DC Studios might not be identified for its festive tone, however the firm is definitely saying season’s greetings with the current launch of Creature Commandos. The most recent team-up story to be penned by James Gunn and the primary installment within the newly-minted DCU, Max’s latest superhero present is crammed with Easter eggs and new revelations about Gunn and Peter Safran’ rebooted continuity. Not solely that, however Creature Commandos is simply as a lot enjoyable as followers would count on, rapidly introducing a group of obscure villains who waste no time committing a plethora of entertaining crimes. Furthermore, the looks of 1 villain particularly, Dr. Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), ought to be particularly cathartic for longtime Gothamites, because the character’s inclusion within the sequence provides a delicate nod to a different basic DC sequence, Batman Past.

Who Is ‘Creature Commandos’ Dr. Phosphorus in ‘Batman Past’?

Viewers eagerly looking for their favourite irradiated antagonist to indicate up in Neo-Gotham are destined for disappointment, as Dr. Phosphorus by no means formally seems within the late-90s DC animated sequence. Or, at the very least not below that identify. As an alternative, Batman Past includes a related villain below a special alias, Blight (Sherman Howard). Previously the distinguished enterprise tycoon Derek Powers, Blight is created through the second a part of the present’s 2-episode premiere, “Rebirth Half 2,” after Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) dons the Batman costume and exposes Powers to an unstable chemical fuel throughout an unlawful enterprise deal gone flawed. In consequence, Powers spends many of the present’s first season hiding his poisonous type beneath a false pores and skin go well with, offering Batman followers with one of the unsettling villains of the sequence.

The strongest connection between Blight and Dr. Phosphorus is their look, with Batman Past‘s depiction of the corrupted Powers paying homage to the skeletal, yellowish-green Dr. Phosphorus who seems within the comics and Creature Commandos. Imbued with the fiery mood of each iterations, Blight retains the fundamental qualities of Dr. Phosphorus however possesses an outsized affect over the course of the sequence. In the course of the first a part of the present’s premiere, Powers is the one who orders the demise of Terry’s father (Michael Gross) after Warren McGinnis steals proof of Powers’ criminality. This homicide is what jettisons Terry into his personal lifetime of crime-fighting, offering Batman Past with the inciting incident to inform its distinctive superhero origin story.

All through subsequent episodes of the enduring sequence, Blight fills the position of each schemer and radioactive adversary to Terry’s younger Batman, trying to completely revive a cryogenically preserved Mr. Freeze (Michael Ansara) and creating the recurring villain Shriek (Chris Mulkey). Since Batman Past continues Batman: The Animated Sequence’ custom of foregoing long-running plot arcs in favor of extra episodic storytelling that includes numerous villains, Blight would not survive previous Season 1, however the character continues to be notable for his formative impression on Terry and specific model of company cruelty. The picture of the suave CEO succumbing to his personal inside poison is especially poignant for a sequence that follows its predecessor’s business-centric, mid-90s aesthetic.

‘Creature Commandos’ Presents a Nostalgic Acknowledgment of ‘Batman Past’ With Its Depiction of Dr. Phosphorus

With solely two episodes of the sequence launched to this point, it is exhausting to inform if Creature Commandos‘ Dr. Phosphorus will tackle such an important position in Gunn’s sequence, however regardless, seeing the character design of an previous villain return is certain to make Batman Past followers nostalgic for considered one of DC’s darkest stints in movie and on tv. If something, Creature Commandos‘ resolution to make use of the identify Dr. Phosphorus was seemingly made with a view to make the most of the character’s present connections to DC Comics, with the liberties Batman Past takes with the character making extra sense for the sequence’ much less mainstream focus. That mentioned, Creature Commandos ought to nonetheless be a refreshing change of tempo for followers who solely know Blight from Batman Past, as Powers’ Blight may be very totally different from the Dr. Phosphorus despatched to struggle the Sons of Themyscira.

Not solely does Alan Tudyk’s model of the character crack jokes about Rick Flag Sr.’s (Frank Grillo) sexual escapades as an alternative of mocking his underpaid underlings, however Creature Commandos‘ Dr. Phosphorus has additionally already been set as much as obtain extra character growth than Blight. After his makes an attempt to steal Flag’s telephone in Episode 1, Dr. Phosphorus truly acts regretful in regards to the scenario, hinting that the 2 might go from reluctant allies to reliable teammates sooner or later. This can be a far cry from Blight’s descent into self-destructive rage in Batman Past, so along with following up on the combined legacy of the current DCEU, Creature Commandos‘ Dr. Phosphorus additionally demonstrates how the present treats followers of the previous and future DC Universe alike.

Creature Commandos is obtainable to stream on Max. New episodes air on Thursdays.

WATCH ON MAX