When reading an interview with David Dastmalchian, there was a moment that made me laugh. Dastmalchian was about to tell James Gunn, who’s one of his close friends, that he was writing DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos…only for Gunn to tell him about the upcoming Creature Commandos animated series! While both projects are different, DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1 is definitely a great intro to the titular team of monsters.
Dastmalchian stays true to the origins of the Creature Commandos: they’re a black-ops unit formed under “Project M” to participate in secret missions. Where it differs from the upcoming animated series and the original comics is the roster: there’s gorgon Mina Rhodes, vampire Vincent Velcro (the comic itself will probably beat you to the jokes), werewolf Wanda and a Frankenstein soldier named Lucky. It’s a very eclectic bunch, with Dastmalchaian giving them all their own unique character traits. Vincent, being a vampire, is rather cocky while Lucky has a bit of a tragic streak.
Bringing the new Commandos to life is Jesus Hervas, whose artwork is a perfect fit for a horror-oriented titled. Hervas does not shy away from the fact that these guys are monsters: he makes sure to draw detail to the stitches running across Lucky’s body, to the writhing mass of snakes that is Mina’s hair, to the fur covering Wanda’s body. This is a deep contrast to the heroic figures of the DC Universe, but it’s one that works for this book – especially when the moody colors of Alex Guimares are added.
DC Comics
Another advantage that Creature Commandos #1 has is that it can show off blood and have its characters swear, but thankfully, the creative team uses that as an embellishment, rather than a “oh look how cool and mature I am” trap that most comic creators want to run headlong into. Dastmalchian, Hervas, and Guimaraes understand that the trick to good horror is anticipation – by the end of this issue, I was definitely anticipating more.
DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1 is the right kind of synergy between comic and (upcoming) adaptation: its timing is perfect – especially since October is Halloween – and it manages to stand apart from the upcoming series while still presenting the core concept in a way that’ll draw in new fans. Other publishers, take note.
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