The DCU is just at the beginning of its story, but even in Creature Commandos, the franchise is playing fast and loose with the Justice League. While James Gunn is setting up a brand-new superhero franchise to rival the MCU, it's hard to see a clear plan for characters like the Justice League. Gunn has made it clear that he wants to make sure each script and story is polished before progressing it to casting and attaching directors, but that could also seriously affect the schedule of events going forward.
For instance, despite announcing Superman's new film and the Batman movie at the same time in January 2023, Superman is set to arrive in cinemas in July 2025, while Batman is still waiting on a script. On top of that, Gunn has said that Superman was not made with any effort to set up future stories, and as noble as that is, when it comes to building a shared universe, it feels like at least some consideration needs to be given to the future. However, there is more happening in the current DCU canon that is adding further insult to injury when it comes to the Justice League.
Peacemaker Is DCU Canon, So The Justice League Cameo Makes No Sense
The DCU Canon Is Already A Complicated Mess
As the writer and creator of Peacemaker, Gunn was unlikely to throw out the hard work he put in to making season 1. So, instead, he is making season 2, and has offered up a statement that canon in the DCU is kind of fluid, and when things are mentioned or referenced, then they become canon. But with Peacemaker getting a second season that picks up where the first left off, and a brief cameo in the Creature Commandos episode 4 when Circe reveals her vision, it would appear that Peacemaker season 1 is now officially canon.
I Can't Believe The DCU Just Showed Peacemaker’s Death 8 Months Before His Season 2 Return & The Implications Are Massively Important
Creature Commandos has really upped the stakes for the rest of the DCU after just 4 episodes, and it could change everything for Peacemaker season 2.
But season 1 ended with some big cameos from four of the key players in the Justice League. Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and the Flash all arrive just after Peacemaker and the team handled business, which indicates that Peacemaker is very aware of these heroes. But, will that moment be erased, edited, or simply ignored? Whatever the case, it feels awkward to just pretend like it never happened.
Creature Commandos Kills The Justice League
And Defeated By A Powerless Princess From Pokolistan
Next, in Creature Commandos episode 4, Circe has a vision of the future, with Princess Ilana becoming a huge threat as she seeks to take over the world. This human woman, who rules over a tiny country with a lack of advanced technology, is supposedly capable of working with Gorilla Grodd, another supervillain, and taking down the entire Justice League. It doesn't make sense, unless the Justice League are incredibly weak.
The issue with killing the Justice League so early, even in a vision that is almost guaranteed to be overwritten, is that it really undervalues the heroes that are meant to be the greatest in the world. Yes, it helps establish how serious the threat is, and raises the stakes for characters like the Creature Commandos, but without any forward-thinking, this doesn't really add to the value of the Justice League. And if the DCU wants to make the shared universe idea work, it needs to treat the tent pole heroes better.
The Justice League Needs Better Care In The DCU Than Insults
The Justice League Are Supposed To Be Top Superheroes
The Justice League is composed of some of the most powerful individuals in any fictional story. They stand tall as a group of god-like beings among men, who protect, preserve, and inspire the rest of the world. And the fanbase that exists for these characters is incredibly dedicated to the heroes in a way that creates big, emphatic responses to how they are handled in various forms of media. So, if the DCU doesn't treat them right, fans are not going to be happy about it.
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.
If the DCU doesn't start looking ahead, thinking about how these stories will impact each other, and how using the biggest and best heroes as a storybeat in an animated series that follows several fairly unknown characters could actually hurt the heroes, it could be in for a world of trouble. The DCEU didn't have much luck with their version of the heroes, squabbling and struggling to find common ground after being thrown together with little to no prior development, but the DCU has the chance to do things right. If they can learn from the mistake of using the Justice League as drama bait in Creature Commandos, they still have time to turn this around.
Creature Commandos
- Release Date
- December 5, 2024
- Network
- Max
- Directors
- Matt Peters
Cast
The Bride (voice)
GI Robot / Weasel (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
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.
- Franchise(s)
- DC
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Creator(s)
- James Gunn
- Seasons
- 1
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