If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that DC Comics knows what it's doing when it comes to animated series. Looking at its backlist, DC has always had success with animation.
Going into Creature Commandos, that thought was far from my mind. James Gunn spoke so highly of the show and honestly, that doesn't always bode well. Regardless, there was no way I wasn't going to check it out as I've previously loved Harley Quinn and Kite Man: Hell Yeah! which was two of DC's other successful animated series.
Thankfully, there was no reason to be apprehensive as DC Comics managed to nail it once again with the first two episodes of Creature Commandos. The premiere of Creature Commandos introduces us to our team leader, Rick Flag Sr. who is tasked with dealing with some unsavory issues but without the help of the Suicide Squad. Flag is teamed up with the Creature Commandos who are a group of monstrous creatures.
The show introduces us to the rest of the team which includes The Bride, Doctor Phosphorus, G.I. Robot, Weasel, and Nina. While it seems like a ragtag bunch, they're set to head to Pokolistan to battle it out with Circe and the Sons of Themyscira. If that sounds absolutely bonkers, that's because it is.
Creature Commandos sets the precedent early.
By the end of episode 1, we've learned more about the characters and saw The Bride already willing to break a few rules to get what she wants. That trend continues into episode 2 where The Bride and Nina team up to try to find a lost item of hers but are met by Circe. All of this is told while we're also learning more about The Bride's backstory, her past, and why she doesn't want to be with Frankenstein which oddly makes a lot of sense.
As you can see by the description of the first two episodes, the writing and pacing are tight. These first two episodes give enough context for newbies to these characters while also giving little nods to fans who love the characters. Coupled with that, the visuals are stunning as the animation feels slightly sharper than other DC projects. Both styles are great, but Creature Commandos takes the cake on the more obsolete style.
Despite some of the show's more intense and serious moments, there is some humor sprinkled in as well. While it's more likely to be classified as an action/adventure tale, the songs featured in the episodes were particularly hilarious. It's clear the show went for the bit which makes it all the better. It is just enough to break up the more intense moments which isn't an easy achievement.
Simply put, I enjoyed the first two episodes of Creature Commandos and I can't wait to see what else Gunn has up his sleeve. Right now, the only downside is that it feels like certain characters aren't going to get as much time as they should. While it's clear The Bride is set to play a large role, I can only hope that the other members of the team get a chance to tell their stories. Either way, I'm excited to see what's next on Creature Commandos.
The first two episodes of Creature Commandos are currently streaming on Max. New episodes will be released on Thursdays on the streamer.