plays with eight schoolchildren. An old man mistakes Weasel as a threat and calls the police. The old man shoots at Weasel, inadvertently causing an explosion that kills himself and most of the children. Weasel tries to save the last child, but the police shoot and arrest Weasel while the child dies. Weasel is incriminated for the deaths. In the present, Flag rejects Ilana's suggestion to execute Circe. Task Force M returns to Belle Reve, where Flag, Waller and A.R.G.U.S. agentJohn Economos interrogate Circe. She shows Waller a vision of an apocalyptic future where Ilana and her army have conquered the United States, massacring civilians and superheroes. After verifying Circe'sclairvoyant power with ProfessorAisla MacPherson, Waller orders Task Force M to return to Pokolistan and kill Ilana. Flag refuses, so Waller assigns the Bride to lead the team. Flag returns home, where he is ambushed by Eric, who has been secretly following Task Force M and came to believe the Bride is in love with Flag. Flag clears up the misunderstanding and the pair agree to work together to stop Task Force M from killing Ilana and reunite Eric with the Bride. | |||||
| 5 | "The Iron Pot" | Matt Peters | James Gunn | December 26, 2024 (2024-12-26) | |
In 1831, following the incident at Victor's mansion, an unconscious Eric is found by Bogdana, an old medicine woman, who nurses him back to health. After making a full recovery, Eric sets out to find the Bride despite Bogdana trying to convince him that the Bride does not love him back. Bogdana protests that she does not want to be alone, so Eric kills her. In the present, Eric and Flag investigate MacPherson and see her acting strangely. They infiltrate MacPherson's home and find her corpse, leading them to believe that the MacPherson who spoke to Waller was an imposter. Flag calls Ilana and warns her about Task Force M returning to assassinate her before the fake MacPherson returns home and is revealed to beClayface. Flag and Eric attempt to sneak out, but are caught by Clayface. In the ensuing fight, Clayface critically injures Flag, then Eric defeats Clayface using electrical wires. Before passing out, Flag convinces Eric to tell the Bride the truth. Meanwhile, Ilana orders her army to detain Task Force M, sparking a battle where Task Force M gets separated. The Bride and Phosphorus kill various Pokolistan soldiers and knights, including Alexi. | |||||
| 6 | "Priyatel Skelet" | Sam Liu | James Gunn | January 2, 2025 (2025-01-02) | |
In flashbacks, nuclear scientistAlex Sartorius receives funding from mob bossRupert Thorne to develop a cure for cancer using nuclear fusion. Alex realizes Thorne's intentions to share nuclear research with afascist nation and falsifies the results provided to Thorne. Upon discovering this, Thorne has Alex's family killed, frames him for his crimes, and tries to kill Alex with his nuclear equipment. Instead, Alex becomes a radioactivemetahuman. Taking the name "Doctor Phosphorus", he kills Thorne and his family and takes over his criminal empire until he is defeated byBatman and imprisoned in Belle Reve. In the present, Eric sends Flag to a hospital and hijacks a private jet to reach Pokolistan. Phosphorus encounters and plays with a Pokolistani child, who reminds him of his son; the child's parents direct Phosphorus to Ilana's castle. The Bride and Nina find shelter in a brothel, where the Bride kills two violent metahumans visiting the brothel. Weasel escapes into a forest, where he befriends a wolf pack before leaving them to find Ilana, who reminds him of the child he tried to save. As Ilana assembles her forces, Task Force M reunites outside her castle. | |||||
| 7 | "A Very Funny Monster" | Matt Peters | James Gunn | January 9, 2025 (2025-01-09) | |
In flashbacks, Nina is born with lungs outside of her body. Her father,Edward, builds a device to help her breathe before experimenting on her, only to turn her into a piscine mutant. After years of homeschooling, he enrolls Nina in a private school to help her socialize. After being bullied by other students, Nina runs away and lives inStar City's sewers until the police arrest her. Edward intervenes, so the police kill him. In the present, Eric finds Task Force M, but the Bride shoots him and leaves him for dead. Upon finding Ilana, they task Nina with assassinating her, but a worried Weasel alerts Ilana, who kills Nina. Waller learns of Clayface's deception and orders Task Force M to stand down. Ilana ends hostilities with Task Force M. The Bride privately confronts Ilana, having deduced from video footage that Ilana tasked Clayface with discrediting MacPherson and Circe, hence tricking Flag and Waller. The Bride kills Ilana to avenge Nina. Sometime later, the Bride, Phosphorus,Nosferata,Khalis, Weasel, a rebuilt G.I., andKing Shark form the new Task Force M. In apost-credits scene, a recovering Eric takes refuge with the old woman living near Victor's mansion. | |||||
James Gunn was hired in October 2018 to write and directThe Suicide Squad (2021),[37][38] astandalone sequel to theDC Extended Universe (DCEU) filmSuicide Squad (2016) which retained some cast members but otherwise told its own story.[39] He worked with producerPeter Safran, who also produced the DCEU filmsAquaman (2018) andShazam! (2019).[40] They later expandedThe Suicide Squad into a spin-off television series,Peacemaker (2022–present), for the streaming serviceHBO Max.[41]Discovery, Inc. andWarner Bros.' parent companyWarnerMedia merged in April 2022 to becomeWarner Bros. Discovery (WBD), led by president and CEODavid Zaslav. The new company was expected to restructureDC Entertainment and Zaslav began searching for an equivalent toMarvel Studios presidentKevin Feige to lead the new subsidiary.[42] Gunn and Safran were announced as the co-chairs and co-CEOs of the newly formedDC Studios at the end of October 2022.[43] A week after starting their new roles, the pair had begun developing an eight-to-ten-year plan for a newDC Universe (DCU) that would be a "soft reboot" of the DCEU.[44][45][46] Gunn and Safran said some cast members would return fromThe Suicide Squad andPeacemaker in the DCU, and a "rough memory" of the events of those projects would remain.[47]
Gunn discussed making an animated series forMax, the successor to HBO Max, after the success ofPeacemaker.[1] As Max was asking him for another show but knowing committing to one was a "big deal", Gunn was unsure on what to do, so he started playing off with ideas and came up with the show's concept asspec scripts, finishing them within a few weeks prior to his promotion.[5] He wrote the seven-episode series without a deal, based on theCreature Commandos team of monsters fromDC Comics. After he was hired to lead DC Studios, Gunn greenlit the project.[1][48] On January 31, 2023, Gunn and Safran unveiled the first projects from their DCU slate, which begins withChapter One: Gods and Monsters. The first project wasCreature Commandos, which was expected to be released as an "aperitif" for the DCU before the filmSuperman (2025),[1][10] with some characters from the series appearing in that film.[49]Creature Commandos wasn't meant to be the franchise's "right entry point", but was chosen to be due to being already written.[5] Gunn said the series was integral to their vision for the DCU, establishing the fact that characters would be treated consistently across different mediums moving forward.[2]Warner Bros. Animation co-produced the series.[50] Executive producers include DC Studios' Gunn and Safran, Warner Bros. Animation'sSam Register, andDean Lorey.[49][9] Lorey served asshowrunner for the series,[51] withYves "Balak" Bigerel assupervising director and Warner Bros. Animation's Rick Morales assupervising producer.[49][9] Gunn hired Lorey as showrunner due to his commitments to the DCU.[5] Describing his involvement in the production, Gunn said the team took his scripts and made an "innately good" series that he suggested some improvements for.[52]
Lorey and Gunn had discussed a potential second season by November 2024, but Lorey said it depended on Gunn having time to write more scripts. Gunn said he wanted Lorey and others who worked on the first season to return, even if the story continued in a different format such as aCreature Commandos film rather than a second season.[51][52] Ahead of the first season's finale, it was announced that Max had greenlit a second season in December 2024;[53] the season will be written by a writer's room rather than by Gunn.[54][55] Production for the second season had begun by June 2025.[56]
Created forWeird War Tales #93 (1980) byJ. M. DeMatteis andPat Broderick, the Creature Commandos were originally a team of monsters fightingNazis duringWorld War II.[10][57] The series depicts a modern version of the team being assembled byAmanda Waller following the events of thefirst season ofPeacemaker.[2] The team is also referred to asTask Force M, with the 'M' standing for monster.[4] It includesRick Flag Sr.,Nina Mazursky,Alex Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus,Eric Frankenstein, theBride,G.I. Robot, andWeasel.[1][4] Gunn said the Bride was the lead character.[1] Waller, Weasel, and Flag's sonRick Flag Jr. previously appeared inThe Suicide Squad.[10] Much like withThe Suicide Squad, Gunn considered different characters that did not make it to the titular team's roster in the finished version, such as comic book membersWarren Griffith / Wolfpack andVincent Velcro and personal favoritesMan-Bat andSolomon Grundy. However, he removed Griffith and Man-Bat because he felt that there would be "too many rabid and fuzzy" characters if he included them alongside Weasel, whose story he was set on telling, and Grundy as he was set on including Frankenstein. Additionally, Gunn replaced Velcro with Phosphorus so he could have a "creature" far outside the team's usual roster.[58] Furthermore, Gunn consideredNosferata and ape characters likeCongorilla, with both makingcameo appearances in the fourth episode and the former joining the team in the firstseason finale.[59]
Each episode of the first season, with the exception of the first episode, centers on a different member of the team along with Eric Frankenstein, with the exception of Rick Flag Sr.,[8] similar to the seriesLost (2004–2010).[48] In hispitch for the series, Gunn described it as dark, "humorous but never goofy", and unsentimental, with adult and political themes.[11] He was influenced by theUniversal Classic Monsters, manga seriesGolgo 13 (1968–present), and 1960swar films.[9] The characterization of Frankenstein and the Bride took inspiration fromMary Shelley's originalFrankenstein novel (1818) rather thanBoris Karloff'sFrankenstein film (1931).[8] Grillo said the series was "hard R" with a "funny and filthy" tone,[17] and "X-rated" sex scenes.[48] Morales described it as a "macabre spin" on action ensembles such as the filmThe Dirty Dozen (1967) and the seriesThe A-Team (1983–1987).[9] Gunn compared the series toThe Suicide Squad and hisMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) filmGuardians of the Galaxy (2014), noting that they are both focused on "outcasts and irregular types and weirdoes" butCreature Commandos is less sentimental thanGuardians of the Galaxy due to the different moral allegiances of each team.[8]
_character_designs.jpg)
Gunn and Safran saidViola Davis would reprise her role as Amanda Waller fromThe Suicide Squad andPeacemaker in the DCU,[47] and she was confirmed to be voicing the character inCreature Commandos with the series' announcement. Further casting was underway by then, with Gunn and Safran intending to hire actors who could voice the characters in the series and also portray them in live-action DCU projects,[1] with Gunn assuring it's 100% to happen;[5] actors performed on-cameraauditions instead of voice-over ones.[60] Casting was almost complete by late February 2023.[61]
The cast was announced in April, withFrank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.;[16]Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic, an original character created for the series;[3][62]Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky;Alan Tudyk as Alex Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus;David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein;Indira Varma as the Bride;Sean Gunn as G.I. Robot in addition to returning as Weasel fromThe Suicide Squad; andSteve Agee reprising his role asJohn Economos fromThe Suicide Squad andPeacemaker.[3][6][4] James Gunn said Harbour was his first choice for Frankenstein,[63] and some of the actors, including Grillo, were already planned for live-action appearances.[62] Gunn had wanted to work with Grillo for a while and said he would "find something cool" for Grillo to do in the DCU, leading to his casting as Flag Sr. in multiple projects.[18] Voice recording began by May 2023,[7][64] and was completed by that August.[65] Unlike most Hollywood projects where actor schedules do not align, the show's actors were able to record together mostly because the showrunners felt the energy between them had to feel real, with Varma and Chao or Grillo with Harbour and Bakalova recording together for example, "fangirling" each other.[5] Gunn served as the voice director for the main actors.[66]
In November 2023,Anya Chalotra was reported to have been cast asCirce,[21] which Gunn confirmed in January 2024.[22] In October 2024,Michael Rooker,Linda Cardellini,Gregg Henry,Peter Serafinowicz, andBenjamin Byron Davis were revealed to have guest roles in the series, and the characterClayface was revealed to be appearing.[67] Rooker readily accepted the role as per custom due to always "making favours" to Gunn whenever he needs him just like Cardellini, whom Gunn considers another one of his close friends.[5] At that time, Davis was confirmed to be voicingRupert Thorne in the series.[29] Tudyk stated the next month that he would reprise his role as Clayface from theHarley Quinn (2019–present) animated series. When Gunn told Tudyk that he would be voicing the character again, Tudyk was already planning to ask if he could.[14] Gunn revealed in late November that Tudyk was also voicingWill Magnus in the series.[13]
Production was underway by the end of January 2023. Gunn said animation was a way to "tell stories that are gigantic" without a large budget.[10] Animation studio Bobbypills worked on the pre-production whereas Studio IAM worked on the main-production of the series.[49] By February 2024, the initialanimatics had been finished andpicture locked. Gunn said "elaborate animated finals" were being worked on.[68] The series adheres to Gunn's mandate for a cohesive approach to the DCU, so characters and locations can move between mediums and be familiar to audiences. The designers initially redesignedBelle Reve prison to be a "beautiful gothic locale on top of a hill", but Gunn told them that it had to match the "dull, boring building" design seen inThe Suicide Squad. New locations, such as Frankenstein's mansion, feature designs closer to the original Belle Reve look.[49] Despite this, Gunn stated in October 2024 that he was "not imposing any overall aesthetic" on the DCU and wanted each project to be "its own thing". Lorey said the series had an Eastern European style that was grounded but stylized, and different fromHarley Quinn.[48] The sixth episode marksBruce Wayne / Batman's first appearance in the DCU, introducing him in a way that implies he is already an established hero likeClark Kent / Superman without the need to retell hisorigin story; the original idea involved showing more of Batman's design but Gunn didn't feel ready yet to commit to an official look before Batman's proper debut in the upcomingThe Brave and the Bold film, so he requested a silhouetted appearance instead.[69]
In August 2024, Gunn revealed thatKevin Kiner andClint Mansell were composing the score for the series. The pair previously scored the first season ofPeacemaker.[70][71]Creature Commandos' theme song is a version of "Moliendo Café" by Venezuelan artistHugo Blanco, performed by Romani bandFanfare Ciocărlia.[49] When developing the series, Gunn created a "musical mood-board" inspired by the works ofGogol Bordello andthe Dresden Dolls.[11]
A making-of session and presentation for the series with Balak and Morales took place at the2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.[9] Gunn was unable to attend due to his filming schedule forSuperman, but he introduced the presentation via a video message.[2] Two storyboard sequences were shown along with character and location designs.[11][9] Rafael Motamayor of/Film and Kambole Campbell ofAnimation Magazine both criticized Gunn's video message as boring and too focused on corporate strategy. They were more positive about the rest of the presentation and the footage that was shown, but expressed concern that the needs of the wider DCU were being put ahead of what was best for the series; Motamayor said the change from the new Belle Reve design to one more similar toThe Suicide Squad was met with "palpable disappointment" during the presentation. They both praised other design elements. Campbell hoped the creative intentions of Balak and Bobbypills would come through in the final series with more prominence than the needs of corporate synergy.[49][9]
Gunn made a surprise appearance during aSan Diego Comic-Con panel for DC Comics COOJim Lee in July 2024 and released the first teaser trailer for the series.[72] Based on the teaser, James Whitbrook atGizmodo said Gunn was "taking hisSuicide Squad ideas even wilder" with the series,[4] while Molly Edwards ofGamesRadar+ described the teaser as a "colorful, madcap ride".[73] Charles Barfield atThe Playlist said the style, tone, and structure of the series appeared to be similar to Gunn'sGuardians of the Galaxy andThe Suicide Squad films, again bringing together a "group of disparate characters" to fight some villains.[74] A full trailer was released during a panel for the series atNew York Comic Con in October, attended by James Gunn, Lorey, Grillo, Harbour, Chao, Agee, Bakalova, Tudyk, and Sean Gunn.[48] Writing about the trailer forThe A.V. Club, William Hughes said the series "looks fun as hell" and like "classic Gunn 'superhero' fare: Darkly funny, energetic, and gory".[75]Gizmodo's Justin Carter said the trailer was "a bunch of monstrous fun",[76] and Eric Francisco ofVulture said it has "a vivid art and animation style with deep, bold colors". He added that the trailer "goes hard and heavy on the bloodletting";[77] multiple other commentators also noted the violence and gore depicted in the trailer.[78][79][80]
Creature Commandos premiered on the streaming service Max on December 5, 2024, with its first two episodes. The other five episodes of the first season were released weekly until January 9, 2025.[36] It is the first entry in the DCU's Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.[10] The show was made available to watch in the UK onSky Max on July 8, 2025.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100[81] |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 95%[82] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Collider | 8/10[83] |
| ComicBook.com |  [84] |
| IGN | 8/10[85] |
| Looper | 7.5/10[86] |
| Screen Rant | 8/10[87] |
| Total Film |  [88] |
Reviews forCreature Commandos were positive.[89][5] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 95% of 40 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Bearing writer James Gunn's trademark penchant for kooky humor and lovable characters, Creature Commandos marks an auspicious debut for the DCU."[90][82]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[91][81]
The A.V. Club said that "there's no mistaking it for anything but a byproduct of Gunn's horror/junk/sleaze-addled mind", and thatCreature Commandos was another successful example of Gunn bringing success to niche characters, as he did withGuardians of the Galaxy.[92]Screen Rant's Ben Gibbons felt similarly about Gunn's ability to highlight obscure characters in his work. Though Gibbons felt the first episode was a copy of Gunn's introduction toSuicide Squad's team, he said the show picked up afterwards, and pointed out Gunn's use of music and the "beautiful" animation style. He concluded the show "combines individually strong elements that are executed to a high standard, creating a very worthy foundation for the DCU".[87]Collider felt that it was natural for Gunn to tell a "sympathetic" story about misfits, and felt that these misfits were played well as relatable and human. They said the series did well to play-off of Gunn's creative strengths, and praised the animation style, which was a spot between the cartoonish TV seriesHarley Quinn and the "self-serious" aspect of the typical DCdirect-to-video film.[83]
ComicBook.com's Charlie Ridgely gaveCreature Commandos a 5 out of 5 rating, declaring "you'll fall in love with every single member of this team, and perhaps almost every character on the show". Ridgely said the series was able to tell its story through the "breeze" of its half-hour episodes, and praised Gunn's knack for "making you laugh and cry in equal measure, while never sacrificing the story to do so", an element Ridgely found a clear example to Gunn's story-first vision for the DCU.[84]IGN gave it an 8/10, admitting its style was not for everyone, questioning the DCEU–DCU canon overlap, and feeling it was a surprising direction for the DCU, but declared it a "solid job" at bridging old DC TV and films with the new, and praised Gunn's ability to bring heart to the "goofiest, raunchiest" characters.[85]Total Film's Lauren Milici gave praise to theNSFW elements, crude humor and violence, feeling they were refreshing, and praised the complex, likable anti-heroes, but threw shade at its length and how Economos and Flag were "underused".[88]
JoBlo.com's Steve Seigh said that "if there's one thing James Gunn is incredibly good at, it's mixing action, comedy, and drama into a compelling narrative with characters that present depth and complexity". He called it "cinematic" in presentation and pace, and praised the "standout" voice performances of Grillo, Varma, Bakalova, and Chao.[93]Looper said "basically,Creature Commandos is the most James Gunn cartoon to have ever James Gunn-ed", and said this was mostly good, meaning Gunn's work was "entertainingly twisted" yet kept emotional sincerity, though nothing new was accomplished.[86]Inverse's Ryan Britt thought the team "aren't remotely aspirational", and feel like "benchwarmers" for the Suicide Squad. He said Gunn's work was expected, yet remained a good show for fans, but questioned its position as the first entry of the DCU reboot due to its familiarity.[94]
The series became the third-most watched show in the first full week of release for any show on Max according toLuminate, garnering a viewership of 22 million minutes.[95]
Creature Commandos was nominated forOutstanding Achievement for Editorial in an Animated Television / Broadcast Production for Annie De Brock on the episode "Cheers to the Tin Man" at the52nd Annie Awards.[96]
Well, it's starting off well, that's for sure. Creature Commandos reviews are coming in ahead of its Thursday, December 5 debut, and they are strong.
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