Before 2024 ended, Creature Commandos was high on my list. The animated series from the mind of James Gunn promised to be a new chapter for DC Studios.
Thankfully, James Gunn lived up to that promise and Creature Commandos quickly became a show I was looking forward to week after week. Let's start with the thing I disliked about the show and let's be real, there's not a lot. However, I think the episodes could have been longer.
Creature Commandos had 7 episodes in its first season and honestly, I think Gunn could have stretched it out into 8. Maybe that's just me wanting more Creature Commandos content, but it feels like there was more story to be told. The season finale left us with so many more questions but I would have liked to learn more about the characters before season 1 wrapped.
Without getting into spoilers, the finale was an emotional affair. Learning so much about a certain character only for their fate to be revealed was heartbreaking. Did DC Studios have me crying by the end of the finale? The show truly delivered gut-punch after gut-punch in each episode which has me excited yet nervous for what's to come in season 2.
Season 1 of Creature Commandos is just the start
Since we went over what didn't work in season 1, let's break down what worked. Not only did James Gunn have us falling in love with these characters, but it left us wanting more. If you watched the entire series, you'll know that each episode was dedicated to a different member of the Creature Commandos crew.
While it might seem a little redundant to focus on a different character in each episode, all of the characters had just rich backstories and reasons for acting the way that they did. If you went into the series knowing nothing about these characters, you ended it feeling such strong emotions towards them. It was a true masterclass in writing and character work.
If that wasn't enough, the animation was just gorgeous. This is something I touched on in my previous review but somehow, things felt sharper and crispier as the series went on. The storyline with Circe and how it all came to blows in the end was excellent. As with any good story, it feels like things wrapped up nicely for season 1 yet left room for more to come in season 2.
It might seem like I'm going hard for Creature Commandos. It's true, but DC has long given us so many great animated series and it feels like Creature Commandos is the first one getting its flowers. That might be because it's James Gunn's baby and fans wanted a look at what's to come. Either way, season 1 of Creature Commandos was an utter delight from start to finish.
With a tease of what's to come in season 2, there is so much story left to be told and so many characters we get to learn more about. However, there is truly no denying that The Bride is the stand-out for Creature Commandos so far, and seeing more of her is nothing to complain about. Let's just hope the wait for season 2 doesn't feel as long as the return of Harley Quinn.
Season 1 of Creature Commandos is currently streaming on Max.