Of all the projects to ring in the next phase of DC’s cinematic universe, James Gunn has selected a widely unknown team of monsters who band together to win World War II. It’s surprising to see aCreature Commandosproject hit the screen, but as soon as Gunn’s name is attached, it all makes sense. Among the new heroes, Dr. Nina Mazursky emerges from the deep.
Any given person canname the Universal Monsters. Most came from the most important and influential novels ever written, while others redefined worldwide understandings of cultural traditions. One of the final additions to the bestiary is the mighty Gill-man, also known as the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Finally, the Creature gets a spot among the big names.
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Who is Dr. Nina Mazursky?
Dr. Nina “Mermaid” Mazursky is a member of the Creature Commandos who resembles the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Her father, Professor Myron Mazursky, was the scientist who created the firstgroup of Creature Commandos. Myron discovered natural monsters in a hidden village somewhere in Romania, then gained their trust enough to allow him to collect samples. The United States government detained Myron and forced him to create monstrous soldiers to fight the Axis Powers. Myron’s first Creature Commandos were decommissioned after the war, but his daughter Nina helped to reignite the program.
There are two stories behind Nina gaining her powers. The most recent continuity saw her working as a scientist for the Super-Human Advanced Defense Executive (S.H.A.D.E.). As part of that organization, she created her group of Creature Commandos, all of whom grew unhinged and became dangerous. Nina was motivated to engineer those Commandos after she lost her only daughter to a terminal illness. After that tragic failure,she had the Atomimprison her first attempt in a microscopic zoo. Her second attempt featured full-fledged human beings who were changed through science. She even went under the knife herself to gain the ability to breathe underwater.
Alternatively, Nina might have been born a mermaid.In theFlashpointcontinuity, Myron Mazursky found Nina as an infant and hid her away. After his Creature Commandos were decommissioned, Myron ran away to the Romanian monster village. He hid there for decades, elongating his lifespan through the powers of the local monsters. When he eventually decided to start a new Creature Commandos squad, Nina was one of only two candidates willing to join. Whether she was born with her gills or granted them through experimentation, Nina Mazursky is thebrain of the Commandos. Her amphibious nature makes her powerful in specific scenarios, but her real asset to the team is her brilliance.
When Did Nina Mazursky First Appear In DC Comics?
Nina Mazursky made her debut in 2011. The character was designed by Jeff Lemire and Ibraim Roberson for the Creature Commandos’Flashpointreboot. This iteration of the character didn’t last long. Only a few months later, Nina was redesigned forFrankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E.The New 52 reboot gave her a new lease on life and backstory. Jeff Lemire continued to write the stories, but Alberto Ponticelli is credited with the art. This new version of the Creature Commandos was led byDC’s take on Frankenstein’s monster. Though it is still a team-up vehicle, this take on the material focuses heavily on Frankenstein. Nina was introduced to Frankenstein by S.H.A.D.E.’s commanding officer, Father Time. She announces with pride that she created the Commandos in Frank’s image, much to his chagrin. She then joins the Commandos on their inaugural mission, saving a small city from an invasion by thousands of deadly monsters.
Who is Playing Dr. Nina Mazursky inCreature Commandos?
Zoë Chao will be taking on the role of Nina Mazursky in her first on-screen appearance. Chao is best known for her starring role in Mia Lidofsky’s 2017 seriesStrangers. That series cast Chao as Isobel, a messy eccentric young lady dealing with her shifting sexuality. It’s a good series, though someone sabotaged it by placing it exclusively on Facebook Watch. She appears in the long-awaited 2023continuation ofParty Down. She also stars in the Apple TV seriesThe Afterparty, for which she received due praise. Chao also created and starred in the well-received 2014 seriesGod Particles.Creature Commandoswill be Chao’s second voice-acting role and her first superhero-related project.
Nina Mazursky is a key character in the new Creature Commandos. She’s the brain of the group. In some ways, she’s responsible for the team as a whole. Nina Mazursky isn’t the most iconic character in DC’s catalog. She’s not even the most memorable face onher D-list superhero team. Though she’s never gotten her time in the sun,Creature Commandoscould be James Gunn’s chance to give the entire team a new spotlight. Nina Mazursky has the brain, the skills, and the gills to become an icon of the new DCU.
