New Creature Commandos comic book written by actor David Dastmalchian
New comics line DC Horror Presents has announced two upcoming comics with the writer.
“I grew up in Kansas City in a very conservative and religious environment where things like horror movies and rock & roll music were considered conduits of the devil. So, it’s no small surprise that I was drawn to them!”
In this article:
DC Comics announced upcoming titles DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos and anthology DC Horror Presents…#1
More about the Creature Commandos
More about writer David Dastmalchian (who you’ve probably watched on screen a few times)
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Comic book publisher DC Comics recently announced what they’re putting on shelves October 2024. And, of course, that list includes the likes of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Power Girl, and Green Lantern (and lots more stuff like that).
But what has us most excited here at Monster Complex is that they also announced two titles from their new brand DC Horror Presents. And one those titles is Creature Commandos written by The Suicide Squad star David Dastmalchian and drawn by Jesus Hervas. Dastmalchian is also one of the writers listed for the comics anthology DC Horror Presents…#1
More official info about the upcoming comics…
DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #1
A Vampire, A Werewolf, A Gorgon, And An Undead Soldier Walk Into A Grocery Store...And All Hell Breaks Loose!
This is the Creature Unit, a team of misfits assembled by a mad...ly talented scientist for a dangerous military mission. In this brand-new era of Creature Commandos penned by Count Crowley creator David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad and Late Night with the Devil), the claws are out, fangs are bared, and blood is spilled—lots of it! This title is scheduled to arrive October 2, 2024.
DC Horror Presents... #1
Bones crunching, worms munching, blood spattering…these are a few of our favorite things!
From some of the most dark and cunning minds in horror comes DC Horror Presents… a new collection of gruesome tales set in the DCU. With stories penned by some of our favorite names in horror, this anthology will have die-hard horror fans quaking with fear! Writers include Late Night with the Devil star David Dastmalchian and Dragula creators The Boulet Brothers.
About the Creature Commandos
Originally launched as a comic book series set during World War 2, The Creature Commandos are a team of military monsters. The original team was created by J. M. DeMatteis and Pat Broderick, who introduced them in 1980’s Weird War Tales #93. That team included human leader, plus riffs on Frankenstein’s monster, a werewolf, a vampire, and a gorgon.
As part of relaunching the DC Universe media brand—which includes movies, TV shows, and more—there is a brand-new Creature Commandos animated TV show on the way. Streaming on Max starting in December 2024, the new version of the team is created as a result of what happened toward the end of season one of Peacemaker. Because Amanda Waller (voiced by Viola Davis, who previously played the character in The Suicide Squad) can no longer put human lives in jeopardy for her secret operations, she puts together a black ops team of monsters.
The new crew is led by Rick Flag Sr. (voiced by Frank Grillo), father of murdered Suicide Squad leader Rick Flag Jr. Also on the team is Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour), Bride of Frankenstein (Indira Varma), amphibian scientist Nina Mazursky (Zoë Chao), radioactive Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), and Princess Ilana Rostovic (Maria Bakalova). Actor Sean Gunn will be playing two characters—G.I. Robot: and Weasel (which he also played—for a few minutes—in The Suicide Squad). And Waller’s employee John Economos will be played again by Steve Agee.
The show is being written by showrunner James Gunn. Of course, Gunn has some great credentials—including (among other things) writing and/or directing Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies and holiday special, plus the Peacemaker TV show (2022-present) and the wonderful movie The Suicide Squad (2021). For this DC media relaunch, Gunn and movie producer Peter Safran are co-chairmen and co-CEOs of DC Studios.
By the way, when the Creature Commandos animated show was being cast, DC made it clear that they were hiring the actors to play these characters in every appearance—live, animated, in games, whatever. In fact, Grillo is already scheduled to appear on screen as Flag in the upcoming second season of Peacemaker.
Related links:
James Gunn: Creating CREATURE COMMANDOS “one of the absolute joys of my life.”
Military Monsters ‘Creature Commandos’ returning in new TV show, new comic book
Find Creature Commandos on Amazon (affiliate links):
Creature Commandos by J.M. Dematteis, Pat Broderick, Mike W. Barr, Jerry Ordway, and more (Collects their stories from Weird War Tales)
Creature Commandos Present Frankenstein 1: Agent of S.h.a.d.e. by Grant Morrison, Jeff Lemire, Doug Mahnke, and Alberto Ponticelli
Creature Commandos (7 issue series) by Timothy Truman and more
About David Dastmalchian
Now, David Dastmalchian is an actor, writer, and producer. Best known by the public for his time on screen, he produced and starred in 2023 horror movie Late Night with the Devil. He was also in 2013’s Prisoners, 2017’s Blade Runner 2049, and 2021’s Dune. His comic book movie appearances include 2008’sThe Dark Knight, 2015’s Ant-Man and 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, and a 2017 season three episode of The Flash TV show.
He was also the amazing Polka-Dot Man in 2021’s The Suicide Squad. (That’s the movie that also included Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Ratcatcher 2, and King Shark, among others.)
As a comic book writer, Creature Commandos is not David Dastmalchian’s first time at the rodeo: He also writes the Count Crowley comic book series, revolving around a host of late-night creature features who, well, has to deal with real monsters. And it was just announced that Dastmalchian will soon be writing a new horror comic book for the brand-new company Panick Entertainment.
In interviews, Dastmalchian has talked about how he is a longtime fan of comics—which naturally led to him writing them. Dastmalchian told Den of Geek:
“I’ve keep every comic I’ve bought in my life… I used to be obsessive about boarding and bagging them all. Now I couldn’t collect anymore because they took over too much space. I go get comics still, but not the way I used to.”
Dastmalchian told Multiversity Comics how he grew up in in a conservative, religious environment—where stuff like horror movies and rock & roll music were considered conduits of the devil.
“So, it’s no small surprise that I was drawn to them! I would sneak downstairs late on Friday nights and watch The Creature Feature hosted by Crematia Mortem, and she introduced me to all of my early favorites: Dracula, The Wolfman, Frankenstein’s Monsters—you name it. I was hooked.”
Now a comic book writer, Dastmalchian talked to Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! about the kinds of characters he likes to write.
“I’d love to maybe find a new offshoot of more obscure heroes that are kicking it around in the shadows. There’s probably no character that if I had the chance to get to write or create on that I wouldn’t be excited about. I love that world so much.”
Find David Dastmalchian’s stuff on Amazon (affiliate links):
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