Streaming this December: Three fantastic new animated series and a few dark comedies

Welcome to December. As always, this column assumes that our readers will be inundated with Christmas magic elsewhere, so we’re happy to start the month with a look at all things tinsel-free and unfunny. Here are three adult animated series and a few hilarious-looking dark comedies to watch this month.

“Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld”

Echo Wu brings a fiery new take on the supernatural superhero genre for teen girls in her showrunner debut on the series. Jentry Chau (Ali Wong) juggles her duties as a high school student and demon-slaying pyromancer, but not very well (setting a bathroom on fire?! Cringe). Part “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” part “Hazbin Hotel,” it looks, well, on fire. Bowen Yang and Lucy Liu co-star.

Check it out: Animated. Streaming on Netflix from Thursday, December 5th.

“Creature Commandos”

James Gunn’s rise to the top of the DC film and television universe has been a boon for the often second-place superhero franchise. Its latest spin-off is Creature Commandos, which takes the Suicide Squad concept and makes it infinitely weirder. Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is now forbidden from using human agents to carry out secret covert operations for the United States. Their solution is to use non-human criminals, including a weasel, several Frankensteins, a World War II robot, and a radioactive skeleton. The show is said to contain all the raucous humor of “Suicide Squad” and “Peacemaker,” mixed with anime-style art that gives the creatures an extra kick.

Check it out: Animated. Streaming on Max from Thursday, December 5th.

“The Sticky One”

A major maple syrup robbery sounds like a joke at Canada’s expense, but it actually happened and, adjusted for inflation, was also the largest robbery in Canadian history. “The Sticky” is a crime-inspired comedy series adapted into a dark comedy with shades of “Fargo.” Margo Martindale (“Cocaine Bear”) plays Ruth, a small-time syrup farmer facing bankruptcy from the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, also known as “The Association.” Unwilling to lose her family farm, she agrees to join the Association, along with a small-time gangster (Chris Diamantopoulos) and the facility’s security guard (Guillaume Cyr, who actively trashes Paul Walter Hauser in “I, Tonya”) to steal that sweet glue on references to Nancy Kerrigan).

Check it out: Dark comedy. Streaming on Prime Video from Friday, December 6th.

“Secret Level”

Of all the great video game adaptations to come out in the last few years, Secret Level may be the most innovative and exciting. Created by Tim Miller (“Love, Death, + Robots”), the series is an anthology of original animated shorts based on video game franchises such as “God of War,” “Armored Core” and “Megan Man.” The graphics are stunning and it’s clear that each story is determined to put its own spin on these beloved worlds. The voice cast includes some big names, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Keanu Reeves and video game voice actress Laura Bailey (“The Last of Us”). What “Love, Death, + Robots” did for the sci-fi short story, “Secret Level” seems to do for games as well.

Check it out. Animated. Streaming on Prime Video from Friday, December 6th.

“Not a good deed”

A dream home in Los Angeles is for sale and everyone involved is hiding devastating secrets. In this black comedy series from Liz Feldman (“Dead to Me”), a couple (Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow) desperately try to sell their house before something hidden in the walls catches up with them. They are forced to negotiate with three potential buyers, each with their own twisted agenda. Dennis Leary (“Rescue Me”) plays Mikey, a nosy neighbor who threatens to reveal everything.

Check it out: Dark comedy. Streaming on Netflix from Tuesday, December 10th.

Jef Rouner is a freelance writer.