The DC Universe (DCU) begins a new chapter with Creature Commandswhich is both exciting and familiar. Directed by James Gunn, this adult animated series showcases Gunn’s unique style that mixes humor, action, and unusual character interactions similar to his work Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG).

But how CBR noted in their December 2024 review: Creature Commands seems too close to Gunn’s previous projects, such as GOTG and The Suicide Squad. While the series is definitely fun to watch, people are wondering if the DCU can differentiate itself from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The constant use of funny conversations, heroes who don’t want to fight, and music that evokes strong feelings, while new at first, can feel too familiar. As Creature Commands begins, people are wondering if this way of making shows is still interesting enough to help the DCU grow. Can the DCU break away from copying Marvel and create its own unique stories?

This article delves into the details of Gunn’s style of storytelling and what it means for the future of the DCU.

Creature Commands It started well, but then fell into a common pattern

James Gunns Creature Commands is off to a great start, with special characters and an adult feel that sets it apart from the usual kid-friendly Marvel series. The story follows a group of unusual people led by Rick Flag Sr. and contains funny, dark jokes, exciting action and Gunn’s special way of using music to make the story better.

But CBR points out that the show is very similar to Gunn’s previous projects, with a team that feels very similar to those in the series Guardians of the Galaxy And The Suicide Squad.

Alan Tudyk, who does the voice work for one of the characters, talked about how animation gives them more freedom to create, saying:

“Murdering people is pretty fun. You’re not covered in blood. I can burn so many faces and go to lunch.”

This shows that the series has a fun, playful style, but the way the story works (with a group of people who initially don’t want to get together but later become like a family) is something we’ve seen many times before . Some people say the show is entertaining, but it doesn’t stand out as something special in the DC Universe.

The James Gunn formula has worked well in the DCU, but it’s starting to feel less fresh

Gunn’s way of telling stories has made a huge difference, as evidenced by the success of Guardians of the Galaxy. Cave of the geeks says that the first GOTG brought new life to the MCU with its funny jokes and colorful characters. But almost ten years later, this style is no longer so new.

Joshua M. Patton CBR explains that Gunn’s method, once very different, may now be too familiar. The use of old songs and clever conversations has become something people expect, not something that surprises them.

Gunn himself knows that change is necessary. He recently said on a podcast that he wanted to do something new.

“What both the MCU and DCU need is a wider range of tones. They work, but they could do better.”

Depending on just one style, the DCU’s chance of standing out from the MCU could be limited, especially since Marvel is also struggling to keep people interested.

Learning from previous experiences and creating unique stories

To be successful, the DCU must focus on telling different types of stories. Past hits like Wonder Woman and the Arrow reversal Show how different styles can work together in one universe. For example, Wonder Woman mixed a serious World War I setting with themes of hope and teamwork, which differed from Zack Snyder’s darker tone Man of Steel.

Likewise, Arrowverse managed to give each show a tone that suited its main character, from the fun and light-hearted style of The Flash to the silly and crazy tone of Legends of Tomorrow. Gunn’s plan for the DCU”Chapter 1 – Gods and Monsters“could be improved by using this idea.

New projects such as Superman: Legacy And Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow offer the opportunity to tell different stories that don’t follow Gunn’s usual style.

As Gunn shared CBR,

“The only thing I tried to make clear is that everything in DC will be based on the writers.”

Creature Commands is on Max, new episodes appear every Thursday.