Destro

Destro is a character from G.I. Joe, a military-themed line of toys from Hasbro. He first appeared in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line.

General

Born in Callander, Scotland, Destro’s full name is James McCullen Destro XXIV, and is Laird of Castle Destro in the Scottish Highlands. The Destro clan has designed and sold weapons for centuries, and Destro is the head of their current incarnation: M.A.R.S. (Military Armament Research Syndicate). He wears a mask forged from Beryllium Steel, a tradition dating back to the English Civil War, when an ancestor of his was caught selling weapons to both sides. Forced to wear a steel mask for his crimes (neither side wanted to execute the ancestor because they still wanted the weapons he sold), the Destro clan has since turned it into a symbol of pride, passing it down from father to son for over 20 generations.

Destro’s key characteristics are his sense of honor, a calm demeanor, and love for Cobra’s Second-in-Command, the Baroness. As a businessman, Destro is cutthroat and unyielding. He uses his own troops, the Iron Grenadiers, and hires mercenaries to stir up conflict in dangerous regions, then sells weapons to those armies. Continuing a tradition started by the first masked Destro, he will even sell to both sides of the same war.

Hasbro Action Figures

Vintage

The first Destro figure was released in 1983, as a part of the second series of 3 3/4" G.I.Joe “A Real American Hero” figures. This initial version featured a silver, vacuum-metalized head, which was both distinctive and attractive, making him a highly popular figure. In 1988, a second version was produced, this time with a gold vac-matalized head. This figure was released as part of the Iron Grenadiers faction, and the new mask symbolized his change in allegiance. In 1992, a third figure of Destro returned his classic silver mask, this time painted instead of chromed. His uniform was also a revision of the classic black tunic with a red collar. An early in-house schematic from Hasbro of the Destro figure also has the notation "5% bigger" as evidenced by the fact that the figure is approximately 1/4 inch taller than the rest of the figure line.

In 1993, Hasbro revisited the long-dormant 12" G.I.Joe action figure scale, featuring the characters from “A Real American Hero” rather than generic soldiers. Destro was included in this line, packaged with a removable helmet that revealed his face underneath. As part of the Star Brigade sub-line, Destro was included in the Armor-Tech wave (again with a vac-metalized head), which represents the last of the vintage Destro figures produced.

After the original line ended in 1994, Hasbro and Toys "R" Us created a 15th Anniversary line, which Destro was a part of. Repainting his 1992 figure in burgandy and brown, Destro returned with his chromed mask as a part of the Cobra Command 3-pack. The same figure was repainted once more in 2001, when Hasbro expanded the line to the mass market.

Modern

In 2002, Hasbro relaunched the G.I.Joe “A Real American Hero” toyline in time for its 20th Anniversary, and a brand new Destro was included in the initial wave, which also received a repaint, and another variant was packaged with Destro’s Devastator. Initially, this line was as much a reboot as it was a revamp. This Destro has a radically different uniform, and his face is molded in a vicious pose, his mouth open and baring its teeth.

For 2003's ‘Spy Troops’, another new Destro was created, this time featuring him in a casual sweater and trousers, with the chromed steel mask returning. A 12" version of Destro was also released for the Spy Troops sub-line. The final 3 3/4" Destro was released in 2004, in the ‘Valor vs Venom’ sub-line, which returned Destro to his classic military look, but with a different color scheme. Repainting of the 1992 Destro has continued in the Comic Book 3-packs released in 2004-‘06, with a new head mold based on his comic appearance in Marvel #24.

25th Anniversary

2007 is the 25th Anniversary of the original launch of G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero. To celebrate, Hasbro created two boxed sets of brand new figures, featuring modern sculpt and updated and increased articulation (including the replacement of GIJoe's trademark O-Ring construction). Destro is included in the Cobra set, along with Cobra Commander, Baroness, Storm Shadow, and a Cobra Trooper.

During San Diego Comic Con 2007, 2 other versions where also released. Version 14a ("Pimp" Destro with Silver head) and 14b ("Pimp" Destro with Gold Head.

Comic Series

Marvel

In the comic continuity, Destro fancies himself an honorable man, answering to a moral code he alone seems to understand. He has stood with the Commander as often as he has opposed him, and will join forces with the G.I.Joe team if it is good for business. With such wavering loyalties, he has come to respect and befriend many characters, from Joe members Flint and Lady Jaye, to Zartan, and even the Commander’s estranged son Billy. His strongest connection is, however, to the Baroness, who, it is revealed early on, has shared a romantic relationship with him since before the comic begins.

Destro first appears in G.I.Joe #11, as Cobra Commander's hired "specialist", sent to stop the G.I.Joe team from ruining their operation on the Alaskan Pipeline. Although Destro manages to stay two steps ahead of the Joes, his confrontation with Doc results in the Joes getting the antidote for a plague they'd been infected with, and turning the tables on Cobra. His next appearance establishes his true intentions: he plans to remove the Commander from the equation, and lead Cobra himself, with the Baroness at his side. The Commander comes to suspect this betrayal, and recruits Major Bludd to kill Destro.

A night operation in Washington, D.C. gives Bludd his chance. But when the Baroness (who was driving Bludd's HISS tank) sees what he was planning, she swerves sharply, overturning the tank, and setting it on fire. The tank explodes, seemingly killing her, and leaving Destro a shattered wreck of his former self. The Commander uses this turn of events to point Destro's rage toward Bludd, and operates for a while without the fear of Destro's treachery. But when the Commander is captured by G.I.Joe, Destro wastes no time taking control. At this point, the Baroness returns, and reveals the Commander's part in her near death.

After a battle in the Everglades, Destro and Firefly are stranded, with only their wiles to get them past the Joe team, and back to Cobra's home town of Springfield. When they arrive, however, Baroness reveals that she and Bludd have recruited a young boy to assassinate the Commander during a Cobra Rally. During the ceremony, Destro spots the trained killer, and realizes it's the Cobra Commander's own son, Billy. Saving the man he swore to kill, Destro reveals a new side of himself, as an honorable man who cannot condone patricide, even against a hated foe.

Destro heads the tribunal that questions Billy, and later tries to stop Storm Shadow from helping the boy escape. After the creation of Cobra Island, Destro and the Baroness meet with the curious Dr. Mindbender as he demonstrates his BATs to them. Although the BATs are defeated by Lady Jaye and a team of G.I. Joe trainees, they bring Mindbender to Cobra, where his true plans are put into effect. With the Commander's consent, and Destro's help, Mindbender collects the bodies of history's ten greatest warriors, which are used to create Serpentor. Serpentor is quickly recruited to fight a holding action against G.I.Joe, while Destro coordinates a complete evacuation of Springfield. Once the citizens of the small town are safe, Destro again shows his honorable side, and rescues Serpentor and the defenders.

Assaulting the PIT under Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island, the Commander becomes indignant at Serpentor, and his successful campaign to take Cobra as his own. Cobra Commander leads a team of troops into the subterranean base, and Destro chooses to join him. The two are trapped underneath tons of rubble, when the defenders detonate the PIT's lowest levels, and cave in the entire installation. While the Commander becomes unhinged, Destro reasons his way through, and uncovers an earth-boring machine that saves their lives. Traveling across country in disguise, they are reunited with Billy, who is in a coma after his car was blown up by the Cobra agent Scrap-Iron (by orders of Firefly). Watching the Commander grieve for his misdeed, Destro decides his time with Cobra has ended, and returns to Scotland to reclaim his family's legacy: the Military Armament and Research Syndicate better known as M.A.R.S. On arrival, he is greeted by a doppleganger, and thrown in prison. But with the intervention of Lady Jaye and Flint, Destro help him overthrow the fake, who turns out to be Major Bludd.

Some time later, Destro resurfaces as his own man, and leader of his own organization called the Iron Grenadiers. After inciting a war in Sierra Gordo, he takes part in the Cobra Island Civil War, pushing back the forces of Serpentor, and the second Cobra Commander (really Fred VII, a Crimson Guard) without firing a shot. After Zartan assassinates Serpentor, Mindbender bargains with Destro to cease fire, and leave the Island, which Destro agrees to on one condition: that the Baroness be turned over to him. With his only objective in the war achieved, the Iron Grenadiers withdraw and the war is ended. Displaying his honor yet again, Destro helps blackmail a pair of politicians who try nailing the blame for G.I.Joe aiding Serpentor in the Civil War, earning the Joes' respect yet again.

Content to stay out of the war between G.I.Joe and Cobra, Destro is nonetheless made a target by Cobra Commander II, and Castle Destro is assaulted by Cobra. Turning the tables, Destro overpowers the fake Commander, and effectively takes over Cobra. While he unveils an intricate plan of checks and balances to keep the Cobra High Command and his Iron Grenadiers on even footing, the Baroness' discovery that Snake-Eyes was the soldier she believed shot her brother in Southeast Asia. Taking on an unadvised vendetta, she allows for Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow to lay waste to the Cobra Consulate Building in New York City. As the roof collapses, and the three are about the plummet to their death, Destro arrives in a helicopter. He reveals that not only was he in Southeast Asia that day with his father, but that Snake-Eyes was innocent of killing her brother Eugene. Taking his love away, he removes his mask for her, and the two retire for a time while the Baroness puts her life back together.

Unfortunately, as soon as Destro abandons Cobra, the original Commander returns, and locks most of his old lackeys in a freighter, and buries it under the volcano on Cobra Island. Among the victims are Zartan and Billy, although they have the distinction of being two of the three (Firefly being the last) who manage to dig themselves out. Because of his honorable character, they look to Destro for refuge. At the same time, however, the Commander (still seeking revenge on his old associates) assaults and destroys Castle Destro. Because of his spy in Cobra, Metal-Head, Destro manages to escape from the Castle, aided by G.I.Joe agent Chuckles, and the Commander puts a bounty on his head!

Now a marked man, Destro teams up with Billy and Zartan to rescue the Baroness, who is captured by Cobra in the raid. Teaming up with the fledgling G.I.Joe Ninja Force, the former Cobras break into the Night Creeper's Citadel, and begin wiping out Cobra bank accounts. To save his fortunes, the Commander agrees to call off the bounty on Destro, return the Baroness to him, and provide him with a new castle.

That turns out to be the Silent Castle in Trans-Carpathia, where Slice and Dice have assembled the remaining Red Ninjas. With G.I.Joe guarding the Castle, and Cobra arriving to activate the subliminal suggestions the Commander implanted in the Baroness while she was his prisoner, a four-way war breaks out, in the middle of which, Destro reveals the secret duality of the Castle. Keeping his promise to the Baroness that he would love her so long as Castle Destro stands, he transforms the castle into a duplicate of his Scottish home, and the Baroness' love for him breaks the Commander's hold. Routing Cobra and the ninjas, the couple are left alone once more.

Another long time passes, and the Commander decides that he wants to move on from Cobra Island, and reclaim the Castle from Destro. On the run from a Cobra invasion, Destro and Baroness contact G.I.Joe for an extraction. Snake-Eyes and Storm Shadow come to their rescue, but not before Destro sets the transformation controls to create a nightmare of architecture, and confronts Scarlett (posing as a traitor). On the rooftop, Snake-Eyes is forced to run her through with his sword (narrowly missing her heart) to keep her cover, and make good their escape. Destro tries to give his thanks for the rescue, but is silently rebuffed by Snake-Eyes, who resents having been put in such a position.

Afterwards, General Hawk takes Destro and Baroness to Cobra Island, where they are reunited with Zartan, who warns them all of the inevitable return of Dr. Mindbender. With the Commander fighting G.I.joe in Millville, Destro, Baroness, and Zartan retake the Trans-Carpathian castle. They are soon joined by Billy, and the small group is reunited for a while. Soon after Dr. Mindbender is revived, he reveals that he placed a brain implant into Destro's mind during the removal of a wisdom tooth. Zartan also has one, and Cobra Commander's unmasked face is the trigger that activates them. Cobra ventures, once more, to the Castle, and the Commander removes his hood, turning Destro and Zartan to his side.

With Destro's superior tactical mind, Cobra begins a campaign that leaves them in control of Trans-Carpathia, Darklonia, and Borigia-Krazny/Marango. It is when they assault Wolkekukuckland that they come up against the G.I.Joe team, and the progress is halted. During the stalemate, Snake-Eyes attacks the Silent Castle to rescue Storm Shadow, only to find that he, along with the Baroness and Billy, have been brainwashed to serve Cobra as well.

On the run, the Joes escape Cobra, and return to the United States, only to be deactivated by the government. The series comes to a close here, leaving Destro and the others under the thrall of Cobra Commander...

Devil’s Due

In “The Mission That Never Was”, it is revealed that the core G.I. Joe members were sent on one final mission, which resulted in Cobra’s Brainwave Scanner being corrupted by a virus that spread through the entirety of their mainframe. Crippled and defeated, Cobra then fell to a ‘unified military attack’ (this attack is never detailed in a story, but hinted at in various “Battle Files” entries). A happy side effect of this confluence of events was the incapacitation of the Brainwave Scanner. Without repeated ‘self-medication’ via the Scanner, the Baroness was freed from her artificial loyalty to Cobra. It is left ambiguous as to how Destro overcame his brain implant (which was self-contained, and thus unaffected by the virus), but it is speculated that, as happened in the Silent Castle some time earlier, the love between James and Ana can overcome any obstacle.

The two returned to Trans-Carpathia and retired from the intrigue and danger of Cobra, but continued to rebuild MARS establishing an outpost in Scotland. During this time, Dr. Mindbender and Scrap-Iron both enjoyed productive employment with MARS. But at some point, James contracted a serious family illness, and was bed-ridden for a long time.

It was at this point that his illegitimate son, Alexander, surfaced. Vulnerable in his weakened state, James took Alexander in, and gave him full run of the operation. Wanting to make his father proud, he usurped the Destro identity, and recruited Lilian Osbourne (Mistress Armada) to lead his armies, as he had nowhere near the tactical genius of his father. When James begins to recover from the illness, Destro injects him with an experimental nanite technology, which keeps him incapacitated.

‘Destro’ then arranges for the Cobra Commander to learn of the nanites’ existence. Thinking he’s stealing them from a U.S. government, the Commander devises an elaborate scheme to take control of the country. With new-found momentum, Cobra Commander begins contacting all his old allies, and returns to the U.S.

‘Destro’ and the Baroness attend the meeting in Zartan’s Florida compound, appearing to all as couple on the outs. After hearing him out, ‘Destro’ and Lilian stage a coup, and take the Commander prisoner. Using the nanites on the Commander and all the former Cobra agents (save Zartan), ‘Destro’ is able to secure his hold over the organization, and effect the reunification the Commander had hoped for.

Manipulating all the members of Cobra, ‘Destro’ unleashes the nanites on the United States, very nearly taking over. It is only because of the intervention of the G.I.Joe team (who were reinstated when the Commander returned to U.S. soil), and Cobra Commander (who was freed from the prison by Storm Shadow, and cured of the nanites) that ‘Destro’ fails in his bid for domination. When the nanites are defeated, the real Destro is freed from his paralyzed state, just in time to greet Alex and Lilian, who are imprisoned after the Baroness rescues them from their losing battle.

Back in control, Destro is forced to make restitution to Cobra for his son’s transgressions. Offering the Commander an explanation for the doppleganger as well as the hi-tech Destro family helmet that aided Alex in his deception, Destro agrees to work with Cobra until such time that he feels the debt is paid. Soon after this, the Baroness is kidnapped by the Yakuza, and Destro teams up with G.I.Joe (Flint has also gone missing) to rescue her. In the fight, Alex proves his newfound loyalty to his father, and follows orders exactly.

The Commander is captured by Serpentor, now in charge of the Coil. When he and a group of Joes affect an escape, he contacts Destro, stating ‘assist me, and all debts are clear’. Rallying all of Cobra with him, Destro assaults Cobra Island and helps defeat the Coil. After the battle, the Commander has disappeared, and Destro is left, seemingly against his desires, in charge of Cobra. So when the Commander finally surfaces with Storm Shadow in tow, Destro takes the opportunity to leave Cobra, for good and all. In a shocking twist, however, the Baroness does not join him.

Heading up his own operations in an attempt to finally put MARS back on solid ground, Destro strikes a deal with Guillermo Gomes in Sierra Muerto, to double cross Sierra Gordo’s President. Sending in Iron Grenadiers disguised as Sierra Muerto mercenaries, Destro then approaches President Delacruz for permission to build weapon factories within Sierra Gordo boarders in exchange for routing the invaders. Intending for the President to be assassinated, and Gomes to take control of both countries, Destro would then be positioned as the region’s biggest gun runner. This elaborate scheme was derailed by Duke, who had helped foster peace between the warring countries before Destro began his machinations, and arrested the arms dealer.

Put on trial by the U.N., Destro turns the tables on everyone, and offers not only full disclosure of a number of dirty dealings concerning key U.N. countries, but also the guaranteed capture of Cobra Commander to assure his release. Taking his offer, the Joes are charged with transporting Destro by train, to lure Cobra into a trap. When both Cobra Commander and Baroness arrive to free Destro, the Commander and Hawk throw down. Defeating his foe, the Commander shoots Hawk in the back, only to be shot himself, by the Baroness.

The ruse is successful, and the Commander is in U.S. custody, leaving Destro and a pregnant Baroness in control of Cobra. During this shift in power, Alex and Lilian are charged with recruiting Charles Halifax, also known as Wraith, to free Major Bludd and Scrap-Iron from Blackwater prison. Cobra begins to solidify under Destro’s leadership, as the search for a mysterious Tempest device drives their new campaign. But even this very dedicated attempt by Destro to take hold of Cobra is short lived, when it is revealed that Zartan, not the Commander, was captured by G.I. Joe. Freeing Zartan, the Commander emerges from hiding, and overthrows Destro one last time.

During the coup, the Baroness and Wraith (charged with her personal safety) are seemingly killed when the Commander detonates the Night Raven they are aboard. As he was many years before, when the Baroness’ HISS tank exploded, Destro is incapacitated by his grief, and sits rotting in a Cobra prison as the Commander takes over a much more efficient Cobra.

America’s Elite

Escaping from Cobra when the Red Shadows attempted a worldwide take-over, Destro resurfaces (literally) a year later a much different man. Now operating from a submarine, Destro has become embittered and distant from both his son Alex, and Wraith, who somehow avoided boarding the Night Raven before it’s explosion. He aids Vance Wingfield in attacking the United States with shielded satellites as he brokers a deal with China. When Scarlett is overtaken by BATs while attempting to contact former Cobra agent Cesspool, Destro is revealed to be pulling the strings.

Torturing Scarlett for information, Destro is undermined by Alex, who attempts to rid them of the dangerous G.I.Joe prisoner. When the Joes eventually catch up to him, Destro sets the sub to self-destruct, and escapes with Alex. Snake-Eyes is trapped in a flooded corridor, and drowns, making this latest scheme of Destro’s his most deadly one yet. (Snake-Eyes is later revived with "ninja magic".)

Recently, the Baroness has escaped from G.I.Joe custody, where she has been since she escaped the Night Raven’s destruction a year prior. It is not known how she came to be a Joe prisoner, and while she will soon be confronted by Wraith, when exactly she will return to Destro’s side remains to be seen. To add to the drama, the Baroness apparently did carry her baby to term, and that child was now in the hands of Cobra Commander.

Destro is later seen giving Alexander a new mask, to symbolize that he is his true son, and more importantly the heir to his legacy and the family. However, in exchange for his infant child, Destro would not only give up that legacy, the Destro family arms empire, MARS, but Alexander himself to Cobra Commander.

Battle Action Force

In the British version of G.I. Joe, Action Force, Destro was a further incarnation of a previous Red Shadows character, Red Jackal the driver of the Hyena tracked vehicle. The Battle Action Force comic books in conjunction with Palitoy who made the accompanying action figures began to conform their storylines to the G.I. Joe characters in the mid 1980s and, in doing so, developed a plot where the previous enemy faction, the Red Shadows were betrayed by their leader, Baron Ironblood. As a result of the betrayal, one of the characters, Red Jackal, sought revenge against his former leader who had now become the Cobra Commander. Following a struggle, Red Jackal was overwhelmed by Cobra Commander as acid was sprayed into his face. Cobra Commander nevertheless chose to spare him and, declaring a jackal was not a creature of the jungle (where his base was located), renamed him Destro. The name was derived from the last words Jackal had shouted (a shortened version of destroy) as he had tried to kill him. His face was also re-constructed by Cobra surgeons[1].

Animated Series

Sunbow

In the 1980s cartoon series, Destro was voiced by Arthur Burghardt. Destro is portrayed much differently. In the Sunbow produced series, he and Cobra Commander have a more contemptuous relationship. Destro is not afraid to say what is on his mind and even physically assaults him in some cases. Cobra Commander usually just lets him get away with it because he is the only one who would know how to operate the doomsday devices he makes.

In a first season episode titled Skeletons in the Closet, Destro and G.I. Joe member Lady Jaye are revealed to be related by blood, but it is never mentioned exactly how. Furthermore, while Cobra Commander was generally portrayed as a bungler, Destro was both a more serious and more competent villain. In Season Two, having tired of Cobra Commander's failures, he joins Dr. Mindbender in an attempt to create a new leader, they eventually succeed when they create Serpentor. It appears as though Destro realises Serpentor is growing too powerful and that under Cobra Commander's leadership he had more power within Cobra. In the final episode of the second season, he is helping Cobra Commander and the Coil, an organisation built by the Commander to eliminate Serpentor, Dr Mindbender and G.I.JOE in one sweep.

The Movie

Destro has only a minor role in G.I Joe: The Movie, but offers his loyalty to Golobulus and Cobra-La, quickly turning against Cobra Commander once again. In the final battle between the Joes and Cobra-La, Destro is seen fighting, but it is not revealed how he escaped from the explosion that destroyed the rest of Cobra-La.

DIC Series

In the DIC produced third series, Destro returns as Serpentor's right hand man, apparently having survived the events of the movie. He now sports a golden mask and 'iron grenadier' uniform with cape. Apparently having tired of the Baroness, Destro is now in a relationship with Zarana (unusual as he had previously stated his hatred of Zartan and the Dreadnoks), leaving the Baroness humiliated. It is ultimately his humilation of The Baroness which leads her to return Cobra Commander to semi-human form. Once he has returned, Cobra Commander contacts Destro, who informs the Commander he will join him again if he is able to overthrow Serpentor. He is also forced to 'dump' Zarana by the Baroness, which he does, literally, through a trap door. With Serpentor defeated, Destro rejoins the Commander and repairs his relationship with the Baroness.

Throughout the series, Destro does not show as much disrespect for the Commander as he did in the Sunbow series, appearing more loyal than before. But he does still maintain his role as the more level-headed and intelligent of the Cobra leaders, and often has to talk some sense into Cobra Commander and stop his hysterical rants. He still shows his disdain for the Commander, but mainly keeps his remarks to himself. In the second season of the DIC series, Destro regains his silver mask and dons a variation of his classic outfit.

Sigma 6

Hasbro Action Figures

Destro is also included in the 8" Sigma 6 toyline. The figure is clad in Cobra blue, with the iconic red collar, and a vac-metalized head mold.

File:Destro6.JPG

Destro from G.I. Joe: Sigma 6.

Comic Series

Devil's Due created a mini-series based on Sigma 6. It follows the style and the content of the cartoon series, spotlighting a different member of Sigma 6 and Cobra in each issue.

Animated Series

Destro was voiced by Scott McNeil in the direct-to-video movies that preceded G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 while Marc Thompson voices him in series itself. In the Sigma 6 continuity, he is loyal to Cobra Commander and still serves as Cobra's weapons designer. This version of Destro may be a cyborg or at least possess some bionic enhancements, having stated he possessed "circuits in his body".

References in Popular Culture

• In the animated cartoon series Evil Con Carne, Destro is parodied by a character wearing a metal mask, the dictator of a neighboring island, named "Estroy" (it is revealed in the series that he wears the mask because he is incredibly handsome, and doesn't want to be considered a "pretty-boy"). He also makes an appearance on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, which is set in the same continuity.
• The Dillinger Escape Plan has a song named "Destro's Secret" on their album "Calculating Infinity"
• Underground rappers Apathy and Esoteric of the Demigodz and MF Doom reference Destro in some songs.