3 things we liked and 3 things we didn’t like about Creature Commandos

While many DC Comics fans basically think James Gunn is coming Superman movie the official DC Studios revampthe comic book giant technically got off the starting blocks late last year with the launch of its adult animated series, Commando creature.

The series, which dropped its first season finale today on Max , modeled much of its premise of teaming up odd-couple, C- to D-level villains after Gunn’s version of The Suicide Squad, and proved to be not only a much-needed first step in establishing the tone DC Studios intends to move forward, but also a stellar return to form for the company returning to its animation roots.

We liked: The phenomenal character writing

Much like A peacemaker and Guardians of the Galaxy, Commando creatureThe strength lies in the exceptional character writing and diverse cast of misfits. Each episode alternated between the squad’s mission and flashbacks, highlighting a particular villain’s backstory and juxtaposing it with their current adventure. Whether it’s the Bride’s emancipation from her stalker, Frankenstein’s fiancé, GI Robot’s directive to kill Nazis, or the truth behind Weasel’s apparent murders of children, each player was given a compelling backstory that effectively rounded them out as a character and solidified the overarching theme of Gunn for don’t judge a book by its cover. If ever there was an incentive to delve into insular DC lore, Commando creature is the gateway for fans to dive headfirst into comics.

The needle drops

Music, however, remains vital to narrative shorthand and accentuation in Gunn’s work Commando creature chose to replace the more expensive nostalgic needles with Eastern European folk music. nevertheless Commando creature‘ toe-tapping musical style effectively complemented the action choreography and backstory montages. If nothing else, Manhattan-based punk band Gogol Bordello just got a big monthly listenership thanks to Gunn’s diverse musical tastes.

The action hit every time

Commando creature‘ two-episode premiere set the scene, pounding the board with animation so exciting it had DC fans pumping their fists with equal fervor Invincible and X-Men ’97 fans do. His remaining five episodes were no different. Everyone Commando creature The fight was bright and shiny, with rich sets that begged for stray weapons to be used as stage hazards Mortal Kombat.

What’s more, his brand of deaths and injuries were the kind of gruesome and brutal that only an animated show could get away with depicting. You’ll laugh at Dr. Phosporus flipping a tank as it passes through and, by proxy, melt into the mech and its unsuspecting pilots just as often as you’ll cringe when he and Weasel hit the brakes on the almighty Amazon warrior.

We didn’t like it: Some of the humor fell flat

While most of the clapping strikes among Commando creature cast has called out how weird the DC Comics mythos can be and its assortment of non-mainstream heroes and villains, the show’s jokes don’t always land as well as intended. The jokes that weren’t an instant side-splitter or delayed highlights were usually either meta-humor, visual jokes on the annoying parts of comic book fans indignantly steeped in extreme right-wing sentiment, or leaning on the crutch of how ridiculous Eastern European culture apes pop culture would appear to the average American. Comedy is subjective, so viewers’ mileage will vary. But it’s hard not to feel like your eyes are glazing over waiting for the comedic stuff to unfold so the show’s plot can resume.

Cruelty for the sake of it

In tandem with Commando creature embracing the quirky underpinnings of DC’s mythos, Max’s adult animated show also spares no expense in showcasing the cruelty humanity—metahuman or otherwise—is capable of. To DC Studios’ credit, many of the rougher moments were done in the service of the show and latched onto a hitman who spectacularly got his comeuppance.

Even so, the show has wobbled into being downright mean at times because of it. Whether it was highlighting how cruel humanity can be in an overt way, with sex workers being attacked by drunken visitors, or through the camera showing a disabled babushka being brutally killed “by mercy” (when that wasn’t the case at all), Commando creature sometimes it came out as a hot topic, sharp because of it.

The end of the mech season finale that teased more

The plot and pace of Commando creature found a consistent rhythm, jumping back and forth in time, clarifying their ensemble and advancing their mission. But in the finale, the show felt like it let out a little steam. While one can glean some depth from how unglamorously and abruptly the show tried to tie up its loose ends, film noir-style, it came off more like a stuttering step than a tidy landing.

In typical comic book style, one post-credits contestant teased more adventures to come. Commando creature was indeed renewed for a second season, with new and returning characters to pick up where the finale left off, but it wasn’t the high-quality ending the show thought it was. Instead of feeling revolutionary, it felt safe.

All seven episodes of Commando creature first season are passed on to Max. The second season is on its way.

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