- Creature commands episode 4 showed the DCU’s Justice League for the first time
- However, DC Comics’ most iconic superteam doesn’t appear in the way you might expect
- Showrunner Dean Lorey says fans shouldn’t “infer” anything from the short scene either
Creature commands episode 4 gave us our first look at the DC Cinematic Universe’s (DCU) Justice League, but not in the way many predicted
I didn’t expect the fourth installment of the Max series, titled “Chasing Squirrels,” to mark the supergroup’s debut in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe, but here we are. Well, I’m using the word “debut” quite liberally here, as they only appear in the briefest of scenes where showrunner Dean Lorey says you and I “shouldn’t infer anything” from said sequence.
Full spoilers follow immediately for Creature commands‘ fourth chapter, so head back now if you haven’t streamed it yet.
As I said, the scene in question isn’t a complete introduction to the DCU’s Justice League. Seven minutes into “Chasing Squirrels,” ARGUS chief Amanda Waller is shown a vision of the future by Circe, the apparent villain of the series and who is one of the three major plagues in Creature commands predating Wonder Woman’s DCU debut.
But I’m losing track. Circe, who was captured by the team of the same name in the fourth entry of one of the best Max shows, tries to save Waller, Rick Flag Sr. and telling John Economos that Princess Ilana and Pokolistan, the nation she rules, are not what they want. corpses. In an attempt to convince them further, Circe says she can use her clairvoyant abilities on Waller to show her a vision of a potential future where Ilana and Pokolistan tyrannically rule the world.
It’s here where the Justice League shows up – anyway. You see, as part of Waller’s vision we see the Justice League, plus countless other DC heroes and anti-heroes, crucified, impaled on spears, or lying dead on a skull-strewn ground. Among those depicted in this series are DC’s iconic trifecta of superheroes, also known as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.
However, they are not the only ones. I also saw Robin, Peacemaker, Supergirl, one of the Green Lantern Corps, Hawkgirl, Vigilante, and what appears to be a comic-book faithful Aquaman (complete with blonder hair) among the dead. Let me know if you picked anyone else, like The Flash, Cyborg, and Martian Manhunter.
Circe’s premonition raises many questions. How powerful is the country of Pokolistan if it can not only conquer the world, but also defeat so many metahumans? Is this a future that shall does this happen or should this only happen if Task Force M doesn’t stop Ilana? And is there anything we should read about the Justice League and the deaths of their fellow heroes in this DCU Chapter One project? If you came here looking for answers to the above and any other questions you may have, unfortunately Lorey can only provide one answer, but it’s a pretty categorical answer nonetheless.
“That scene is specific to the story (of Creature commands),’ Lorey replied when I asked if it sets up future scenarios in the DCU. “It’s not really meant to be a distraction, but you know, it was meant to do what it does, which is show a very dark view of the world if nothing is done to prevent it. But no, I would say that fans shouldn’t infer anything about Justice League from that.”
Then consider that case closed! For more of mine Creature commands and wider DCU coverage, check out the section below.