WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Destro #1

The newest G.I. Joe miniseries from the Energon Universe is the darkest yet, as the arms dealer Destro takes the center spotlight. Previously appearing in both the Duke and Cobra Commander miniseries, Destro now gets his own five-issue limited series, and Skybound Entertainment has another winner on its hands. As a darker, more violent take on the G.I. Joe franchise, Destro succeeds primarily due to some excellent world-building and a compelling psychological portrait of the lead villain.

Coming from the creative team of Dan Watters, Andrei Brissan, Adriano Lucas and Rus Wooton, Destro #1 opens with a revolution occurring in the nation of Darklonia. A rebel army is attempting to overthrow their corrupt dictator, and they get some help from M.A.R.S Industries and their new Energon-infused Battle Android Troopers.

Having successfully helped to overthrow Darklonia’s ruler, Destro invites several other leading arms manufacturers to the nation as a show of good faith. One company never shows up, however: Extensive Enterprises, run by the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot Paoli. It turns out the twins have a good reason for not showing up, as they attempt to assassinate Destro.

Destro #1 Explores the Murky Politics of War Profiteering

What stands out immediately about Destro #1 is the grim tone. The creative team does an excellent job of bringing a sense of verisimilitude to the world, placing many of the outlandish aspects of the G.I. Joe franchise into a more believable context. Using a character who, in the words of writer Dan Watters in the back essay, dresses like a “pro-wrestling vampire” to explore the ramifications of war profiteering is an intriguing way to build out this corner of the Energon Universe. In spite of this overall grimness, the creative team manages to balance out the story with some subtle dark humor, resulting in a very enjoyable read.

Most compelling of all is the depiction of the title character. Destro has long been an important villain in the G.I. Joe canon, a hi-tech arms manufacturer who comes from a long line of weapons makers dating back to the Middle Ages. Through M.A.R.S. Industries, Destro has established himself as a major player in the global arms race, but the sudden arrival of the Transformers and the discovery of Energon stores on Earth have shifted the balance of power. Destro now has to overcome obstacles from all sides in his quest to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.

The wall of constant obstacles for its title villain is really what makes Destro #1 sing. While he is able to overthrow the leadership of an entire country in the opening scenes of the issue, Destro only does it with the advancements Cobra Commander provides due to his control of the Energon-rich Louisiana swamp-lands. The uneasy alliance between the two has long been a source of drama and conflict for the franchise, and watching them attempt to subtly outmaneuver each other remains a compelling story thread. The added conflict with Tomax and Xamot should also provide an immediate threat for Destro to deal with through the next four issues, hopefully setting up further deception and intrigue.

Destro #1 Paints a Compelling Portrait of an Infamous G.I. Joe Villain

The deft approach to characterization throughout is also a highlight of the issue. Dan Watters establishes each character with key visual cues and sharply-written dialogue, making each character feel fully formed from the moment readers meet them. Longtime villains like Tomax and Xamot, as well as lesser-known deep pulls such as Astoria Carlton-Ritz, all get defining moments in their introductions, setting up several intriguing arcs to play out in future issues. Chief among them all is Destro himself, who is struggling to stay afloat in a dangerous world and also live up to the shadow cast by his ancestors.

In spite of being one of the franchise’s most prominent villains, Destro has always had his own sense of nobility, driven by the legacy of the Destro clan. One of the most memorable scenes in the comic features Destro returning to his family castle deep in the Scottish highlands to commune with the Destros who have come before, setting up a certain megalomania and delusion in the character’s psychology. The slightly unhinged depiction of Destro makes for a darkly compelling protagonist, and is an intriguing twist to distinguish the Energon Universe version of the character.

Artist Andrei Bressan brings grit and reality to the artwork, ensuring that the world portrayed therein feels like a lived-in place. Bressan excels in little details that reward repeat readings, making it easy for the reader to linger on certain scenes to find something new with each further examination. The gesture work and expressiveness of the characters captures their distinctive personalities. Whether it’s the haughty body language of Tomax and Xamot as they make their power plays, or the smile that forms on Destro’s face upon realizing he’s now at war, Bressan’s character acting is well-done throughout the issue.

Destro #1 Continues the Trend of Excellent Energon Universe Debuts

As Dan Watters explains in the essay in the back of the issue, Destro isn’t about how a good man turns bad, but rather how far a bad man will go to maintain his place in a world that is changing beneath his feet. It does everything a first issue should do, introducing the characters and world right from the jump and building them towards a much larger story. Destro’s war against the Crimson Twins will be very interesting to read in the coming months, as well as his struggle to hold on to M.A.R.S. while maintaining his uneasy alliance with Cobra Commander.

Ultimately, Destro #1 is an exciting start that should please both old and new fans alike. The creative team assembled here continue Skybound’s winning streak, as another piece of the G.I. Joe/Transformers shared universe falls into place. If fans are lucky, Destro and the other villains will likely come together and form the Cobra terrorist organization when all is said and done, hopefully leading into an ongoing G.I. Joe title set in the Energon Universe.