Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Creature Commandos’ Episode 5.AfterEpisode 4’s cameo-packed look at a possible apocalyptic future for the DC Universe, the latest installment ofJames Gunn’s DCU introductionCreature Commandosis comparatively light on Easter eggs. That being said,Episode 5 does make one major addition to the franchise while also containing a few of the more subtle references to past DC stories and other mediathat viewers have come to expect from the series.
‘Creature Commandos’ Episode 5 Introduces Another DC Universe Star
A large portion of Episode 5, titled “The Iron Pot,” is devoted to the odd couple partnership ofRick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) and Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour), who have teamed up to prevent the Creature Commandos from assassinating Pokolistan’s Princess Ilana Rostovic (Maria Bakalova). The pair initially hope to do so by discrediting Professor Aisla MacPherson (Stephanie Beatriz) — the expert in Amazonian mythology who convinced Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) thatCirce’s (Anya Chalotra)warning that Ilana’s plans to conquer the world were legitimate —leading Waller to order the assassination of the princess.
After breaking into MacPherson’s home, Flag and Eric discover the professor’s dead body. The person currently impersonating MacPherson is revealed to be a version ofClayface, a shape-shifting supervillain from DC Comics, usually depicted as an enemy of Bruce Wayne/Batman and related heroes, with main cast memberAlan Tudykvoicing the villain. It was recently announced that DC Studios will be releasinga live-action Clayface film, written by celebrated horror filmmakerMike Flanaganand set in the shared DC Universe, in 2026. Although this suggests that Clayface will be shown to survive being electrocuted by Eric in their ensuing battle, this is not guaranteed, asmultiple characters have used the Clayface moniker in the comics, so the film could focus on an entirely separate person than Tudyk’s unidentified iteration.
Rick Flag Gets the “Knightfall” Treatment
Although Eric manages to defeat him, the superpowered Clayface proves too tough of an opponent for Flag, with the general receiving a severe beating during the fight. This culminates in Clayface slamming a horizontal Flag onto his knee, likely severely injuring the latter’s back (perhaps even breaking it), in a brutal manner that is instantly recognizable to DC fans. Clayface exactly replicates the maneuver fellow supervillainBane uses on Bruce in the famed comic book story arc “Knightfall,”which results in Bruce’s back being broken, temporarily paralyzing him. This, in turn, led Jean-Paul Valley/Azrael to briefly replace his mentor as Batman.
The Knightfall scene has since been referenced in a wide assortment of later DC media, notably includingChristopher Nolan’s final Batman film,The Dark Knight Rises, in whichTom Hardy’s Bane uses the same move onChristian Bale’s Batman. The injury causes Flag to pass out at the end of the episode, suggesting that it could be life-threatening, but it is extremely unlikely that he will die, given that Grillo is set to reprise the role in the upcoming DCU projectsSupermanandPeacemakerSeason 2, both of which have beenconfirmed to take place after the first season ofCreature Commandosby creatorJames Gunn. Bane is also set to return to the big screen in aDC Studios film that will feature Deathstroke.
‘Creature Commandos’ Continues To Build Up the Amazons
Circe’s role inCreature Commandoshas led the series to introduce and reference various aspects of the Amazonian loretied to leading DC heroine Wonder Woman, and Episode 5 continues to do so. While impersonating MacPherson, Clayface hits on one of the former’s female students, forcing her to name some of the things she finds most interesting aboutThemyscira, the Amazons’ island home, with the young woman’s answer referencing Greek mythological figures Antigone and Apollonia. There is also an assortment of artifacts strewn about MacPherson’s home, most of which are presumably related to the Amazonian and Greek mythologies, though these references and the aforementioned ones are vague enough that they will likely have little if any significance to the upcoming Wonder Woman prequel seriesParadise Lostor any other future DCU projects.
The Fate of ‘Creature Commandos’ Has Been Decided Ahead of Its January Season Finale
The series has kicked off the new DC era.
DC Maintains Its Ties to ‘Mortal Kombat’
Before transforming back into his regular, monstrous form, Clayface begins playing an Xbox video game recognizable as an installment in theMortal Kombatfranchise on MacPherson’s television. Mortal Kombat has a long history with DC, with several of the games including figures from the comics, including DCU star Peacemaker, as playable characters.NetherRealm Studios, the developer behind Mortal Kombat, also created theDC-based Injustice video gamefranchise, which in turn includes select Mortal Kombat characters.
James Gunn Pays Homage to His Dog in ‘Creature Commandos’
While The Bride (Indira Varma) battles one of Pokolistan’s armored Amethyst Knights in midair, the pair quickly fly by a building on which an ad for a brand of cigars called “Tabacos Exquisitos” is featured. The fictional brand was first featured inGunn’s first DC film,The Suicide Squad. It is recognizable by its mascot,a dog closely resembling Gunn’s late pet, Dr. Wesley Von Spears. The real-life dog not only inspired the mascot but made more direct cameos in that film and some of Gunn’s earlier projects, includingGuardians of the Galaxy.
New episodes of Creature Commandos premiere Thursdays on Max in the U.S.
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Creature Commandos
In “Creature Commandos,” Amanda Waller assembles a covert team of monstrous operatives, including a werewolf, vampire, and gorgon, to undertake high-risk missions deemed too perilous for human agents.
