Destro #1

When Astoria Carlton-Ritz, the new CEO of Hybrid Technologies, visits Artyom Darklons weapons fair, she looks forward to resuming her life in Manhattan. But a freak accident in Darklonia may suggest a new business opportunity or a rare ability in Destro #1. Read Full Review

An evil threat makes a daring splash into the Energon Universe spotlight with a solid debut chapter. Watters molds the ruthlessness of business with superb writing. Bressan, Lucas and Wooton provide impactful images that proves all is fair in power and war. Read Full Review

Destro #1 appropriately reveals who the character is in a few ways while fleshing out the bad-guy side of an ongoing building of an army for Cobra. The worldbuilding is strong with Destro, making it a can't-miss series for fans of the Energon Universe. Read Full Review

Destro #1 brings in more familiar faces to the Energon Universe with a political thriller tone to help it stand apart. This is another must-read in the eventual formation of G.I. Joe and Cobra. Read Full Review

Destro #1 is a blast of a first issue that mixes the fun of the classic cartoons and comics with the grit and realism of this new Energon Universe. Read Full Review

Destro #1 is another great addition to the Energon Universe. Dan Watters and Andrei Bressan nail how to tell a story around a villain as the protagonist of the series. The way things are developed around Destro leaves you intrigued by what this will mean for the leader of M.A.R.S and the greater impact it'll have on the G.I. JOE side of the universe. This a must-read for G.I. JOE and Energon Universe fans. Read Full Review

Destro #1 introduces plenty of fan-favorite characters and obscure picks into the Energon Universe timeline that will leave long-time G.I. Joe fans excited for the future. The issue does a great job of showcasing Destro's calculating character in a story fueled by war and intrigue. Read Full Review

The final pages ramp up the action, putting Destro right in the midst of a warzone and showcasing his slightly more unhinged side – something we also got to see earlier in the issue with him having a frank, honest (and worryingly two-way) conversation with the statues marking the graves of his Scottish ancestors.Another fantastic blend of cartoon excess and gritty Energon Universe drama, and given how well these series have been integrated to this point, a fairly essential purchase if you want to stay up to date. Read Full Review

It's not that Destro #1 is bad. It adds more to the world but it feels like that's what its goal is. It's not a story first and references and teases second. It comes off as the references and teases were first and a story crafted around them at times. Expanding the Energon Universe, it does a fine job, but adds little to Destro as a character. It leaves him as one note, and falls a short compared to what has come before. Read Full Review

Although not as strong as the previous Energon works, Watters and Bressan delve into the devil's soul in Destro #1. With an excellent understanding of character voices, another section of the Energon universe gets explored. Hopefully, the energy picks up in the next issue cause I am interested in the title's premise. Overall, I wish there was more narrative meat on the bone and more substantial art. Read Full Review

What's engaging about the start of this 5-issue miniseries plays its two sides against one another. On one hand it is a revitalization to resell corporate IP and all of the associated franchise opportunities with a new face, an entertaining if hollow pursuit. On the other hand, Destro #1 dares to imagine its central figure as a complex anti-hero who deftly shifts between notes of horror and fascination reflecting terrors of modern warfare. It's enough to tempt even a cynical reader to take Destro seriously. Read Full Review

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. Read Full Review

sawright20

Jun 20, 2024

This was so cool. I love Destro as a character, and all the other colorful personalities introduced here were wonderful too. This might be my favorite of the G.I. Joe comics in the Energon Universe so far.

derbycomics

Jun 18, 2024

Dan Watters, Andrei Bressan, Adriano Lucas, & Rus Wooton kicked off the new Energon Universe limited series with a bang! The first issue drops us right into the action and Watters’ script doesn’t hold back. This was a fast-paced thrill ride from the first page to the last. The highlight for me was how Watters wrote the dialogue between Destro & Cobra Commander. It’s perfectly captured, showcasing their complex dynamic & tenuous alliance. These two are going to be so much fun to watch together. Bressan’s art is reminiscent of classic GI Joe comics, with awesome depictions of the action & character faces that convey a ton of emotion. For a man with a metal face, Destro’s reactions are so detailed & perfectly convey his reactio ns to certain situations. Bravo to Watters for letting Bressan’s art do a lot of heavy lifting in that area, rather than fill the pages with too many words. Lucas’ heavy red color palette adds to the intensity of the action & Wooton’s lettering keeps the text easy to read without taking away from the visuals. One potential drawback is the sheer amount of new plot lines introduced. New readers may need to do some additional research to feel grounded in all the connections to G.I. Joe lore, but it’s well worth it. Destro #1 is an action-packed, instant classic and a great start to the series. I’m eager to see where Watters and team take us from here, especially with how much this series appears to tie into the larger Energon Universe. more

maljoss

Jun 21, 2024

This looks like another strong addition to the Energon Universe. The art was on point - Andrei Bressan is an excellent artist, and his work on this issue was no exception. I'm less familiar with Dan Watters, but the pace of the story was good, and the dialogue was very well done - particularly the interactions between Destro and Cobra Commander.

ResearchReader

Aug 02, 2024

As someone new to Destro for the most part, this was a wonderful introduction. The explanation of how Watters is approaching it intrigues me and the general start of the story, while a bit scattered, was highly interesting. Destro clearly has some flaws that can be exploited but the book also shows many of his strengths. I do look forward when he is more on the offensive foot in the next issue.

Comics Code Authorities

Jul 14, 2024

While lacking in that special something Williamson's books had this was still pretty good. Like always Destro and Cobra Commander obviously don't like or trust one another, but need each other if their plans are to succeed. It's what always made them such an impressive pair of villains. An interesting thing to note is the presence of Astoria Carlton Ritz, an easily forgotten character from the Transformers cartoon. I'd have expected that Bree character from G.I. Joe's "The million dollar medic" episode more. She was pretty much the same as Astoria. Spoiled and annoying to her rescuer whom she became infatuated with. It's interesting how they're bringing in characters from those series with a new twist in these series. That helps bring in t he old school cartoon fans. Xamot and Tomax are obviously going to be Destro's new special friends in this series, but we know they'll end up having to put their differences aside when Cobra Commander decides he needs Extensive Enterprises' help building his master organization too. This is paving the way to what I know will be a big start for this Fall's new G.I. Joe series. It's something I'm looking forward to, I can tell you that. And judging by the hype I've heard lately it's going to be the big blowout hit this Fall that will likely blow DC's Ultimate Marvel ripoff, Absolute DC out of the water. I'm looking forward to it and know I'm going to enjoy following the road to it in this series. more

fzanca

Jul 07, 2024

This issue i a little scattered with unrelated stories, but I do like the scene between Destro and Cobra Commander where they disagree about how this partnership is going to work. Destro is rightfully displayed as ruthless and I like bringing in the twins early. The mystery of the attack is a nice cliffhanger. My Comic Review Channel - https://youtu.be/3mRcf6IHp5A

Ioannis Dassios

Aug 19, 2024

This latest issue featuring Destro is a must-read for fans, capturing the essence of the iconic arms dealer with a perfect blend of intrigue, tactical genius, and menace. Besides a few unnecessary boring pages, the story is rich in political maneuvering and strategic battles, showcasing Destro’s brilliance and ruthlessness. The artwork complements the narrative with a dark, noir-like atmosphere that brings Destro’s world to life. It’s a classic tale that hits all the right notes, blending nostalgia with fresh storytelling that keeps you hooked. The final pages leave you eager for more, with just enough mystery to make the wait for the next issue feel excruciating. For any fan of Destro, this is a thrilling read that sets the sta ge for an epic continuation. more