The Spectacular Spider-Men #14 Review

 

Writer: Greg Weisman

Artist: Andrés Genolet

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Production: Gabriel Mata

Editors: Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Cover Artists: Mark Bagley & Edgar Delgado; Andrei Bressan & Edgar Delgado

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

Curt and Martha Connors begged their son to live in Shift's Enclave. But Billy Connors didn't want to hide in the sewers with jackals and vermin. Angered by society's disdain for his appearance, Billy climbed up to the streets. But when he noticed Max Dillon and Francine Frye, the kissing Electros spotted an opportunity. They held Billy for ransom and forced Curt to help them fry The Spectacular Spider-Men.

 

Curt Connors isn’t the Lizard anymore. Still, the Lizard helped Curt force the Electros to take them to Billy. But when Billy wasn’t where they left him, the Lizard threw a hissy fit. Can Peter Parker and Miles Morales help Curt Connors and the Lizard find Billy? And how is Anna Romney doing after Max and Francine electrocuted her? Let's grab a "Parker" from Max Vinck, thwip into The Spectacular Spider-Men #14, and find out!

 

Story

Before she gained superpowers, Juliet Marcos enjoyed a whirlwind romance with Anna Romney. But all that was an illusion spun by Arcadium. When Anna stepped into the ESU Coffee Bean, Juliet introduced herself. As the two became friends, Rickie Lund wondered where she stood with her girlfriend. When Anna risked her life to protect Juliet, Rickie lashed out. Rickie hesitates to enter Anna’s hospital room in The Spectacular Spider-Men #14. How can Rickie face Anna after distrusting her and blaming Juliet for endangering her?

 

Peter and Miles bear responsibility for Juliet and Anna’s electrocutions. The Electros were after them, not the ladies. But when they awakened, Peter and Miles left the paramedics to deal with Anna so they could prevent the Lizard from devouring the Electros. They didn’t even wait to see if Juliet was okay. So after Max resuscitates Juliet, the young superhero reacts badly to being blamed for Anna's near-death experience in The Spectacular Spider-Men #14.

 

Shift has told Miles that he wants to belong somewhere. Like Billy Connors, Shift wants an identity and a life above ground. He may be Miles’ clone. Still, Shift also feels responsible for the people he looks after in the sewers. While Peter and Miles thwip and fight in the spotlight, Shift proves the most responsible Spider-Man in Greg Weisman’s story.

 

Art

The Lizard’s white lab jacket, purple slacks, and green skin evoke the Hulk as he battles Peter and Miles in the abandoned warehouse. The Lizard hits, slashes, and snaps his T-Rex-like mouth as he insists upon Billy’s return. The Electros may have left, but the Lizard seeks a target for his anger. Yet Andrés Genolet suggests that the Lizard's anger may also stem from his relationship, or lack thereof, with the boy he loves in The Spectacular Spider-Men #14.

 

Rickie's yellow and black hair echoes her black top and tan slacks. Edgar Delgado's coloring reminds us that we all wrestle with positive and negative emotions. The red-and-yellow print hanging in the room suggests Rickie’s link with superheroes. Rickie's future reverberates through Peter and Miles' flight past dark buildings with glowing yellow and tan windows as they search for the boy close to Curt and the Lizard's hearts.

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase letters into white and colored balloons and narrative boxes. Dialogue grows bold, swells for volume, and rarely shrinks. The Lizard’s cloudy balloons fill with large letters, evoking the differences between the Hulk and Bruce Banners or the two Captain Kirks in "The Enemy Within." The names and descriptions in white boxes remind us how large Peter and Miles' circle of care has become in The Spectacular Spider-Men #14. Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Amid drama, reconciliation, and an intense rescue plot, The Spectacular Spider-Men #14 reminds us families come in all shapes and sizes and to look out for the people we bring into our lives.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Destro #5 Review

 

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrei Bressan

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas; Sanford Greene; Nikola Čižešija; Marco Ferrari; Taurin Clarke; Tyler Kirkham

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Logo & Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Richard Mercado

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 16, 2024

 

Tomax and Xamot lead Cobra Commander through MARS. The twins assure him that the BATs are useless and they can find better purposes for his Energon power. Then, Tomax and Xamot lead him into an office and find Destro on his throne. Will the twins kill Destro as Cobra Commander watches? Or does Destro have a plan up his armored sleeves? Let’s strap on our metal masks, leap into Destro #5, and see!

 

Story

Amid the confrontation, explosions rock MARS. The Crimson Guard scrambles troops and HISS tanks to defend Extensive Enterprises' latest acquisition. Scrap-Iron wields a bazooka. Chameleon deploys her FLUKE pulse. But with MARS filled with the Crimson Guard, Destro needs inside help. But then, if Destro can sneak into his company, so can others.

 

As he tangles with the twins, Destro wants to know where he stands with Cobra Commander. The man who controls Earth's Energon supply assures him that he hasn't committed to a partnership with Extensive Enterprises. Still, as the twins argue, Destro only has three soldiers to help him reclaim his company. The Crimson Guard fills their new facility in Destro #5. How can a handful of soldiers defeat an army?

 

Destro forgave Astoria for trying to kill him. But really, she was covering for Overkill, the new global defense system she and her father invented. As it orbits the Earth, the satellite uses its artificial intelligence to assess threats to humanity. Once, Overkill believed Destro was a threat. But Destro and Astoria have conferred with the satellite, and it considered their arguments.

 

Dan Watters suggests that a few people can overcome overwhelming odds in Destro #5. He also shows that nothing and no one is ever useless. Destro's methods may be harsh. Still, he also demonstrates the capacity to forgive. Destro knows it would be easier to destroy those who turn against him. Yet he seeks strength by turning enemies into allies. Perhaps Destro will turn on his allies one day. But for now, he prefers to rely on strong and capable leaders. Destro isn’t only fighting to reclaim his family’s company. Like Astoria and her late father, he seeks to protect them against a threat that could wipe out humanity.

 

Art

The twins emphasize their strength by wearing tank tops and armor that displays their muscles. Yet as they lead Cobra Commander through MARS, the Crimson Guard struggles to master MARS’ armored walkers. As a sunken floor ringed by fire separates the twins from Destro, fire explodes the glass panels lining the ground floor. When energy waves radiate from Chameleon's arm, HISS tanks crackle with electricity. While Destro smiles from his throne, a display of arms and armor represents his family history in the art of war. Destro rises as Cobra Commander crosses his arms over his chest. Yet when Cobra Commander gestures toward the twins, Destro charges.  

 

Adriano Lucas lavishes the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow on Tomax and Xamot’s opening scenes. They regard Destro in a throne room colored red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray. Purple and gray also dominate Andrei Bressan’s depictions of the BATs. As Cobra Commander watches Destro and the twins fight, red highlights shine on his blue attire. Later, as pink, orange, and yellow fill the sky, a streak of orange and yellow through space suggests a link between Destro #5 and Transformers #12.

 

Rus Wooton fires large uppercase black lettering into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Words embolden for emphasis and never shrink. Colorful and transparent sound effects accentuate gunfire, hand-to-hand fighting, and explosions. A crimson cry threatens to explode a dialogue balloon when Destro reminds someone of his family’s heritage. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Tomax and Xamot share a unique bond. It makes them formidable opponents yet leaves them open to attack. Destro will exploit that weakness to protect humanity's ability to perpetuate the art of war in Destro #5.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Destro #4 Review

 

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrei Bressan

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas; Siya Oum; Nikola Čižešija; Travis Moore & Adriano Lucas; Homare; Tyler Kirkham

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Logo & Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Jillian Crab

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 18, 2024

 

Tomax and Xamot argue that an explosion claimed Destro's life amid a snowstorm in the Scottish Highlands. Destro's cousin Artyom Darklon has his hands full running Darklonia. A merger between MARS and Extensive Enterprises, facilitated by a check with many zeros, makes sense. Will Artyom accept the twins' generous offer? And why do Tomax and Xamot want MARS? Let’s strap on our metal masks, leap into Destro #4, and see!

 

Story

After his battle with Chameleon, Destro fled through a blizzard to a US Air Force base in Scotland. If Tomax and Xamot sent an assassin to Scotland, they got his secret location from someone at MARS. Like Cobra Commander, General Flagg disliked Destro's decision to invade Darklonia and install his cousin Artyom Darklon on the throne. However, the US government needs companies like MARS to supply their military. The situation has grown desperate after Soundwave and the Decepticons destroyed a US Navy aircraft carrier. So, General Flagg flew him back to the US and granted him access to secret documents to help James McCullen Destro reclaim his company.

 

But Destro doesn’t attack Tomax and Xamot in Destro #4. Instead, he seeks out friends. First, he calls on Mercer and Scrap-Iron, hoping they didn't tell Tomax and Xamot where to send Chameleon. Then, Destro visits Astoria Carlton Ritz. The new CEO of Hybrid Technologies encourages her board members to party. But when Destro meets her on the dance floor, she excuses herself to powder her nose. Destro has drawn certain conclusions about wily old Desmond's daughter. Astoria may seem like she wants to use her daddy's money to party, but there's more to her than meets the eye.

 

Dan Watters' story hints at a potential weapons source for the Arashnikage ninja clan that Scarlett wants to join. It also reveals the truth behind the attack on the weapons fair in Darklonia. Ultimately, it addresses how defensive systems can kill as readily as offensive armaments. Astoria’s father wanted peace in our time. Instead, he created a weapon that could unleash armageddon.

 

Art

With his good looks and long hair, Artyom Darklon better resembles a rock star than the ruler of a sovereign nation. Yet he sits behind a sleek modern desk uncluttered by paperwork in body armor. After Tomax and Xamot hand Artyom a check, the trio watches a BAT demonstration from the balcony of his fortified palace. Destro wears more battle armor than his cousin as he sits on a carved, upholstered wooden chair and reads. A stack of papers nestles beside tall, lit candles atop antique furniture. As Private Ferrez reports that they have lost track of Destro, General Flagg regards a flower arrangement on his serviceable desk stacked with files. Unlike the check Xamot hands Artyom Darklon and the secret documents that delight Destro, General Flagg doesn't smile as he reads the letter that came with the flower arrangement.

 

Adriano Lucas lavishes a loaded palette on Andrei Bressan’s art in Destro #4. Unlike their Crimson Guard, Tomax and Xamot wear blue in Artyom Darklon’s red, orange, yellow, and gold palace. A BAT demonstration also fills the air with red, orange, and yellow, while the red of their Crimson Guard fills the air behind the twins. Blue, purple, and red dominate the two-story ballroom as people gaze down from upper floor landings to observe those on the dancefloor. Astoria's jaw drops when Destro enters clad in slacks, a long-sleeve shirt, leather gloves, and a brown jacket hanging from his shoulders. Despite the similarity between her gold earrings and the red-and-gold pendant he wears on a gold chain around his neck, Astoria rushes into an alley filled with orange light and green darkness to confront a red missile blazing an orange and blue trail.

 

Rus Wooton propels readers through Destro #4 with large uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Portions of Destro’s letter to General Flagg appear on scraps of beige parchment. Words embolden for emphasis and never shrink. Yellow sound effects enhance the BAT demonstration in Darklonia, while white sounds welcome Astoria’s meeting with Destro’s accomplice in a dark alley. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Tomax and Xamot argue that Destro is dead. Artyom Darklon assumes that his cousin is dead. Astoria Carlton Ritz of Hybrid Technologies believes her business rival is dead. But like Snake Plissken, rumors of his death are greatly exaggerated. James McCullen Destro is forging partnerships with major players in the arms industry to reclaim MARS and ensure he doesn't lose access to Cobra Commander's otherworld energy source in Destro #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Preview interior art at Skybound.com.

Destro #3 Review

 

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrea Milana

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas; Karl Kerschl; Nikola Čižešija; Mico Suayan & Rex Lokus; Eric Canete; Tyler Kirkham

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Logo & Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Richard Mercado

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 21, 2024

 

Destro stands on sacred ground. The spirits of former lairds watch him stride through the ancient stronghold. His frequent visits bring Destro peace. After reaffirming his intention to lead the clan forward, he opens the doors to depart. Then Destro spies an assassin in the tundra. Should he close the doors and wait until the blizzard forces the shooter to leave? Or will Destro take the fight to the hired killer? Let’s strap on our metal masks, leap into Destro #3, and see!

 

Story

Destro installed his cousin Artyom Darklon as the ruler of Darklonia. A drone strike disrupted the new government's first arms fair. As Extensive Enterprises didn't attend, Destro blamed them and committed MARS to destroying his rivals. Yet Xamot and Tomax, the leaders of Extensive Enterprises, claim Destro attacked the arms fair and blamed them for the destruction and deaths. Despite his confident façade, the unplanned war rattles Destro, so he returns to the Scottish Highlands. He'll be safe there, as only members of his clan know the castle's location.

 

Destro is used to staring death in the face. By encasing his skull in iron and covering his body in armor, he insulates himself from danger. But in Destro #3, he is not as invulnerable as he believed. This realization prompts Destro to reflect on his mask's significance. Still, that doesn't mean James McCullen Destro spends twenty pages thinking about his clan's history. There's the shooter in the snow to consider. Her name is Chameleon. And then there is the person she chats with on the radio. Someone named Overkill.

 

As Destro combats Chameleon and evades a flock of deadly drones, Dan Watters intersperses the action with Destro’s beloved family history and an unexpected discovery at MARS. The history lesson makes one wonder how much Destro recounts is verifiable and how much was borrowed from Alexandre Dumas to fuel a family legend. The technological discovery makes one question Destro’s conclusions about the attack in Darklonia. Throughout this series, Destro insists that he controls the game. But Xamot and Tomax have steadfastly proclaimed their innocence. Destro #3 asks, What if Destro is a player, and someone else is the dungeon master?

 

Art

As Destro walks through the vast doors of Castle Destro, one recalls the mercenaries leaving the Prime Minister’s residence to quell the Darklonian protest. As Destro climbs the snowy hill to confront Chameleon, one remembers him raging at the attacking drones and running to protect Astoria Carlton-Ritz. The diagram of his wrist-mounted rocket launcher recalls a similar diagram of an attacking combat drone. The way Destro’s rocket launcher crackles and fails to fire when he extends his arm in Destro #3 evokes the rocket that landed near him and Astoria with similar results.

 

Chameleon stares through pink and red goggle lenses and the gray rifle scope. She detects no movement in the circle of pink and red. But when the red, gray, and white figure leaps down to investigate, a red, gray, and blue figure rises. Amid the tussle, she loses her white jacket, exposing her long yellow hair. Adriano Lucas fills panels with red and green as Andrea Milana transports us to MARS, where Mercer and Scrap Iron make an intriguing discovery. While the overhead lighting threatens to turn the blue and gray fabric green, both men predominately wear red, evoking the Crimson Guard of Extensive Enterprises.

 

All too soon, Andrea Milana returns us to the Scottish Highlands, where Destro’s prowess rattles Chameleon’s confidence. As a sudden gust of wind streaks the air with gray and turns the snow a darker blue, she orders an attack of the drones. The fury of yellow, orange, and red Adriano Lucas unleashes evokes another fight in the snow a long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away.

 

Rus Wooton marches readers through Destro #3 with large uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Words embolden for emphasis and never shrink. A red Click steps downhill, while a red Crackle stumbles and nearly falls. A bullet hurtles from the rifle through an enormous yellow Bang! Yellow, blue, red, and white sound effects enhance the dance of death in the snow, while giant scarlet letters burst a dialogue balloon to form a legend. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Destro thought he was untouchable. In Destro #3, he’s not so sure. Still, the laird of Clan Destro demonstrates that the best weapon isn't guns, tanks, drones, or smart bombs, but the ability to think on your feet, to adapt to changing circumstances, and to always believe that you are invincible.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Destro #2 Review

 

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrei Bressan

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas; Riley Rossmo; Nikola Čižešija; Jeff Spokes; Yasmin Putri; Tyler Kirkham

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 17, 2024

 

Destro’s concern for Darklonia reawakened when he realized he could profit from controlling the beleaguered country. Now, he can market MARS’ weapons without governmental interference as his cousin rules the coastal European state. But Xamot and Tomax view Destro’s investment as an opportunity. Their company, Extensive Enterprises, can attack the unrecognized state without angering the international community. Will Destro’s investment in Darklonia drive MARS into bankruptcy? Will the stresses of war break Destro’s sanity? Let’s strap on our armor, load our weapons, march into Destro #2, and find out!

 

Story

The attack in Darklonia occurs at a crucial time for MARS. Destro has secured an exclusive supply of Energon from Cobra Commander. Destro tantalized buyers at the arms fair that officially wasn't happening with military inventions that technically didn't exist. But Extensive Enterprises dispelled Destro’s aura of invincibility by deploying drones using cloaking technology that shielded them from MARS satellites.

 

Xamot and Tomax value people over technology. They focus on training their Crimson Guard and hire engineers to steal and recreate others' inventions. They wield an army of ruthless soldiers who prize reliable people as assets and liquidate liabilities. In attacking the Darklonian arms fair, they reduce demand for MARS weaponry and stand ready to deploy their Crimson Guard mercenaries in any conflict.

 

Dan Watters illustrates the similarities and differences between Destro and his adversaries in Destro #2. Destro may have smiled when he realized he was at war, but he’s angry now. Xamot and Tomax surprised and shamed him. The surviving buyers will return home with reports of deaths and a billion dollars worth of destroyed MARS weaponry. Xamot and Tomax claim Destro made a false flag attack on the Darklonian arms fair. Why shouldn't buyers believe Destro attacked the event with combat drones? Extensive Enterprises deploys Human power, while MARS sells the machinery of war.

 

Worse, Destro deployed his experimental Battle Android Troopers in the Darklonian attack using Cobra Commander’s Energon. Destro added insult to injury by insisting that he determines what he does with this limited resource. This unprovoked war risks exposing his secret "game-changing" power source to his competitors and losing his privileged relationship with Cobra Commander.

 

Art

Fires burn outside the crenelated stone walls of the former prime minister’s castle as Destro addresses his troops. Andrei Bressan shows Xamot and Tomax brief their legions inside their sleek modern building. While hundreds gather between fencing and tanks in Darklonia, thousands fill the vast interior of the Extensive Enterprises New York City headquarters. From a rubble-strewn cliff overlooking the ocean to harsh, snowy Scotland, Destro argues, attacks and communes. Yet Xamot and Tomax's expressions reveal a determination to win that rivals the man in the iron mask in Destro #2.

 

Yellow and orange flames choke the Darklonian air with gray smoke while Extensive Enterprises stands undamaged beneath bright blue skies. Adriano Lucas reminds us of the stark differences that divide the US political battleground as the rival leaders address their seas of green or red followers. Yet Lucas hints the two sides are not as different as they seem, as Crimson Guard fight amid the greenery of a training ground, and Destro’s wide red collar surrounds a silver face that reflects his soldiers' green uniforms.

 

Rus Wooton orders readers into Destro #2 with large uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Wooton shows how business leaders conduct war, or warriors conduct business, as words embolden for emphasis but never swell or shrink. Sound effects help readers hear explosions knock Crimson Guard off their feet as Assault System Pods send MARS aircraft crashing. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Destro and his rivals Xamot and Tomax believe war refines the Human species and the most adaptable players survive. But Xamot and Tomax inspire others, while Destro values property over people and communion with the dead over the camaraderie of the living in Destro #2.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To view more cover art see my review of Comic Book Dispatch.

Destro #1 Review

 

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrei Bressan

Colorist: Adriano Lucas

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Andrei Bressan & Adriano Lucas; Andrea Milana; Nikola Čižešija; Steve Epting; Jorge Fornés; Jonboy Meyers; David Mack; Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni; Jason Howard; Freddie Williams; Tyler Kirkham; Camron Johnson; Sajah Shah; Jamie Sullivan

Publisher: Image

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 19, 2024

 

A General announces that protestors have reached the gates. Surveying the tall stone walls that protect him from his subjects, the Prime Minister orders him to send soldiers to quell the insurgency. Can the protestors overthrow the Republic of Darklonia? Let’s strap on our armor, load our weapons, march into Destro #1, and find out!

 

Story

When the soldiers leave the safety of the outer walls, a Battle Android Trooper raises its weapons, and the protestors flee. The BAT shrugs off the soldiers’ bullets and continues firing. When the General tells the Prime Minister that android soldiers have breached their defenses, the PM realizes he should have fled.

 

Destro is the leader of his Scottish clan. His company, MARS (or Military Armament Research Syndicate), provides weapons to the international community. Recently, Cobra Commander gave Destro Energon to build weapons and war machines. Destro also used it to power his BATs. The new power source is a game-changer, and Destro knows he has a valuable ally in Cobra Commander. But Cobra Commander holds a monopoly on Energon and an irritating habit of believing that anything associated with Energon belongs to him. Destro is desperate to keep MARS the world’s premier weapons supplier. So, he attacks beleaguered Darklonia and installs his cousin Artyom Darklon as its ruler. But everyone knows who's in charge.

 

In Destro #1, Dan Watters portrays a leader isolated from Humanity. Everyone he deals with is looking for an edge, and Destro must constantly look over his shoulder to ensure no one attacks his business or undermines his leadership. His metal mask, a symbol of his heritage, further isolates him from Human contact. The only people he can look to for support and inspiration are the former lairds of his clan. So, as Napoleon Hill suggests in his iconic book Think And Grow Rich, Destro interacts with statues of his ancestors. Is he crazy or the sanest man alive? While time answers that question, Destro will find holding a fortress more difficult than taking it and learn that a home can also be a target.

 

 

 

Art

Like Wild West Outlaws, the protestors tie bandanas around their faces as they raise signs and blazing signal flares above their heads. The soldiers who walk through the thick wooden doors in the tall stone wall look like mercenaries, each wearing whatever suits his fancy. Despite its Cylon Centurion helmet and chest-mounted control panel, the Battle Android Trooper wears a uniform as it raises arm-mounted weapons. The wind blows smoke before him, and trees behind him frame the fleeing protestors. Light bursts from the soldiers' rifles and streaks toward the BAT, who fires back with one arm cannon, the other raised toward the sky. When the soldiers glance up, they see more BATs soaring through the clouds beneath helicopters.

 

Andrei Bressan spares a page to reveal the BATs flying the unfriendly skies above Darklonia and most of two more pages to show the crowds and armored vehicles outside the gates of Artyom Darklon's new home. But Bressan usually invokes awe in smaller panels, as Destro #1 transports readers to the Scottish Highlands and the jungle of Sierra Gordo, South America. Bressan introduces readers to the sunbathing beauty who runs Hybrid Technologies and two brutal brothers who are the mirror image of each other. Yet Destro commands the most attention, with the wide collar that evokes a venomous Cobra's hood and the metal mask that covers his head, but unlike that of Cobra Commander and King Louis’ imprisoned brother, reveals his every expression.

 

Adriano Lucas lavishes a loaded palette on Destro #1. Vivid landscapes soften for smoke and haze, and artificial lighting changes the colors of clothing and furnishings. Heightened colors portray the BATs’ perspective. Scenes awaken interest in the infinite diversity of nature and Humanity. Destro treks through snowy, windswept mountains painted in shades of blue, red, and white. When Destro stands on the purple rock dais and speaks with the brown statues in red alcoves, readers sense the abandoned castle’s majesty.

 

Rus Wooton ushers readers into Destro #1 with large uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. White and light-blue letters in dark-blue boxes list the merits of BATs and drones. Sound effects help readers hear volleys of gunfire and explosions devour tanks and ground. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

When Astoria Carlton-Ritz, the new CEO of Hybrid Technologies, visits Artyom Darklon’s 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.

 

Rating 10/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.