DESTRO #5, by Image Comics & Skybound on 10/16/24, finds the world’s greatest arms dealer returning to reclaim what is his, but even Destro recognizes a greater threat to his way of life is coming.
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: October 16, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of DESTRO #5:
First Impressions:
Well, you can’t say we didn’t warn you. As predicted, writer Dan Watters wraps up the Destro-centered miniseries in a neat little bow, but a majority of the developments needed to cross the finish line are either quickly glossed over or happen off-panel for a loose, sloppy, unsatisfying ending. It’s rare to see a writer fumble the pacing of the plot so clearly, but here we are.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Destro in Destro #4, the titular character kept his enemies in the dark about his survival until he had a chance to confront Astoria Carlton Ritz about her involvement in the assassination attempts. Cornered, Ritz revealed that the attacks on the weapons conference and every problem since were orchestrated by an A.I. program that became sentient and started making its own decisions. Meanwhile, the twins entered into a partnership with Cobra Commander.
In Destro #5, the twins, Tomax and Xamot, discuss how their takeover of M.A.R.S. led to great advancement in the weaponry and training of the Crimson Guard, aided by their new partnership with Cobra and access to Cobra’s Energon technology. When the twins escort Cobra Commander into a conference room for further talks, they’re shocked to see Destro waiting for them.
“Wait a minute. How did we get from issue #4 to issue #5?” you might ask. Your confusion is correct and warranted. Dan Watters takes a solar system-sized leap from the end of issue #4 to issue #5, glossing over or leaving out details on Project Overkill, forming an alliance with Astoria, aka Chameleon, coming up with a plan to get M.A.R.S. back, and more. This is what happens when you don’t pace yourselves properly, kids.
Somehow, Chameleon and Scrap-Iron are able to overcome a whole platoon of Crimson Guard soldiers while Destro beats the twins to a pulp as Cobra Commander looks on. The issue ends with Destro calling for a truce and an alliance to weather the mysterious robots rumored to be the source of Cobra Commander’s Energo tech and an incredibly lame recreation of the end of Transformers #12.
Overall, Destro #5 ends the uneven miniseries on a weak, predictable note that rushes through several layers of plot development to stumble across the finish line. We predicted in the last review that Watters would have a devil of a time making sense of all the new plot points introduced in the previous issue, and that prediction, sadly, has come true.
Artwork and Presentation:
Andrei Bressan’s art is perfectly serviceable and maybe evenly slightly improved with cleaner lines and sharper contours on the main characters, especially Cobra Commander. Unfortunately, the big wow moment recreated from the end of Transformers #12 (part of Cybertron crashing to Earth) is a pale imitation of the original. It would have served Bressan to leave it out altogether.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
The ending of Destro #5 “recreates” the ending of Transformers #12, implying that the big crossover between G.I. Joe and Transformers is picking up steam. Transformers #13 makes a similar implication when agents of M.A.R.S. recovered the body of Starscream after he was defeated by Soundwave.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
DESTRO #5 is a frustratingly disappointing finale to the self-titled miniseries as the glut of new developments shoehorned into the previous issue are rushed through in this issue to make it all make sense. It’s rare to see a creative team do such a poor job of spacing and pacing a story, but this is what poor planning looks like.
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.