Character Spotlight—The Creature Commandos
The Creature Commandos will be the first wave the of the new DC cinematic universe, but the character appearing in the animated series will be very different from the originals.
The Creature Commandos first appeared in Weird War Tales, a publication that contained a number of stories about unusual conflicts.
You might be surprised to know that despite fighting the Axis forces in the Second World War, the Creature Commandos were created in 1980. Part of the Commandos charm is they effortlessly fit into our conception of the 1930s and 1940s.
The appearance of the Commandos as monsters from horror films is intentional in a couple of ways. The classic Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein and The Mummy movies (famously starring Boris Karloff) originate in the 1930s making them perfect throw backs to the Second World War.
However, their appearance as intentionally reflecting monsters is part of military strategy.
Lieutenant Matthew Shrieve of U.S. Army Intelligence is the leader of the group and introduces the characters to military leaders (and the reader). Shrieve tells us that Project M (for Monster) is interested in winning the war with a combination of military might and psychological intimidation.
Shrieve explains Project M’s research into the terrifying symbols that extend across nationality and cultural to leave every individual frightening. It is those symbols that Project M has been actively recreating.
In the first instance, Shrieve introduces three individuals who have come to inhabit such terrifying symbols.
First to be introduced is the civilian volunteer Warren Griffith from Oklahoma. Most of the time Griffith is an unassuming farm boy, but inflicted with lycanthropy, Griffith believes that he turns into a wolf.
The experimental work of Project M gradually made his psychosis a disturbing reality. A combination of psychotherapy and new medications have bestowed on Griffith the ability to turn into a violent werewolf.
When he is in his wolf form, Griffith is a killing machine. He wants nothing more than inflict pain and suffering on the enemy. Exactly the kind of soldier military leaders are looking for. However, Griffith’s ability to be a werewolf is unstable. At the most inconvenient moment, he can turn back into his human form.
To avoid a lengthy prison sentence, the airman, Sergeant Vincent Velcro agreed to be a test subject for a process of untested chemical treatments involving vampire bat blood. Velcro’s appearance changes into that of a vampire which is accompanied by the ability to turn into a bat and a hunger for blood.
Giving a criminal such powers appears to be a recipe for disaster. And Velcro is known to give into uncontrollable attacks. As Shrieve present the Creature Commandos to the military leaders for the first timer, Velcro attacks a general who mocks his appearance as a Hollywood knock off. It takes the final member of the original team, Lucky to hold him back.
Last up is the marine called Lucky whose luck ran out when he stepped on a land mine. Project M pieced Lucky back together with a series of operations and enhancements that have made his incredibly strong and incredible durable.
Lucky is a patchwork colossus resembling Frankenstein in appearance as well as temperament. He is prone to outbursts of rage, but also suffers as the pain he inflicts on others. To make Lucky’s situation even more tragic, he is incapable of speaking. All the surgical procedures were focused on his physical strength and it is has left him without a voice.
Looking like a vampire, werewolf and Frankenstein’s monster, the creature commandos are terrifying in appearance and vicious in their attack.
As they progress through various missions with the cold-hearted and merciless Shrieve, additional recruits are added to the squad.
After the brilliant surgeon Doctor Myrna Rhodes suffers an accident with a combination of experimental chemicals in her hospital she is rejected by the medical profession.
Unable to practice medicine, Doctor Rhodes is enraged. The toxic chemicals have bestowed her with a head of live snakes making her look like a gorgon. Except, Doctor Medusa is no myth. She quickly becomes a crucial part of the Creature Commandos.
The final member of the squad saves them from the attack of a dinosaur before sacrificing himself to save them and the entire human race. Except, he isn’t human.
G.I. Robot is an experimental android produced by Project M. G.I. Robot is initially assigned to a patrol with Sergent Coker. When Coker jumps on a grenade to save G.I. Robot, the android takes it upon itself to carry the man to medical help.
When G.I. Robot is instructed to delete Coker from it’s memory, it disobeys orders and goes after Coker. Along the way, G.I. Robot encounters the Creature Commandos. G.I. Robot not only saves the Commandos from a dinosaur, but also protects them during an attack of robotic Atlanteans.
G.I. Robot does not follow the orders of the robotic Atlanteans any more than he does his military superiors. But G.I. Robot does seem to know better than anyone what the right thing to do in any situation.
The Creature Commandos are an immensely powerful squadron and a terrifying sight to behold. Despite their ability to save the world from any number of enemies, they find themselves shunned and rejected by the very people the protect.
Support you local comic book store and pick up your copy of The Creature Commandos first set of stories from Weird War Tales.