Destro issue 1

Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	June 19, 2024
Cover date	June 2024
Written by	Dan Watters
Art by	Andrei Bressan
Colors by	Adriano Lucas
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editors	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

The world is changing and Destro aims to profit like never before. But the business of war makes many enemies…

Synopsis

Civil unrest pervades the Republic of Darklonia. As protestors gather outside the Prime Minister's palace, he orders his lieutenant to send out soldiers to quell this "insurgency." Expecting to gun down unarmed protestors, the Darklonian soldiers are instead met by a Battle Android Trooper. The soldiers fire at the android, but it is unaffected and simply raises its own arm guns in response. The soldiers are awed at the android, then horrified as they see more B.A.T.s descending from above. The B.A.T.s overwhelm the soldiers and force them back. As several of the protestors move to force their way into the palace, the B.A.T.s turn and fire on them as well. Getting word of what's happening outside, the Prime Minister realizes who is responsible for this and asks his aide to get him a direct line to Laird Destro, who accepts his resignation on behalf of the people of Darklonia. The Laird arrives to personally oversee the transfer of power to his Darklonian cousin, Artyom Darklon. The Prime Minister questions why he would aid the revolution, but Destro simply says it was profitable. The Prime Minister tells Destro he'll see him in hell before pulling out a pistol and shooting himself.

Destro is later contacted by Cobra Commander, who is most displeased upon hearing of the revolution in Darklonia, fearing that the use of the B.A.T.s in the field will bring undue attention to Cobra before they are ready to strike. Destro informs him that the B.A.T.s needed field testing before they can be added to Cobra's army and reminds the Commander that while M.A.R.S. and Cobra are in business together, he is not the Commander's subordinate. Destro then returns to his ancestral home in the Scottish Highlands, entering a mausoleum with statues of the Destros who came before him. He speaks to his ancestors, telling of how the world of war is changing with the arrival of Energon and seeking their advice. He listens intently as the stone statues say nothing.

Three weeks later, Astoria Carlton-Ritz — new CEO of Hybrid Technologies after her father's passing — is in Darklonia for another run-of-the-mill illegal arms fair that M.A.R.S. is hosting. Another attendee, Farouk, notes that Extensive Enterprises is nowhere to be seen. Destro introduces himself to Astoria, saying that he knew her father. Farouk comments that M.A.R.S. is light years ahead of the other vendors, and even asks Destro if there's any truth to the rumors he's developing mechanical soldiers, which Destro quickly denies. The Laird is pulled away from the conversation by Mercer, who confirms that none of the companies in attendance have access to Energon. However, the absence of Extensive Enterprises concerns Destro.

Meanwhile, the heads of Extensive Enterprises, Tomax and Xamot, have arrived in Sierra Gordo after a disastrous skirmish involving their Crimson Guard aiding a local military encampment. The field commander berates them, saying that it was their mercenaries that failed to provide the promised support and led to his men getting injured. The twins say that they promised nothing, and says that for his own tactical failure, the commander's men will have to be punished. On orders from the commander's general, the Crimson Guard executes the injured men and burns the camp to the ground. Xamot then strangles the field commander with a garrote wire while Tomax confers with the general about replacing the lost soldiers with Crimson Guardsmen.

Back in Darklonia, the arms fair is attacked by a fleet of unidentified combat drones. Destro wonders how they could've possibly entered their airspace without them knowing and orders his Iron Grenadiers to retrieve an intact sample for him to study. As the Grenadiers do battle with the drones in the air, Astoria is amazed by the beauty of the carnage and destruction around her. Destro pushes her out of the way as a missile falls toward them, but ends up being a dud. Destro smiles to himself: someone has declared war on him, and he couldn't be happier.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in photos.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

M.A.R.S.	Cobra	Extensive Enterprises	Others
Battle Android Troopers (5) Destro (7) Darklon (8) Iron Grenadiers (9) Mercer (14) Scrap-Iron (19)	Cobra Commander (10)	Tomax and Xamot (15 & 16) Crimson Guardsmen (17)	Protestors (1) Darklonian lieutenant (2) Darklonian Prime Minister (3) Darklonian soldiers (4) Darklonian aide (6) Astoria Carlton-Ritz (11) Brandon (12) Farouk (13) Field commander (18)

Quotes

"None of you--no Destro who came before me--bent to another's will. I will not be the first."

—Destro

Notes

Continuity notes

This issue takes place after the events of Duke and Cobra Commander, with Destro having now solved the B.A.T.’s energy problem shown in Duke #5 with the Energon he received from Cobra Commander in Cobra Commander #5.
Destro's family history was first alluded to in Duke #1.

G.I. Joe references

Darklonia originates from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #88, which was also the first appearance of Darklon himself in the Marvel Comics series.
Darklon's appearance appears to be loosely based on his second toy, though with the single-shoulder paldron of his original design (though now on the left shoulder as opposed to his right). He is also not seen wearing his trademark helmet.
- Though he's never had a first name in prior Joe media, this series gives him the first name "Artyom".
Destro comments on the flaws in the B.A.T.s' identification friend or foe programming, a frequent problem that has plagued the B.A.T.s in previous Joe media.
The idea of Destro's ancestors also wearing metal masks has cropped up a few times in past Joe media, most notably the 1985 cartoon episode "Skeletons in the Closet" and the live-action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
On display at the weapons expo are H.I.S.S. tanks, colored red like the S.M.S., but lacking that vehicle's additional missile system.
Having previously been seen commanding generic M.A.R.S. troops, this issue introduces Destro's usual footsoldiers, the Iron Grenadiers, to the Energon Universe.
Sierra Gordo also originates in the Marvel comics, first appearing in issue #12 and has been a repeated fixture of subsequent comics set in the various ARAH-derived continuities.
The Iron Grenadiers are seen flying Despoilers, the personal aircraft of Destro from the original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, released the same year as the Iron Grenadiers, 1988.
Farouk originates from the Marvel UK Action Force comic. There he was a long time associate and business partner of Destro's who served as the head of Cobra operations in Morocco.

Transformers references

Astoria Carlton-Ritz originates from the Generation 1 cartoon episode "The Girl Who Loved Powerglide". Much like her original incarnation, this incarnation is shown to be a flighty heiress who has taken over her deceased father's company, Hybrid Technologies.

Real-world references

One of the attendees comments that "Boston" is there, likely referencing Boston Dynamics.
The Crimson Twins reference the Roman military punishment of decimation, fitting for them, as the Twins typically hail from the island of Corsica and their Crimson Guard — traditionally depicted as the personal guard of Cobra Commander — is inspired by the Roman Praetorian Guard.

Covers (19)

Cover A: Destro sits on the Coronation Chair atop a Transformer arm, by Andrei Bressan & Adrian Lucas.
Cover B: Destro and Cobra Commander, by Andrea Milana.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover, by Nikola Čižmešija.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Destro on explosion background, by Steve Epting.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Destro and his accoutrements, by Jorge Fornés.
Cover F (1:100 Copy Incentive Foil): Destro and S.N.A.K.E. mechs, by Jonboy Meyers.
Cover G (1:250 Copy Incentive): Destro and Tomax & Xamot, by David Mack.
Cover H: Blank sketch cover.
Cover I: Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni.
Cover J: Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.
American Library Association 2024 Cover: Chapbook variant of Cover A.
PX San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Cover: Black & White variant of Cover A.
Black Saber Comics Cover: Destro in a weapons-themed frame, by Freddie E. Williams II.
Gotham City Limit Cover: Destro with arms folded, by Tyler Kirkham.
Southern Comics Cartel / Syndicate Comics & Collectibles Cover: Destro in a thunderstorm, by Camron Johnson.
Comic Kingdom Creative Cover: The Transformers #5 homage, by Sajad Shah.
Condemned Comics Cover: Destro on vehicle schematic background, by Jamie Sullivan.
Big Clutch San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Cover A: by Dave Dorman.
Big Clutch San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Cover B: Virgin variant.