DESTRO #1, by Image Comics & Skybound on 6/19/24, finds himself under attack after he takes over a small country, with the help of Energon, to serve as his new base for dealing weapons.
Credits:
- Writer: Dan Watters
- Artist: Andrei Bressan
- Colorist: Adriano Lucas
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Andrei Bressan, Adriano Lucas (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: June 19, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 40
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of DESTRO #1:
Plot Analysis:
Welcome to the next spin-off miniseries in Skybound’s interconnected Energon universe. We hope you survive the experience. Dan Watters is the next writer at bat to shine the light on G.I. Joe’s most infamous arms-dealing villain, so let’s dig right in.
Destro #1 begins with a revolution in progress in the small European country of Darklonia. The Prime Minister, known for his corruption and despotic leadership methods, sends out his armed men to quell the rioters at the palace gate. The Prime Minister’s armed men get more than they bargained for when a fully functional squad of B.A.T.S. is airdropped onto the palace grounds to take control on behalf of Destro.
A short while later, Destro enters the palace and declares the country is now under new leadership in the form of the descendant of one of the country’s founding families, Artyom Darklon. The Prime Minister has no choice but to submit, so he chooses an honorable departure with a pistol.
Much later, Destro speaks with Cobra Commander about the performance of the B.A.T.S. The mechanized soldiers shoot allies and enemies, so Destro is displeased with their ability to follow orders. However, the robots are far superior in destructive force due to their upgrades, made possible only through Cobra Commander’s Energon supply. The working relationship between M.A.R.S. (Destro’s organization) and Cobra is mutually beneficial but strained.
Destro seeks out the advice of his forefathers by visiting his clan’s ancestral hall in the highlands of Scotland. The solitary trip to his homeland gives Destro the inspiration he needs to put a plan in place.
Meanwhile, Artyom Darklon follows Destro’s orders to hold an arms dealer conference in the heart of Darklonia. The gathered delegates from assorted companies are impressed with M.A.R.S. technology. Destro’s spies confirm no other company present has any weaponry that rivals what M.A.R.S can produce with Energon, confirming for Destro that Cobra Commander isn’t working with anyone else. That said, one company is conspicuously absent – Extensive Enterprises.
The heads of Extensive Enterprises, Xamot and Tomax, inspect a recent military skirmish in South America with their Crimson Guard. The field commander of the group the twins have come to inspect is furious with the lack of support he received. Xamot and Tomax remedy the situation, with the blessing of the Field Commander’s General, by killing the Field Commander and his wounded men so that far superior Crimson Guardsmen can take their place.
Back at the arms conference, the bidding and networking among the attending corporations are all going according to Destro’s plan. Suddenly, a small group of unidentified combat drones swoops over the conference and begins dropping bombs. Destro manages to escape death but he now knows he is at war.
Character Development:
Dan Watters’s approach to the villainous side of classic G.I. Joe characters focuses primarily on the personal and professional relationships of the characters.
Destro and Cobra Commander need each other but don’t like each other.
Astoria Carlton-Fitz arrives as the CEO of Hybrid Technologies, and the conference’s attack appears to make her a temporary ally of Destro.
In all, Watters uses this issue to form alliances or stir up grudges which drive the narrative forward.
Artwork and Presentation:
Except for the main G.I. Joe and Transformers titles, the art has consistently been the weak point of the Energon books. Here, Andrei Bressan’s art is better but still not great. Straight lines and edges look squiggly and sloppy. Imagine a person trying to draw small figures and fine details with hands that shake.
Adriano Lucas’s colors vastly improve Bressan’s pencils and inks, which is surprising considering the quality of coloring Lucas delivers over at DC Comics (not good).
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Likewise, Watters’s pacing and structure are a mixed bag. Conceptually, Watters brings in all the villainous characters from G.I. Joe lore, adds a sprinkle of Energon to maintain the interconnection with other titles, and crafts a plot that makes sense for Destro as a world-class arms dealer and mercenary.
That said, the 28+ pages of content are packed a little too densely with multiple scenes that lack drama, impact, or importance. Was it necessary to waste a scene showing Alexandria Carlton-Fitz lounging poolside before the conference? No. Was it necessary to show Xamot and Tomax give a Field Commander and his men the world’s deadliest performance review for five pages? No.
Watters wastes valuable page space on superfluous introductions and world-building that only make sense if you’re unfamiliar with Destro’s world. Yet, the central character and his dealings with Cobra Commander get almost no development at all, and there’s sparse space to set up the plot of this miniseries.
In short, a lot happens. Only some scenes are interesting, and everything else is dull or unnecessary.
Thematic Exploration:
If there’s a theme here, it’s buried under Watters’s meandering plot structure and lack of focus. Let’s just say the them is TBD.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Destro #1 is part of the interconnected Energon Universe, evidenced by the upgraded B.A.T.S. supplied by Cobra Commander. From Destro’s deal with the Commander, this miniseries takes place soon after the conclusion of the recent Cobra Commander miniseries by Joshua Williamson.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
DESTRO #1 is a dense start to a miniseries spotlighting one of G.I. Joe’s most ruthless villains. Dan Watters peppers in all the names, cameos, and references to make Joe connoisseurs happy, but the plot structure is overstuffed and largely dull. Plus, the art lacks sharpness and refinement.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.