Warning! This article contains spoilers for Creatre Commandos episode 4.
Creature Commandosmay be the first entry in theDCU, but it is not holding anything back as it makes a bold decision that previously received a lot of backlash from the DC fanbase.Creature Commandosmarks the official beginning of the DCU after the reboot was announced in 2022. The series shines a spotlight on a team of largely underdog characters who get an opportunity to prove themselves, not unlikeThe Suicide SquadandGuardians of the Galaxy, which director and writer James Gunn also wrote and directed.
However, while both of those projects certainly delivered a signature style of humor that James Gunn has become known for, they didn’t rock the boat all that much.GotGstayed within the strict parameters of the MCU, and whileThe Suicide Squadwas a lot more edgy and dark, it steered clear of messing with most aspects of the DCEU proper. But now thatJames Gunn is driving the whole DCU, he has decided to jump in with both feet and make it clear thatthe DCU is not going to hold anything back, including killing the Justice League in episode 4 of this animated series.
The Justice League Is Sacred To The DC Fans
However, the decision to kill the Justice League was introduced at the beginning of 2024 inSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and that game was met with considerable backlash. For some, the issues originated in the fact that a bunch of low-level villains were able to get together anddefeat the world’s greatest heroes. For others, it was the immense disrespect that the games appeared to give these iconic figures. But by far one of the most vocal complaints offered up was the way it took the Arkham videogames Batman, and had him killed with a single bullet to the head.
I Can’t Believe The DCU Just Showed Peacemaker’s Death 8 Months Before His Season 2 Return & The Implications Are Massively Important
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Batman’s armor is famously bulletproof, and while the game was designed and named with the clear point of view that it was about killing the Justice League,DC fans were still outraged at the way the game delivered this storyline. And especially the fact that this was no random version of Batman, but it was intended to be the same version that players of the previous Arkham games had become so familiar with after playing multiple games with him as the protagonist. And somehow,Creature Commandosdecided to wade into this treacherous territorydespite the history of this storyline.
The DCU Gave Their Biggest Heroes A Rough Introduction
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Admittedly,Creature Commandos’version of killing the Justice League is less thoroughly developed. The scene where the Justice League appear dead is a very brief vision early in episode 4, when Circe shows Amanda Waller a possible future. Waller sees the world in disarray, Princess Ilana rising up as a tyrant, and Gorilla Grod joining forces to help her eliminate the heroes and take her seat as the new ruler of the world. However, it does raise questions about how one ordinary Princess of a tiny nation, and Gorilla Grod, couldtake on and win against the entire Justice League.
And whereSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguetook the opportunity to kill a unique version of the heroes and Arkham’s version of Batman,Creature Commandosis a part of the DCU. Not even Elseworlds, just the main event DCU. So, is this a way of establishing how weak these heroes are going to be, that they could be so easily overtaken, and if that is the case,how are these supposed to be the heroes that inspire audiencesto attend theaters in droves over the next decade or so as the DCU expands.
Why Making The Justice League Weak Is So Irresistible
The thing is, these heroes have been icons, saving the world, and putting bad guys down for as long as they’ve existed. Superman was first introduced in 1938, and Batman had his debut in 1939, just one year later. People have written hundreds, if not thousands, of stories where they are the heroes. So,exploring stories where they don’t win, or even where they are set up as the bad guys is actually a nice break from convention, and one that provides something new and interesting.
All 8 James Gunn Actors In Creature Commandos
James Gunn forms close bonds with some of the actors he works alongside, which leads to their being case in future projects like Creature Commandos.
Creature Commandosisn’t necessarily trying to do this, and it’s very likely this vision will be debunked or altered by theend ofCreature Commandosseason 1, but it is interesting that the DCU would lean into this idea so quickly. However, where they go next, and what the actual Justice League will be able to overcome, is still something that remains a ways off for James Gunn’s DCU.Creature Commandosjust got to tease the idea early on, and test the waters with the fanbase.
Creature Commandos
Cast
Creature Commandos follows the exploits of a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for perilous missions unsuitable for humans. Released in December 2024, the film explores themes of redemption and collaboration as the monstrous squad is tasked with handling threats that present dire challenges beyond human capability.
