Creature Commandos: James Gunn's show denies any existence of a superhero fatigue

There is an opinion amongst the general public that comic book cinema has seen its glory days and is now tumbling down to an unfortunate end. It is a sentiment that finds its origin amongst the myriad of dull and uninspiring films that have recently seen the light of day claiming themselves to be based on popular comic books. These are the films that are structured similarly to and tell the same story as a countless amount of other films. It has become a corner of cinema that merely exists because it is usually a safe bet to rake in box office numbers. However, I believe that it is reductive to claim that superhero or comic book storytelling has reached saturation. There are various distinct and incredible stories that exist between the pages of comic books. Comic books are a visually exaggerated medium of storytelling, and insinuating that the medium is the cause of error is an objectively wrong statement to make.

Written by James Gunn, a man who has excelled in this format of cinema, Creature Commandos is the latest example of how comic book cinema can still continue to be vivid and engaging, hence infinitely lengthening the life of stories involving super-abled "creatures."

James Gunn is a creator who has time and time again displayed his skill of being able to portray and have viewers root for a group of characters that have been ignored for long in popular culture. Creature Commandos is one addition to that list. It is yet another story based on a ragtag group of individuals who are forced to come together for a mission. It is a plot that we have heard far too many times and is almost a staple in James Gunn's own filmography. The thing that sets the show apart from the others is its fascinating structure.

The screenplay of Creature Commandos has a difficult task wherein it has to get viewers to root for characters in this team while keeping the narrative quick on its feet. To root for the characters, the audience has to have an understanding of who the person is, and this is only achievable through an explanation of what caused them to be in a facility locked up with beings who have been convicted of horrific and brutal crimes. However, spending time amongst the backstories of these characters, which only serve the purpose of building up a character, would weigh down the series, causing it to feel unnecessarily bloated. The lack of this depth to characters would render the entire plot meaningless as it doesn't get anyone to actually care about who emerges victorious. This problem is addressed in a remarkable way. The story splits the narrative into different storylines taking place simultaneously and adds a layer of urgency and mystery around it. It engages the audience by baiting them with mystery and keeps it throughout by the urgency it builds through the stakes. The outcome of both storylines directly impacts major elements in the parallel one, which allows both events to retain their importance. It then intercuts this narrative with flashes of each character's past. These parts are well-written stories about the crimes humanity committed against these beings that pushed them to the point at which we meet them in the story. In this universe, the term "creature" is not just reserved for the outward appearance. It is a reflection of their response to the people who let the world do this to them. A "creature" is not a physical form as much as it is a representation of a group who could not be asked to care about their surroundings. It covers vast ground from ignored war heroes to high school bullying and still manages to tell a heart-wrenching narrative through each. These parts are the highlights of the show, and only due to the quality of these scenes is the show able to narrowly escape the criticism of being repetitive.

The visual storytelling on display is magnificent. The animation medium allows the story to be told in a smooth and effective manner which would have been extremely difficult to execute through practical or computer effects in live action. It encapsulates environments from various different locations spanning centuries. There are sequences featuring old gothic mansions that are intercut with modern state-of-the-art facilities, and they never manage to feel incoherent. The action sequences are able to induce heightened amounts of tension, and they are allowed to be long-drawn-out and gory without compromise. There are also no hesitations when it comes to showcasing the barbaric use of these creatures' abilities, which makes the series a lot of fun to engage with. The worlds that have been created look beautiful, and the mayhem we get to witness in these settings are animated and displayed in a near-perfect manner. The auditory experience of watching any media related to James Gunn has been proven to be nothing short of fantastic. Creature Commandos furthers this streak of his. The songs selected for each story in the narrative along with the entire storyline taking place currently are apt representations of the events taking place on-screen. Some of these scenes seem almost like they were choreographed for the music in the background. It adds a whole other layer to the experience of watching this show and helps it stand distinct from any other comic book media.

All seven episodes of Creature Commandos were written by series creator James Gunn, with Dean Lorey serving as showrunner and Yves "Balak" Bigerel as supervising director. There isn't anything about it that is genuinely groundbreaking. It revels in its simplistic approach and doesn't attempt to largely do anything that hasn't already been done before. What it is, is a solid display that comic book films can be engaging and marvelous if the makers are ready to showcase commitment to the medium with solid storytelling. The show has incredible performances from the entire voice acting cast, which elevates the show and keeps it afloat even during some wobbly parts of the story. Watch out for an incredible Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus; his performance is able to carry the charisma of the character throughout without losing the weight of the tragedy that fuels him. 

James Gunn yet again shows that he is immensely talented and capable of adapting comic books into their best cinematic forms. His understanding of storytelling that is based off of comics is immaculate and is a display of everything that is lacking in most other media in the same subgenre. The lightweight tone is kept alive without ever taking a step back on narrative, stakes, or even character development. He is an individual with amazing skills at filmmaking, and his deep love for comics comes across as a deep understanding of the medium. The world is glad to have left the fate of its greatest superhero in your hands; Metropolis is now ready to trust its guardian. See you in July.