This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
In your estimation, what makesCreature Commandosanother group of deep-cut unknown charactersthe best restarting point into the DC universe?
Sean Gunn:I think its a good example of where the DC Universe is going.
© Max
But the hardcore fans will also get Easter eggs and things like that.
Dean Lorey:James actually started writing the series before he was the president of DC.
Hed written most of it and picked it up because he was the president.
© Max
Theres a lot of drama.
Theres a lot of action.
Its definitely got comedy.
© Max
But what it really has is a lot of heart that I think people are not expecting.
io9: How doesCreature Commandosapproach adult animation differently from other DC shows likeHarley Quinn?
Lorey:Harley QuinnandKite Manare both pure comedies.
© Max
But ultimately, theyre comedies, andCreature Commandosis closer to something likeThe Suicide SquadorGuardians of the Galaxy.
Theres comedy in it, but its probably more of a drama-action picture than it is a pure comedy.
io9: James Gunn has a knack for making a group of oddball characters work.
Gunn:I dont mind doing weird stuff.
Im pretty shameless as an actor, and I mean that in a good way.
regardless of how crazy or weird the character is.
I think that it just kind of worked out that way.
Weasel is such a weird character.
I also wanted to do a voice as well and James had mentioned me for GI Robot early on.
I can play backup shortstop.
I can play the backup catcher position.
I can throw a few innings of relief if I need to.
Sometimes, he gives me some of the harder material, I think.
But I love doing it.
io9: What keeps you coming back to work with your brother?
Gunn:My brother is incredibly talented.
Theres also the element of us having a shorthand for communicating with one another that makes it easy.
Theres always a learning curve when working with a new creator.
I love working with my brother.
I like doing other things, too.
io9: What are recording sessions for Weasel usually like?
Do it’s crucial that you have honey and tea at the ready?
Or are your vocal cords war-tested to make all those noises?
and things like that.
But Im up for it.
I just check that I warm my voice up and lots of water.
I just take a stab at find the center of it.
It was definitely challenging.
Hes the greatest on the mic.
But Im working on it.
How was the process of finding a balance between their two distinctively unhinged tones?
Gunn:Fortunately, other than the very first session in the booth, they were all separate.
Ive done several things now where I played two roles.
I did it playing Rocket Raccoon [in motion capture] and Kraglin inGuardians.
Gunn:I would say GI Robot lands at the very top.
io9:The very top?
Not even a side-to-side?
Just a totem pole?
Gunn:I dont know what the spectrum is, but, man, I love GI Robot.
It should be a hero that everyone can relate to.
So I appreciate that.
io9:As advertised on the tin, basically.
Where do those themes resonate the most with the cast inCreature Commandos?
Lorey:Dont judge a book by its cover is very ingrained in the series.
We learn a lot about characters weve seen before, like Weasel.
Its really true of all the characters.
You have Frankenstein, who is a bit of an intellectual.
Hes also a stalker.
Gunn:Its absolutely true for both Weasel and GI, and even more so for Weasel.
A lot of these characters have undergone some kind of trauma that has led them to where they are.
These characters stories may be tragic, but theyre not tragedies unto themselves.
We get to really relate to them.
What is interesting about the character is that some little speck of humanity is trying to burst through.
Trauma does not weigh him down the way that it does a lot of the other characters.
And maybe the same is true for Weasel.
Although Weasel [is] certainly a miserable character in his own right.
I really love how it all works for all these characters.
How doesCreature Commandoselevate that legacy for DC to new heights?
Lorey: First of all, its a real quality series.
I think it is a very good and wonderful animated history.
I think its a continuation of what was.
AsCreature Commandos showrunner, how did you ensure its animation quality remained consistent throughout its first season?
Lorey:A lot of it is the people you work with.
Rick Morales was the animation supervisor on the show, and he did a spectacular job.
So, theres a lot of bites at the apple in terms of trying to make it great.
Lorey:I expect that well see a lot of shows with a lot of heart.
The thing that James brings to the table is he loves characters.
Id like to be able to say were going to see more shows in the Harleyverse.
I dont have news on it yet, but were far along on some things there.
And in general, I think its just good storytelling.
Were all about trying to honor the source material of these shows.
I feel really good about where were at withHarleyand the new season will be coming out soonish.
Im very proud ofKite Man,and I just loveCreatureCommandos.
Lorey:Its a classic blend of heart and extreme action, and character.
James wrote it with enormous passion and we really tried to honor that passion in making it.
Im very excited for people to see it.
The first two episodes ofCreature Commandospremiere December 5 on Max.
Want more io9 news?
News from the future, delivered to your present.
