Remembering that the target audience for comics was predominantly male, DC comics nailed a bunch of things together that boys like. The Creature Commandoes had monsters that killed Nazis, and robots that killed Nazis, and did I mention it was set during World War II and there were dead Nazis.
Now I'm not big on the war comics. I appreciate the writing and the characters. I like Sgt. Rock and Colonel Fury, bu t I was a first batch Gen X-er. I was raised by hippies and peaceniks, liberals and public television.
Growing up I learned that the Vietnam conflict was the work of bad politicians and the Devil, and at the same time, that Kilłing genocidal Nazi maniacs was still okay. I don't know if any other kid in the world had to deal with the political and moral ramifications of war comics and I don't know if I was attracted more to the Weird in the Weird War comics title.
But in a world where The Hulk and The Thing are heroes, why aren't ther more heroes based on the classic movie and even mythological monsters. Are they really monsters if they're sympathetic, if the do they're duty in defense of their country. Let them kill the damn Nazi Bastards.
Outside of Nazi killing , the creature Commandoes were often dispatched to investigate and nullify the, potentially dangerous, and strange occurrence. So, sometimes they gout villainous monster makers, ghost , aliens, as well as petty dictators and terrorists. They did the dirty work.
It doesn't matter who is in your Creature Commado lineup. You can like modern CC,
Or classic CC
Or even the oddly named Agents of SHADE
It doesn't matter. As long as your not afraid of Monsters, they will have your best interest at heart. These monsters are people too.
You can find further info on the Creature Commandoes at Wikipedia, I'd give you a link, bu c' mon, you know how to Google.
Below are the members of the various Commando teams.
Original Team
- Warren Griffith – Warren was a simple farm boy who suffered from clinical lycanthropy. Project M gave him the ability to change into a true Werewolf.
- J.A.K.E. – The first G.I. Robot. Destroyed itself and lost Atlantean colony.
- J.A.K.E. 2 – The second G.I. Robot. Lost in space with the Creature Commandos.
- Dr. Myrra Rhodes – Also known as Dr. Medusa. After inhaling strange fumes, she grew snakes for hair and superficially resembles one of the Gorgons.
- Lt. Matthew Shrieve – Matthew was their team leader. He was a fully human hard as nails soldier.
- Pvt. Elliot "Lucky" Taylor – Lucky barely survived stepping on a mine. He was stitched back together against his will so he resembles the Frankenstein's monster and has damaged vocal cords.
- Sgt. Vincent Velcro (or, in modern series, Velcoro) – Vincent volunteered for the project in order to commute a 30-year sentence in the brig for crippling an officer. Like a Vampire, he can now change into a bat and requires human blood to survive.
Modern Team
- Aten – The Mummy-like communications specialist.
- The Bogman – An amphibian grunt resembling the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
- Gunner – A cyborg named Gunner Mackey, who died during World War II.
- Hunter – Seventy-four-year-old Captain Lucius Hunter formerly of Hunter's Hellcats.
- Dr. Medusa – Dr. Myrra Rhodes whose body has mutated since her first appearances.
- Patchwork – Elliot "Lucky" Taylor who's pretty much the same.
- Velcoro – Vincent Velcoro, who like Myrra has mutated even further due to his treatments.
- Wolfpack – Warren Griffith, who is even more feral and out of control in this incarnation.
Agents of S.H.A.D.E.
- Father Time - Leader of S.H.A.D.E.
- Dr. Ray Palmer - U.N. Scientist Liaison, formerly Atom, creator of S.H.A.D.E. City and majority of S.H.A.D.E.'s technology.
- Frankenstein - Frankenstein's Monster. He has taken the name for simplicity. Frankenstein acts as the Team Leader.
- Bride of Frakenstein - Frankenstein's Female Creation intended to be Frankenstein's mate, but refused. First official S.H.A.D.E. agent. Currently retired in Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #8 after it was revealed that Father Time reanimated and imprisoned her and Frank's son in "The Zoo".
- Dr. Nina Mazursky - Gill-man/Mermaid hybrid (still depicted as the Creature from the Black Lagoon), Team Scientist, and creator of S.H.A.D.E.'s Creature Commandos. The first generation was a failure and imprisoned in "The Zoo." The second generation is listed as follows.
- Vincent Velcoro - A vampire who serves as the Team Pilot.
- Warren Griffith - A werewolf who serves as the Soldier.
- Khalis - A mummy who serves as the Team Medic. His origin and abilities are classified/unknown.
Tomorrow is Super Villian Monday
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