A brief history of the Creature Commandos

Creature Commandos is an upcoming American adult animated series based on DC Comics characters. Produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation, it marks the first TV show in the newly revamped DC Universe (DCU). All seven episodes were written by James Gunn, who also serves as showrunner, while Yves “Balak” Bigerel is the supervising director. Following the tone set by The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker, this next chapter feels like a natural evolution of Amanda Waller’s weaponized monsters-for-hire. The story taps into characters that have appeared throughout DC’s history, and as is often the case when companies reinvent themselves, they start at the edges.

The original Creature Commandos first appeared in Weird War Tales #93 (November 1980) and were created by writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Pat Broderick. The team was a direct homage to Universal’s classic monsters, reimagined as a superhuman task force led by the bloodthirsty Lieutenant Matthew Shrieve. Shrieve commanded a group of scientifically created versions of familiar “monsters from our subconscious”—a vampire who gained his powers from a serum made with vampire bats, a young man whose psychological condition of lycanthropy transformed him into an actual werewolf, and Frankenstein’s monster, an unfortunate dubbed ‘Lucky’, reassembled after stepping on a landmine presumably with the corpses of other men. These individuals were psychologically unstable but superhumanly powerful, terrified a group of generals into green-lighting Project M, with the hope that this team would never be seen again, but with the assurance that they would decimate enemy forces.

This led to a rousing tale of Nazi-fighting, castle-invading, android-destroying mayhem, and the birth of the Creature Commandos. However, despite their wild adventures, the team couldn’t save Weird War Tales, and with the looming DC Implosion, their monstrous mayhem faded into history. The Creature Commandos were later resurrected in 2000 with their own mini-series (Creature Commandos #1-8, May–December 2000), written by Tim Truman and illustrated by Scot Eaton. This curious origin and resurrection made a strange anchor point for the new DC Universe.

Gunn’s new vision for the DC Universe:

With James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping in as co-CEOs of DC Studios in October 2022, Creature Commandos is their way of setting the tone for the new DCU. It also serves as a test for fan excitement leading up to next year’s highly anticipated Superman (2025). Gunn’s DCU vision revolves around the theme “Gods and Monsters,” and this series offers a nod to Universal’s iconic monsters, reimagined for a modern audience.

The show picks up after the events of Peacemaker (2022). Amanda Waller, unable to risk human lives in her covert operations as she did with the Suicide Squad, assembles a new black-ops team of monsters known as the Creature Commandos. These creatures, far more dangerous than the Suicide Squad, operate outside the constraints of government oversight, each specializing in its own brand of chaos.

Starting the new DCU with an animated series is a smart choice. Animation frees the creators from the limitations of special effects budgets, allowing them to focus on tone and experimentation. Creature Commandos provides the perfect launchpad for the DCU.

Meet the Creature Commandos:

Here’s the confirmed voice cast for Creature Commandos and a breakdown of the characters they’ll be portraying:

• Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
  A highly experienced military commander, Rick Flag Sr. is an expert in black-ops missions. His leadership and tactical skills make him a key figure in organizing the Creature Commandos.
• David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein
  Eric Frankenstein is an undead monster with super strength, durability, and near immortality. As a creature pieced together from corpses, he’s tough to kill and intelligent, often seeking redemption for his past actions.
• Indira Varma as The Bride of Frankenstein
  Similar to Frankenstein, The Bride possesses enhanced strength, speed, and durability. She’s also highly skilled in combat, her immortality and fierce independence make her a formidable leader.
• Alan Tudyk as Doctor Phosphorus (Dr. Alexander Sartorius)
  Doctor Phosphorus’ body is made of radioactive phosphorus. He can generate intense heat and flames, making him a lethal combatant. His radioactive nature isolates him, as his mere presence can cause radiation poisoning.
• Sean Gunn as G.I. Robot
  G.I. Robot is a military android built during World War II. With enhanced strength, durability, and advanced weaponry, he is efficient in combat, especially known for his enthusiasm in battling Nazis.
• Sean Gunn as Weasel
  Weasel is a wild, unpredictable creature with heightened agility, sharp claws, and animalistic instincts. Though often serving as comic relief, he can be just as deadly as the rest of the team. The Wolf-Man got a strange downgrade…
• Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky
  A scientist-turned-amphibious creature, Nina appears to have been modified to breathe underwater and gained enhanced strength and agility. Her expertise in biology and genetics also makes her a valuable asset to the team.

Other Vocal Talents include:

• Viola Davis as Amanda Waller
  Though not super-powered, Amanda Waller is one of the most dangerous figures in the DC Universe. Her intelligence, ruthlessness, and political power enable her to control even the most powerful individuals. As the mastermind behind Task Force X and now the Creature Commandos, she’s always several steps ahead of her enemies.
• Steve Agee as John Economos
  John Economos is a skilled government agent and technician. He handles logistics and operations for Waller’s teams, ensuring that missions run smoothly from behind the scenes.
• Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic
  Princess Ilana is a royal figure targeted by Task Force M. Though her exact powers or abilities are yet to be fully revealed, her inclusion suggests she will play a key role in the show’s narrative.
• Anya Chalotra as the sorceress Circe
  Circe, inspired by the Greek mythological figure, is one of the most powerful magic users in DC Comics. Her abilities include transformation magic, mind control, immortality, and powerful spells capable of reshaping reality. Traditionally a major antagonist for Wonder Woman, Circe has also posed significant threats to other DC heroes. While her role in Creature Commandos remains somewhat ambiguous from the trailers, it’s likely that, given Amanda Waller’s track record of attracting dangerous, unpredictable allies, Circe could become the Big Bad in this story?.

Artistic Direction and Visual Style

The character designs for Creature Commandos have been elevated through a collaboration between producer Rick Morales of Warner Bros. Animation and Yves “Balak” Bigerel, director at the French animation studio, Bobbypills. Even the voice actors contributed to shaping their characters’ final designs. Notably, Sean Gunn’s portrayal of G.I. Robot influenced a redesign that added more depth to the character.

The overall aesthetic blends modern design with an 80s sensibility, perfectly capturing both the monstrous and redemptive aspects of the team. The Bride’s visual portrayal is particularly striking, while Eric Frankenstein’s quest for redemption adds an emotional layer to the story. The inclusion of General Rick Flag Sr. is a fascinating touch, though it raises questions—how does a general, who has a son that served as a colonel, still possess the physical capacity to lead a black-ops team like Task Force M at his age? What dark secret lies behind his continued prowess?

Since the animated series is essentially reimagining the entire team from scratch, the creators had the freedom to update both the designs and backstories. Moving Project M from World War II to a contemporary black-ops strike force under Amanda Waller allowed for experimentation with new characters and motivations. Weasel, with his murderous antics as comic relief, The Bride as a superhuman yet monstrous leader, and visually dynamic characters like Doctor Phosphorus and Nina Mazursky (stand-ins for classic movie mad scientists), round out what may be the most successful iteration of Task Force X to date.

The series is set to premiere on Max on December 5, 2024, and will run for seven episodes, concluding on January 16, 2025. With its unique roster of characters and bold visual approach, Creature Commandos is shaping up to be an exciting start to the new DCU.