Devised by writer JM DeMatteis and named by editor Len Wein, the Creature Commandos came about when DeMatteis figured that a series called Weird War Tales really should feature monsters! With a vampire, a werewolf, a Frankenstein-like monster and a led by a human handler, the original line-up would expand their ranks with a gorgon and the Silver Age character G.I.Robot.
While the characters didn’t end up setting the world on fire, they’d still pop up from time to time, in DC Comics’ post-Crisis era as well as the modern post-Flashpoint era – all with their own versions of the line-up!
A new incarnation of the Creature Commandos will soon star in their own animated series as part of James Gunn’s new DC Extended Universe.
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔ are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Chronology: All appearances of the Creature Commandos are included in chronological order, laying out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released; all first appearances are in reference to the various eras they appear in following each revision of the DC Universe.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories; must-reads are in bold:
Earth-One:
- Weird War Tales #93 [1/4]
- Weird War Tales #97 [1/2]
- Weird War Tales #100 [1/3]
- Weird War Tales #102 [3/5]
- Weird War Tales #105 [1/4]
- Weird War Tales #108 [3/3]
- Weird War Tales #109 [1/4]
- Weird War Tales #110 [1/4]
- Weird War Tales #111
- Weird War Tales #112 [1/3]
- Weird War Tales #114-115
- Weird War Tales #116 [1/2]
- Weird War Tales #117-119
- Weird War Tales #121 [1/2]
- Weird War Tales #124 [2/4]
New Earth:
- History of the DC Universe #2
- Young All-Stars #12-14, 28
- Superman #180
- OMAC Project #6
- Infinite Crisis #7
- DC Special: Cyborg #3-4
- Action Comics #872
- Superman #692
- Justice League: Generation Lost #15-17
Prime Earth:
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023) #11 [4/5]
- Young Monsters in Love #1 [10/10]
- Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #1-4
- OMAC (2011) #4
- OMAC (2011) #5
- Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #5-9
- Justice League Dark (2011) #5
- Justice League Dark Annual (2012) #1
- Justice League Dark (2011) #14-20 (2013)
- Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #10-16
- Justice League United #13-15
- Justice League Dark (2018) #7
- DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1-6
This guide includes stories from Earth-One continuity which is set before the universe-resetting events of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS; New Earth continuity covers all stories set after Crisis; the modern-day Prime-Earth continuity is set after the FLASHPOINT crossover; pick and choose what you feel still counts.
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #93 [1/4] (1980) World War II, circa 1942; Project M unleash the Creature Commandos on the Nazis; Lieutenant Matthew Shrieve leads werewolf Warren Griffith, Frankenstein-style monster Elliot ‘Lucky’ Taylor and vampire Vincent Velcro on a mission to France and battle android versions of Winston Churchill, Franklin D Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin at Castle Conquest. 1st appearance: Creature Commandos (Warren Griffith, Lt. Matthew Shrieve, Elliot ‘Lucky’ Taylor, Vincent Velcro) |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #97 [1/2] (1981) The Creature Commandos’ mission to rescue scientist Dr Renee Frederique from the Nazis takes a nasty turn when they escape through a snowstorm. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #100 [1/3] (1981) The Creature Commandos enter ‘The War That Time Forgot’ when their 1943 mission to oppose the Japanese forces lands them on a dinosaur-infested island the South Pacific. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #102 [3/5] (1981) In Germany, the Nazis are assaulted by the Creature Commandos who appear close to stopping Adolf Hitler directly; the Commandos gain some surprising allies when they fall into a trap. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #105 [1/4] (1981) Circa 1943; a tank driven by Nazi sympathisers interrupts the Creature Commandos’ training session at the Midwest Army Base. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #108 [3/3] (1982) A harrowing experience in a Nazi death camp in Berlin on a rescue mission to rescue the real Dr Renee Frederique leads to Lucky Taylor attempting suicide; Lucky speaks for the first time. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #109 [1/4] (1982) Weird War Tales #110 [1/4] (1982) The Creature Commandos are sent on Operation Cloudburst which goes wrong, placing the team behind enemy lines; the origins of the Creature Commandos are explored; the inhalation of experimental gasses mutates Chief Plastic Surgeon Dr Myrra Rhodes into a gorgon; Rhodes joins the Commandos. 1st appearance: Doctor Medusa/Dr Myrra Rhodes |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #111 (1982) G.I.Robot (J.A.K.E.) teams up with the Creature Commandos when they both end up fighting the Japanese forces in the Pacific; when they find themselves in Atlantis, G.I.Robot turns against his new allies. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #112 [1/3] (1982) Circa January 1943, Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps chase the Creature Commandos to Giza; while trapped in the tomb, the original Commandos are shrunk, leaving it up to Doctor Medusa to get them to safety. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #114-115 (1982) Disguising themselves as the Circus of Madness, the Creature Commandos get another shot at Hitler; the Commandos meet the new G.I.Robot (J.A.K.E. II) and join him on a rescue mission. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #116 [1/2] (1982) The goddess Inferna meets the Creature Commandos when they stumble into a cave whole escaping German tanks, but only one of them is capable of warding off Pluto’s daughter. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #117-119 (1982-1983) The Commandos look for a cure for their respective monstrous forms in Paris; the Creature Commandos and G.I Robot attend a ceremony to mark their achievements during the war; the Commandos travel through time to 1943 in search of acceptance, only to face threats more monstrous than they are. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #121 [1/2] (1983) The Commandos face a series of bizarre foes, including female robots posing as Dutch freedom fighters and Professor Diablo’s Galaxy of Ghouls. |
| ✔ | Weird War Tales #124 [2/4] (1983) The Creature Commandos face their final fate when they’re sentenced to death by their own forces and fired into space. |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/ Crossover |
| History of the DC Universe #2 (1987) The existence of the Creature Commandos is confirmed following the universe-altering events of ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’. | ||
| Young All-Stars #12-14 (1988) No Creature Commandos appearance; New York City, 1942; the Young All-Stars head into Project M and meet Professor Mazursky, the man behind the Creature Commandos as well as the original G.I. Robot; the Ultra-Humanite is unleashed on Project M in the body of a Tyrannosaurs Rex. 1st appearance: Prof Mazursky | ||
| Young All-Stars #28 (1989) No Creature Commandos appearance; New York, 1940s; Iron Munro breaks into Project M to obtain information on Dinosaur Island. | ||
| Superman #180 (2002) Creature Commandos cameo; while Superman faces Dracula in Europe, the Creature Commandos stand ready to face General Zod if he should attack Romania. | ||
| OMAC Project #6 (2005) Creature Commandos cameo; the Creature Commandos stand against the legion of OMAC cyborgs standing ready to take down Earth’s metahumans. | COUNTDOWN TO INFINITE CRISIS THE OMAC PROJECT |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Infinite Crisis #7 (2006) Patchwork cameo; Patchwork of the Creature Commandos is seen among the metahumans opposing the Secret Society of Super-Villains. | INFINITE CRISIS | |
| DC Special: Cyborg #3-4 (2008) Project M are revealed to have had a hand in creating a new cyborg Wildebeest to combat Cyborg of the Teen Titans. | ||
| ✔ | Action Comics #872 (2009) The Creature Commandos – including new member G.I.Robot (JAKE II) – are captured by Brainiac, but join the fight against him when they’re freed by Lex Luthor. | NEW KRYPTON |
| Superman #692 (2009) The Creature Commandos are among those who have fallen under the control of General Sam Lane‘s Project 7734; the Commandos, Outsiders and others are opposed by Mon-El and Guardian. | WORLD AGAINST SUPERMAN | |
| ✔ | Justice League: Generation Lost #15-17 (2011) The machinations of Max Lord leads to the Creature Commandos hunting the Justice League International. | BRIGHTEST DAY |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Batman: The Brave and the Bold #11 [4/5] (2024) Sgt Rock recalls his team-up with the Creature Commandos against Nazi Zombies. | ||
| Young Monsters in Love #1 [10/10] (2018) Sometime during World War II, Vincent Velcoro and Wolfpack (Warren Griffith) talk about love. 1st appearance: Patchwork/Elliot Taylor | ||
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1-4 (2011-2012) Frankenstein joins Division M – a SHADE field team assigned to combatting supernatural threats; he meets his team mates the Warren Griffith, Khalis, Nina Mazursky, Vincent Velcoro as well as very familiar Bride; SHADE Commander Father Time sends the team to face Deep Space Monsters from the Monster Planet. 1st appearance: Abent Belroy, the Ant Farm, the Bride/Bride of Frankenstein/Lady Frankenstein, Division M, Father Time, Frankenstein, Warren Griffith/Werewolf, Humanids, Khalis, Nina Mazursky/Mermaid, Dr Ray Palmer, SHADE/Super-Human Advanced Defense Executive, SHADE City, Vincent Velcoro/Vampire | |
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1-5 (2012) / OMAC #4-5 (2012) Frankenstein becomes suspicious of Father Time when he’s pitted against OMAC; Division M are referred to as the Creature Commandos; Brother Eye hacks into SHADE City. 1st appearance: Leilani Lugo New identity: Division M as the Creature Commandos | S.H.A.D.E. VS O.M.A.C. |
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #5-9 (2012) The Creature Commandos are sent back in time to 1969 where they face Colonel Quantum and the original Creature Commandos; the mastermind behind the Monster Planet is revealed; SHADE feel the impact of Brother Eye’s hack; the Bride reveals why she hates Frankenstein and quits the Creature Commandos; Frankenstein and Nina Mazursky investigate the Parliament of Decay. 1st appearance: Spawn of Frankenstein, Castle Frankenstein | |
| Justice League Dark #5 (2012) Frankenstein cameo; SHADE observe the emergence of the Justice League Dark. 1st appearance: Justice League Dark (full) | ||
| ✔ | Justice League Dark Annual #1 (2012) Justice League Dark #14-18 (2013) Frankenstein assists the JLD, then joins the team in order to oppose Felix Faust & Nick Necro; Frankenstein is with the JLD when they’re transported to a world of magic and face the Network of Epoch. | WAR FOR THE BOOKS OF MAGIC |
| Must Reads | Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #19-20 (2013) Frankenstein attempts to free the Bride from the Spawns of Frankenstein, unaware they’re all just constructs created by Doctor Destiny; the Flash assists Frankenstein against his foes. 1st appearance: Doctor Destiny/John Dee (full) | |
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #10-12 (2012) Frankenstein and the Creature Commandos battle Scare-Eb Agents as they face the rise of the Leviathan. | |
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #13 (2012) Frankenstein’s timeline diverges as his future incarnation faces the forces of Anton Arcane and the Rot, including the zombified SHADE agents (though the timeline is later restored – See the ALTERNATES section below). | ROTWORLD |
| ✔ | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #16 (2013) Frankenstein and the Creature Commandos tackle the Plague Movement. | |
| Justice League United #14-15 (2015-2016) A part of France from 1944 comes unstuck in time; both the Justice League United and the Creature Commandos investigate and get caught in a war zone. | ||
| ✔ | Justice League Dark #7 (2019) Wonder Woman‘s attempt to dissuade the Creature Commandos from investigating the Offspring of the Otherkind in the Arctic Circle is ignored, costing a team member dearly! | NEW JUSTICE |
| ✔ | DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1-6 (2024-2025) Lt Matthew Shrieve takes leadership of the new Creature Commandos under Project M; Patchwork and Vincent Velcro are joined by the new Wolfpack; the team face an otherworldly threat when General Wade Eiling Brainiac allies with Brainiac. 1st appearance: Buzzword, Wolfpack/Wanda Griffith |
Notable alternate universes featuring the Creature Commandos and related characters:
| Title, Issue & Synopsis | Event/Crossover |
| Creature Commandos #1-8 (2000) On Earth-85, the Creature Commandos are joined by Aten, as well as their new human handler Captain Lucius Hunter; the squad team up with Claw the Unconquered and oppose a number of supernatural threats, including Justice League foes Saturna, Hyathis, Kraad, Simon Magus, Sayyar, Troll King and Xotar, as well as new threat Tazzala. 1st appearance: Aten, Captain Lucius Hunter 1st full New Earth appearance: Doctor Medusa/ Dr Myrra Rhodes, Patchwork/Elliot Taylor, Vincent Velcoro, Wolfpack/Warren Griffith | |
| Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3 (2011) Flashpoint #4 (2011) World of Flashpoint #3 (2011) A conflict between the Flash (Barry Allen) and Professor Zoom creates a timeline that diverges from New Earth; the Creature Commandos of the Flashpoint Timeline consist of Lt Matthew Shrieve, Frankenstein, Nina Mazursky, Velcoro & Wolfpack; the Commandos escape Project M who respond by sending G.I.Robot to retrieve them; it’s revealed that Project M briefly gathered a second band of Creature Commandos (Doctor Phosphorus, Man-Bat, Medusa and Solomon Grundy). | FLASHPOINT |
| Frankenstein: Agent of Shade #13-15 (2012-2013) Animal Man #15-17 (2013) Swamp Thing #17 (2013) Animal Man and Swamp Thing of Prime Earth travel in time to see the Earth infested with the Rot after only one year; Frankenstein of the Creature Commandos is among those fighting back against Anton Arcane in the Rotworld Timeline. | ROTWORLD |
| The New 52: Futures End #35 (2015) Turning against SHADE and Father Time, the Creature Commandos (Warren Griffith, Khalis & Vincent Velcoro) assist Hawkman and the Engineer with a clean-up operation. | FUTURES END |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| The Creature Commandos | Weird War Tales #93, 97, 100, 102, 105, 108-112, 114-119, 121, 124 |
| Creature Commandos Present Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE vol.1 | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1-7 Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein #1-4 |
| Creature Commandos Present Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE vol.2 | DCU Halloween Special 2010 #1 Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3 Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #0, 8-16 Young Monsters in Love #1 |
| Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint featuring Green Lantern | Flashpoint: Abin Sur, the Green Lantern #1-3 Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3 Flashpoint: Green Arrow Industries #1 Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1-3 |
| Frankenstein: Agent of Shade vol.1: War of the Monsters | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #1-7 |
| OMAC vol.1: OMACtivate | OMAC #1-8 |
| Frankenstein: Agent of Shade vol.2: Secrets of the Dead | Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #0, 8-16 Men of War #8 |
| Justice League Dark vol.2: The Books of Magic | Justice League Dark (2011) #0, 7-13 Justice League Dark Annual #1 |
| Justice League Dark vol.3: The Death of Magic | Justice League Dark (2011) #14-21 |
| DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos | DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #1-6 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Infinite Crisis Omnibus | Infinite Crisis #7 The OMAC Project #6 |
| Countdown to Infinite Crisis: The OMAC Project | The OMAC Project #6 |
| Superman: New Krypton vol.2 | Action Comics #872 |
| Superman: Mon-El, Man of Valor | Superman #692 |
| Justice League: Generation Lost vol.2 | Justice League: Generation Lost #15-17 |
| Flashpoint Box Set Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus | Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1-3 Flashpoint #4 World of Flashpoint #3 |
| Absolute Flashpoint Flashpoint | Flashpoint #4 |
| Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint featuring Superman | Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint #3 |
| Justice League Dark vol.1: In The Dark | Justice League Dark #5 |
| Justice League Dark: The New 52 Omnibus | Justice League Dark (2011) #5, 7-8, 10, 14-20 Justice League Dark Annual #1 |
| Justice League Dark vol.1: The end of Magic Justice League Dark Rebirth Omnibus | Justice League Dark (2018) #7 |
| Swamp Thing vol.3: Rotworld – The Green Kingdom Swamp Thing: The New 52 Omnibus | Animal Man #17 Swamp Thing #17 |
| Animal Man vol.3: Rotworld – The Red Kingdom Animal Man by Jeff Lemire Omnibus | Animal Man #15-17 Swamp Thing #17 |
| The New 52: Futures End vol.3 | The New 52: Futures End #35 |
| A Very DC Valantine’s Day | Young Monsters in Love #1 |
| Flashpoint Beyond | Flashpoint Beyond #3 |
Reading Order © 2024 Omniverse Comics Guide
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