The Creature Commandos Have Been in DC Animated Projects Before

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  • ‘DC Showcase’ Is an Underrated Line of Animated Shorts
  • Three Classic Monsters Make Up These Commandos
  • A Great Behind-the-Scenes DC Team

As a long-time comic book enthusiast and a connoisseur of animated adaptations, I must say that the lesser-known gem hidden within the Batman: Hush Blu-ray is a true testament to the timeless allure of DC’s rich history. The Sgt. Rock short, featuring the enigmatic Creature Commandos, is an unsung hero in the annals of DC animation.

A group of monsters dispatched clandestinely by the administration forms an intriguing ensemble. This unique team includes Frankenstein’s wife, a lethal robot with a Nazi-killing history, a wild man-beast, a radioactive cadaver, a brilliant amphibian woman, and Rick Flag Sr., a determined and ambitious army general, setting the stage for James Gunn’s cinematic universe titled Creature Commandos. The initial installment of this series is generating excitement as promised, captivating viewers with its eccentric yet violent interactions on Max. Critical acclaim follows suit, with ComicBook.com awarding a flawless five out of five rating and Screen Rant hailing the program as “a solid foundation for the DCU.

Although the latest animated sensation appears to have ushered in a fresh lineup of characters for many viewers, it’s not their first appearance on television. To find them, one needs to delve into the annals of time back to 2019. Hidden within the DC direct-to-video collection is where you’ll discover them. If they had ever starred in a standalone production, it’s safe to say that the internet would have already buzzed about it. Instead, these superhumans were confined to a brief DC Showcase short, which was exclusively available on the Blu-ray release of Batman: Hush. Despite its brevity at just 14 minutes, the intensity and vocal talent in this production might take you by surprise.

‘DC Showcase’ Is an Underrated Line of Animated Shorts

It appears that “DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock” is one of several short films in a series, with the latest being “Constantine: The House of Mystery” released in 2022. This collection of underrated stories, which includes a 12-minute cosmic journey starring The Spectre from the “Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths” DVD in 2010, showcases many lesser-known DC characters. While it’s speculated that these productions may have influenced filmmaker James Gunn (as there is a planned “Sgt. Rock” movie), each of these short stories has been crafted with great attention and reverence.

To illustrate, let me point out the cartoon we’re discussing right now. Not only did it feature Sgt. Rock (a character from 1959), but it also breathed life into one of the most authentic and pioneering portrayals of the Creature Commandos. The three army monsters shown in this short — namely, Pvt. Elliot “Lucky” Taylor (who is Frankenstein), Pvt. Warren Griffith (the werewolf), and Sgt. Vincent Velcoro (the vampire) — all burst forth from the pages of Weird War Tales, a DC comic series from the early 1980s. Despite various members of James Gunn’s team appearing in different DC publications, there is no group more true to the source material than those depicted in the Sgt. Rock cartoon.

Three Classic Monsters Make Up These Commandos

Despite being known as the traditional Commandos, they are equally ruthless. In their quest to apprehend a Nazi scientist within a colossal castle, Frankenstein rips apart a zombie (previously a member of Rock’s team) with his bare hands, and the vampire shreds another one, causing blood to spurt from its chest.

The pacing never slows down, and the animation is surprisingly very crisp for it being labeled a special feature that was tacked onto a Batman movie. What’s even more outlandish is that the director behind Sgt. Rock is Bruce Timm, producer and developer behind other DC animated features like Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and the Justice League Unlimited series.

As a dedicated cinephile, let me share an exciting revelation: I didn’t mention earlier that Karl Urban, the brilliant actor known for his role as Billy Butcher in ‘The Boys’, lends his voice to Sgt. Rock. This relatively unheralded DC Showcase series is brimming with surprises, much like how Gunn’s new series strikes a perfect balance between traditional warfare and otherworldly creatures. Interestingly, this balance extends to the DC Universe’s Sgt. Rock as well, without necessitating a complete overhaul of the DCU (just a minor point I thought you might appreciate). Throughout their mission, we witness the hardened soldier struggling to keep the monsters in check, even though he ultimately allows them to unleash chaos towards the end.

A Great Behind-the-Scenes DC Team

Using the distinctive growl that characterizes him, Urban effectively communicates a hint of leniency towards his newly acquired allies, gradually integrating them into his leadership role. However, when necessary, he assumes the position of a firm leader. In an astonishingly short span, the quartet seamlessly gels together, demonstrating their readiness to confront any conflict head-on, functioning like a finely tuned battle machine.

Besides introducing new DC enthusiasts to iconic characters, such as Sgt. Rock voiced by a renowned actor, the story is seamlessly woven due to its creation by professionals who are already established in the comic book world. Recognized for their roles in bringing characters like Beta Ray Bill (from Thor), Doomsday and Steel (Superman) into existence, Walt and Louise Simonson collaborated with long-standing DC writer Tim Sheridan to bring Sgt. Rock to life.

They chose to apply their skills to a short that might otherwise be overlooked, as it’s connected to an animated adaptation of one of Batman’s top comic book stories. Their influence over the project is evident in how they manage the characters and the eventual fate of the Creature Commandos. While it can still be found on every Blu-ray version of Batman: Hush, you should definitely check it out to understand where James Gunn draws his inspiration from! By the way, if you’re interested, you can stream the short on Max.

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2024-12-28 20:31