The Collywobbles

The launch of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran has been one of the most anticipated moments in recent entertainment history. Tasked with reimagining DC Studios, Gunn and Safran have promised a unified and distinct creative vision, blending the depth of the comic book source material with fresh, modern sensibilities. While the overall scope of the universe is still a little unclear, and despite a strange release strategy, it has nonetheless gotten fans very hyped for the next chapter of DC. "Creature Commandos," written by James Gunn, marks the official entry into this new DC Universe - and it does not disappoint.

This inaugural episode, "The Collywobbles," introduces us to the Creature Commandos, a motley crew of misfits and monsters brought together under the iron-fisted direction of Amanda Waller and led by General Rick Flag, Sr. Gunn's knack for assembling quirky, dysfunctional teams shines brightly here. The Commandos - each with their own bizarre quirks and dynamic personalities - bring to mind the unorthodox camaraderie in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Suicide Squad." Their chemistry is infectious, with witty banter and emotional undertones that hint at layers of complexity to be explored in future episodes. The episode's premise sets up a promising foundation for the series. While the narrative is undeniably fun, complete with Gunn's signature blend of irreverence and heart, the story feels like it's just beginning to find its footing. This is not a flaw as much as a tease; "The Collywobbles" lays the groundwork for what could be a truly engaging serialized adventure. One of the most exciting aspects is the tone it sets for the larger DC Universe. This is a hard R-rated animated project, with visceral action and mature themes, demonstrating the creative flexibility Gunn and Safran envision for their universe. The new DCU promises to embrace diverse stories, tones, and genres - ranging from dark and gritty to humorous and whimsical - and "Creature Commandos" exemplifies the ethos by fully leaning into its absurd, over-the-top premise. Visually, the animation may strike some as simplistic at first glance, but it develops an aesthetic that balances accessibility with a hint of comic book grit, complementing the narrative and tone effectively.

"The Collywobbles" is a strong start for the series and the new DC Universe. It captures the spirit of a James Gunn production - oddball characters, sharp humor, and surprising emotional beats - while hinting at the limitless potential of this revamped DCU. Gunn and Safran's DC Universe is officially here, and if this is any indication, we're in for a thrilling ride.

I won't say I had high hopes for this, but I love GotG, THE Suicide Squad, and The Peacemaker, so I didn't have low expectations either. 'Creature Commandos' is pretty bad imho. Especially after just finishing the latest season of Invincible.

It's not the animation or the voice acting, although the animation could probably be better. The music is fine, Gunn is pretty good at making music videos.

The problem is that it's supposed to be funny and it's just not. Apparently Gunn needs a Pratt or a Cena to deliver, and this series is woefully missing that element.

I'll give the show another couple episodes, but so far it's missing the drama, characters & creativity of Invincible, and it's missing the humor of other Gunn projects. Also the show uses dated political tropes which will age poorly.

The introduction to the new DC Universe (DCU) has been executed remarkably well. The stories seamlessly connect to the past while also promising an exciting future. I want to commend the art style of the animation chosen by the creators; it has a comic feel that captivates the audience. The new storylines that James Gunn has brought forward for comic book lovers and DC fans are impressive and offer a lot of potential moving forward. The characters stand out as unique yet relatable.

That being said, I do feel the DCU is on the right track, although there are a few aspects I'm not fond of. One of my main concerns is the music-it feels repetitive at times, especially given the limited 20-minute runtime of each episode. I'd also love to see more attention paid to the choreography of the fight scenes and further development of the art style. Additionally, making it an adult-oriented show doesn't automatically enhance its quality. These are just a few points to consider.

When it comes to James Gunn's DCU, I've been cautiously optimistic. I have faith that Gunn and his crew can make something really special out of it, but at the same time, there's been a frustrating lack of clarity as to exactly what the heck's been going on! With the premiere of Creature Commandos, we fortunately have some clarity about what's canon within the DCU. While that clarity may be a make or break for some, it does at least give better insight into what to expect from this new universe. Now as for Creature Commandos itself, I think it's a good show but probably one of Gunn's weaker efforts. The beginning of the premiere is hampered by exposition reminiscent to that of the DCEU's Suicide Squad (2016), and there's a certain level of raunchy goofiness which, while not foreign to Gunn or his DC projects, is something I'm not completely on board with or at the very least felt it wasn't in very good taste this time around. Nonetheless, to say this is a weaker effort from Gunn doesn't make it bad, because like every great project from him, there's a colorful cast of characters to follow and the animation is quite clean and crisp! Overall, not the best start, but pretty good!

This is definitely a James Gunn show. You can't confuse it with anything else. All his crazy ideas, music taste and his style overall are found in this series. The first episode, called "The Collywobbles", is really good. The animation style looks great.

The episode starts with Amanda Waller talking with Rick Flag Sr. About a situation in Pokolistan. Circe, an Amazon sorceress from Themyscira wants to assassinate the princess of Pokolistan, Illana Rostovic. Waller creates a new team consisting of "non-humans" because A. R. G. U. S. Has forbidden her making another task force with humans. Task Force M (M for monster) is assigned to protect princess Illana.

It's a great start to the new DCU and it does feel like a James Gunn project (and that's good).

Also, note that there's a nude scene in this episode. No frontal nudity shown. One character tries to seduce another.