Plot: A black ops team is formulated out of prisoners, laying the foundation for the Suicide Squad.
Season 1 of DC Creature Commandos was Really Good.
Pros: I like how they set this new DCU Universe in a surprising way. The animation style looks slick & impress. I was engaged with the storyline involving the Princess Ilana Rostovic. I like having each episode focused on developing the characters, which are heartbreaking to see. It has James Gunn trademark dark humour & gore and how the series mange to invite you with being straightforward.
Cons: Nina Mazursky came off disappointing to me. The over lacking of a villain to go up against and the pacing felt like it rushed to it’s finished conclusion.
Genre: Action-adventure; Black comedy; Science fantasy; Superhero
Created by James Gunn
Showrunner: Dean Lorey
Written by James Gunn
Based on Characters from DC
Starring: Indira Varma, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Zoë Chao, David Harbour & Frank Grillo.
Music by Kevin Kiner, Clint Mansell
Opening theme: “Moliendo Café“; by Fanfare Ciocarlia
Executive producers:
Producer: Kandace Reuter
Editors: Annie De Brock, Craig Paulsen
Production companies: Troll Court Entertainment, The Safran Company, Lorey Stories, DC Studios, Warner Bros. Animation
Network: Max
Casts & Characters:
Main:
- Indira Varma as the Bride:
A member turned leader of Task Force M and a reanimated corpse created from different body parts to serve as a companion to Eric Frankenstein. Creator James Gunn felt Varma’s performance adds a “whole other dimension” to the character, being incredible alongside David Harbour’s Eric. - Sean Gunn as
- G.I. Robot: A member of Task Force M and the World War II infantry unit Easy Company and a military android whose purpose is to kill Nazis. James Gunn said there was a “sweet, mechanic innocence” to the character that he did not see until Sean’s performance. Early designs for the character were similar to a trash can and robots from the 1950s science fiction before the “friendlier, wide-eyed” final design was settled on.
- “John Doe” / Weasel: An anthropomorphic, rodent-like member of Task Force M and the Suicide Squad, who was compared to the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes. Gunn said Weasel’s backstory would be explored in the series,[7] which showrunner Dean Lorey described as “heartbreaking, touching and emotional” in ways that would surprise the audience.
- Alan Tudyk as
- Alex Sartorius / Doctor Phosphorus: A member of Task Force M and a scientist turned crime lord who is permanently radioactive. The Kirby Krackle effect was incorporated into the character’s flaming skin.
- Will Magnus: A scientist specializing in robotics who studied G.I. Robot during the 1960s. Tudyk based his performance on director Mike Nichols.
- Clayface: A shapeshifting criminal whose body is made of clay. Tudyk reprises his role in the Harley Quinn (2019–present) animated series after previously voicing a different version of the character in the aforementioned series.
- Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky: A member of Task Force M and a mutant with aquatic features who is only able to breathe underwater and is forced to wear a containment suit on land.
- David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein:
A reanimated corpse and the Bride’s “very colorful” intended love interest turned stalker who killed their creator and the Bride’s lover Victor in a jealous rage centuries earlier. By taking more inspiration from Mary Shelley‘s novel Frankenstein (1818) instead of his “lumbering and grunting” portrayal in adaptations such as the 1931 film, Gunn found Eric to be well-spoken and intellectual while still being driven by his rage, anger, inability to be truly human and not being loved by the one he loves. - Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.:
A United States Army General and the first leader of Task Force M. Grillo describes Flag Sr. as having more gravitas and competence than his son, Suicide Squad leader Rick Flag Jr., who was killed in The Suicide Squad (2021).
Recurring:
- Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic:
The heiress to the throne of Pokolistan. Bakalova was the first person cast in the DCU, with Gunn developing Rostovic with her and her knowledge of Bulgarian in mind. - Anya Chalotra as Circe: A rogue Amazonian sorceress who seeks to become ruler of her homeland, Themyscira.
- Viola Davis as Amanda Waller: The director of A.R.G.U.S. who assembles Task Force M.
- Julian Kostov as
- Alexi: The Amethyst Knight Captain who serves Rostovic until he is killed by Doctor Phosphorus.
- Sergei: The second Amethyst Knight Captain who replaces Alexi following his death.
- Steve Agee as John Economos: An A.R.G.U.S. agent and aide to Waller.
- Stephanie Beatriz as Aisla MacPherson: A professor who specializes in studying Themyscira.
Guest:
- Peter Serafinowicz as Victor Frankenstein: A 19th century scientist, the creator of Eric and the Bride, and the latter’s lover who was killed by Eric out of jealousy.
- Michael Rooker as Sam Fitzgibbon: A military antique collector and member of a neo-Nazi group who, despite their friendship, was killed by G.I. in the 1990s.
- Maury Sterling as Sgt. Franklin Rock: The leader of the Easy Company.
- Paul Ben-Victor as Bulldozer: A member of the Easy Company.
- Robbie Daymond as Little Sure Shot: A member of the Easy Company.
- Linda Cardellini as Elizabeth Bates: Weasel’s lawyer.
- Jason Konopisos as Congorilla: A talking, yellow-furred gorilla and a Belle Reve inmate who is killed by the Bride for bullying Nina.
- Shohreh Aghdashloo as Madam Gyurov: The madam of a brothel in Pokolistan.
- Benjamin Byron Davis as Rupert Thorne: A Gotham City mob boss who is responsible for Doctor Phosphorus’ transformation.
- Parisa Fakhri as Parvin Sartorius: Doctor Phosphorus’ late wife.
- Gregg Henry as Edward Mazursky: A scientist from Star City and Nina’s father.
- Joy Osmanski as Lily Mazursky: Nina’s mother and Edward’s wife.
- Diedrich Bader as Nanaue / King Shark: A shark-human hybrid, Belle Reve inmate, and member of the Suicide Squad and the second iteration of Task Force M. The character was previously voiced by Sylvester Stallone in The Suicide Squad.
I highly recommend watching this season to anyone who is on board with this new DC Universe held by James Gunn.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident Flim reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe