Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Creature Commandos episode 6Creature Commandosepisode 6 features an exciting collection ofDCEaster eggs and references. Revealing the backstory of Task Force M’s Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), this new episode takes a fascinating look into the past of Alexander Sartorius, while also setting up the season finale of the new animated DCU show. To that end, there are also some very cool cameos from some very familiar DC faces.
Each previous episode ofCreature Commandoshas featured the backstory of a particular member of Task Force M. For example,Creature Commandosepisode 5 featured Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour) and his history after he killed his creator, but before he began stalking The Bride (India Varma) across the centuries. Now, it’s Doctor Phosphorus' turn to have his origins revealed, connecting him to some major DC locations and characters.To that end, here are the biggest DCU Easter eggs and references we found inCreature Commandosepisode 6.
11Gotham City
Making Its DCU Debut
Creature Commandosepisode 6 opens with a flashback sequence to Gotham City, a major first for the new DCU. This makes sense, seeing how Doctor Phosphorus is a classic Batman villain, rather than an original member of the comics' Creature Commandos. Phosphorus also inspired Derek Powers aka Blight,a villain in the animatedBatman Beyondseries.
10Rupert Thorne
A Major Gotham Crime Boss
Rupert Thorne is revealed as a major antagonist in Alex Sartorious' origins inCreature Commandosepisode 6. One of Gotham’s original crime bosses in the comics and inBatman: The Animated Series,Rupert Thorne was recently featured in Amazon’s animatedCaped Crusaderseriesas well. On the page, Thorne helped fund Alex’s desire to build a nuclear power plant, though an accident resulted in Alex receiving his nuclear powers and glowing skeletal body as Doctor Phosphorus.
Creature Commandos Cast & DC Character Guide
Creature Commandos will kick off James Gunn’s new DC Universe with an animated TV series including some of the weirdest DC Comics characters.
In the DCU, Alex was seeking to use nuclear fusion to cure cancer, but he needed Thorne’s funding to continue his research. However, Thorne got all of Alex’s data to sell to the oppressive Bialyan government. When Thorne discovered Alex was giving him fake research, he had his wife and son killed before throwing Sartorius in his nuclear machine, inadvertently creating Doctor Phosphorous and exacerbating his own demise when Alex went on a killing spree seeking revenge with his deadly new powers.
9Shohreh Aghdashloo Voices The Pokolistan Madam
She Was Just InThe PenguinAs Nadia Maroni
In the present, Nina and The Bride hide out in a Pokolistan brothel from Princess Illana’s royal knights. Hidden and protected by girls in the brothel, the madam is voiced by Shohreh Aghdashloo who had a role inThe Penguin, DC Studios previously released project. In the live-action series connected to Matt Reeves’The Batman, Aghdashloo played Salvatore Maroni’s wife Nadia who helped run theMaroni Crime Family while Sal was incarcerated in Gotham’s Blackgate Prison.
8A Nod To The Bat-Mite
Having First Been Referenced In Peacemaker Season 1
Discovering Rick Flag hospitalized with a broken back and comatose following his fight with Clayface inCreature Commandosepisode 5, Amanda Waller and John Economos are trying to figure out what happened and what kind of “monster” brought Flag to the hospital, according to the doctors. This prompts John to question what specific kind of monster, and this includes “Mites”.This is more than likely a nod to Bat-Mite, the 5th-dimensional imp who is Batman’s number one fan in the comics.Likewise, Economos also referenced and confirmed Bat-Mite’s existence inPeacemakerseason 1.
7New DCU Metahumans
The Electric-Powered Craic Brothers
After the royal knights moved on from the brothel inCreature Commandosepisode 6, two men calling themselves the Craic Brothers arrive. When one of the brothers physically attacks one of the girls, Nina and The Bride come to her defense,though it’s revealed that the Craic Brothers are metahumans who share the same type of electricity powers.Nevertheless, both brothers are killed by The Bride before she and Nina move on to Castle Rostovic.
While not based on any known characters in the original DC Comics,the Craic Brothers help establish the idea that metahumans are becoming quite common in the DCU. This is something that will reportedly be addressed in 2025’sSupermanwith a growing number of metahumans all over the world. With that in mind, it’s pretty cool to seeCreature Commandoshelping to set the stage and flesh out this idea ahead of time.
6Bialya Gets A Reference In Creature Commandos Episode 6
A DC Nation In The Middle East
During the flashbacks to Doctor Phosphorus' origins, Rupert Thorne confirms that his contacts in Bialya discovered that Alex was given them fake data.In the comics, Bialya is a fictional DC nation located in the Middle East rule by Queen Bee, not unlike the nation ofKahndaq which is ruled by Black Adam. Bialya is notably where the first Blue Beetle Dan Garrett discovered the Scarab during an archaeological dig, and it’s also been involved in several Justice League International stories, and was prominently featured in the animated seriesYoung Justice. Likewise, Bialya was also featured in live-action, as seen in 2020’sWonder Woman 1984.
5Security Guard Reading Metahuman Magazine
Model Depicting Known Metas?
Creature Commandoscontinues the DCU world-building with metahumans during the flashbacks to Phosphorus' origins. Immediately after becoming empowered by the nuclear energy, Phosphorus begins his revenge killing spree, starting with Thorne and his family. Approaching the security guard outside Thorne’s home,the guard can be seen reading a dirty magazine called “MetaSleaze” with models dressed as metahumans, two of which bear passing resemblances to DC’s Star Sapphire and Red Devil.
4The Ice Lounge
A Nod To Penguin’s Club?
After killing Thorne and his men who helped kill his family and tried to kill him, Doctor Phosphorus took over Thorne’s empire and assets, becoming a new Gotham crime lord in the DCU’s past. As such, the ending of the flashbacks culminates withPhosphorus and his new gang dancing and throwing copious amounts of money around in “The Ice Lounge”. As such, this is likely a connection toThe Penguin and his classic Iceberg Lounge in Gotham City. Perhaps this was early enough in Gotham’s history that Penguin had yet to finalize the name (though that’s just conjecture).
3Batman Crashes The Party In Creature Commandos Episode 6
Capturing Doctor Phosphorus
Doctor Phosphorus' party comes to a major halt with the surprising and epic arrival of Batman himself. Standing on the roof as a flash of lightning illuminates his silhouette, the appearance in this episode ofCreature Commandosvery much resemblesBatman: The Animated Seriesand its iconic intros. Likewise, the implication is that Phosphorus gets captured by Batman, explaining how he ended up in Waller’s custody with Task Force M. As such, it’s very similar to Harley Quinn and Deadshot’s origins as seen in 2016’sSuicide Squadwhere they too got caught by “The Bat”.
This marks Batman’s second appearance inCreature Commandos, following his initial animated DCU debut among all the other dead heroes inCreature Commandosepisode 4 with Circe’s vision of the future. That said, The Dark Knight is largely kept at a distance and in the shadows. With that in mind,there are not yet any clues regarding who might play the DCU’s Batman in live-action nor what his costumes will fully look like beyond a cowl, cape, and utility belt ahead ofthe upcomingBrave and the Boldmovie DC Studios currently has in development.
2"Can It, Jack Skellington"
The Classic Disney Pumpkin King
At the end ofCreature Commandosepisode 6 when the members of Task Force M all get back together, Phosphorus comments on The Bride’s torn-up outfit following her fight with the Craic Brothers, mentioning that she looks hot.The Bride tells him to “can it” in response, referring to him as Jack Skellington, the classic skeletal protagonist in Disney’sNightmare Before Christmasdirected by Tim Burton. The resemblance is clear, and it’s a pretty solid comeback on The Bride’s part.
