Creature Commandos Has James Gunn Written All Over It (& I Am So Here For It)

Creature Commandos is very clearly a James Gunn brainchild, and I am so here for it. It is dark, twisted, and dirty, with a dash of heart.

Something that James Gunn is very good at is pulling comic book characters from obscurity and putting them into an ensemble with other misfits. Combine that with the fact that he is never afraid to push boundaries and always knows the perfect place to add in an unforgettable needle drop, and we have some of the best content out there. Because of this I was thrilled at the announcement that he was taking over DC as co-CEO and coming up with his own DCU.

Creature Commandos is the first (of many) projects set in this new universe for DC, and what an entry it is. This show is dirty. It is gory. And it is most definitely not for children. Gunn has expressed that there will be different mediums of content in his DCU, from adult animated series such as this one, to live-action family-friendly movies.

After having been able to watch the entire (what I hope is) first season of Creature Commandos, parents, do not let your children watch this one. While it could be okay for older teens, it is not for younger audiences. Surely Gunn will make sure that any events that bleed over is explained in enough detail that Creature Commandos can be skipped by those with a weak stomach, or that are too young to watch.

Creature Commandos follows a group of misfit criminals that are pulled from prison to create a team, much like the Suicide Squad – except they are all monsters. Instead of bombs being planted inside of them so they can be killed should they misbehave, they will get shocked instead. They are sent on a mission to protect a princess, and, of course, things do not go exactly according to plan.

As mentioned before, James Gunn knows how to put an ensemble together, something that is once again proven in this series.

Steve Agee, Maria Bakalova, Anya Chalotra, Zoë Chao, Frank Grillo, Sean Gunn, David Harbour, Alan Tudyk, Indira Varma, and Viola Davis star in the series, and every single one of them brings something to the table – not surprisingly.

They have incredible chemistry together. There’s banter that had me laughing until my cheeks hurt, intimate moments that made me blush, action-packed scenes that had me cheering, and even some heartfelt moments that left me in tears. This series has it all.

It was a brilliant decision to make this an animated series. While surely it could have been pulled off in live-action form with a big enough budget, the animation allows them to truly go above and beyond when it comes to the blood and gore of it all. Gunn loves to push the envelope, and he does exactly that in Creature Commandos.

All of that said, there really is quite a bit of heart here too. Each character is given enough time on screen so that viewers can feel connected to them and learn about their backstories. There are plenty of twists, turns, and shocking events that you will not see coming, but at the center of it all, is a really touching story.

The 7-episode first season of Creature Commandos will debut with two episodes on Thursday, December 5 on Max, followed by one episode weekly until January 9. 

NEXT: The Penguin Review: Dark, Gritty, & Filled With Drama

About Creature Commandos

 In this edgy DC animated series, a secret team of incarcerated monsters is the last resort for missions deemed too dangerous for humans.

The 7-episode first season of Creature Commandos will debut with two episodes on Thursday, December 5 on Max, followed by one episode weekly until January 9.