Destro
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Destro is a fictional 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.
Destro's full name is James McCullen Destro XXIV. He is the 24th Laird of Destro, an estate in the burg of Callander, Stirlingshire, Scotland, and is Chieftain of the McCullens of Destro.
His family became prominent weapons suppliers in 15th Century Europe where they took advantage of the wars and conflicts so prevalent in that continent's past. Sometime in the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell's men discovered a Destro clan member to be also supplying weapons to both sides in the English Civil War. Instead of being put to death, the Destro clansman was made to wear an uncomfortable steel mask as punishment. Rather than accept it as disgrace, the Destro clan turned it into a symbol of honor and it has since been worn by the head of each succeeding generation.
The weapons supplies business has since been incorporated as MARS (Military Armaments Research Syndicate) and became one of the world's greatest suppliers and manufacturers of armaments and hi-tech weaponry.
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[edit] Comic
Although it is a common misconception, Destro is not a member of Cobra, G.I. Joe's arch nemesis and the terrorist organization that has contracted his services, even though he has worked with Cobra so closely and intensely. A major reason for this is his relationship with Cobra Commander's lieutenant, the Baroness. This has, at times, led to disputes between the two men and a desire on Destro's part to wrest control of Cobra from Cobra Commander. Compared to Cobra Commander, Destro is well-versed in military strategy and combat skills.
Destro and Cobra Commander were left for dead after a failed attack by Cobra on the Pit, G.I. Joe's headquarters. They managed to escape and parted ways. Destro returned to Scotland and to MARS. A year later, he founded the Iron Grenadiers and competed with Cobra, which had become an arms supplier during Serpentor's tenure, in the arms market. Later on, he was reunited with the Baroness and both retired to Castle Destro. It was not long before Cobra Commander made an attempt on their lives. In the end, Cobra Commander was able to have them captured and repeatedly brainwashed into service.
When shown out of his mask as a younger man accompanying his father, James Destro XXIII, into Southeast Asia in 1968 (and becoming involved after the fact in the events which led his future lover Anastasia DeCobray to eventually become the Baroness), Destro had blondish hair and blue eyes.
[edit] Devil's Due
Years later, Destro and the Baroness would be able to shake off the brainwashing and the tension between Destro and Cobra Commander would continue. When Cobra Commander went missing, Destro claimed himself leader of Cobra in his stead.
[edit] Cartoon
[edit] A Real American Hero
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 even more useless than Cobra Commander, as in the final episode of the second season, he is helping Cobra Commander and the Coil, an organisation built by the Commander to overthrow Serpentor. 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.
[edit] DIC Series
In the DIC produced third series, Destro returns as Serpentors 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 classic outfit.
[edit] Sigma 6
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".
This version of Destro strongly resembles Sigma from the Mega Man X series. They have a similar appearance. The differences is Destro is grey ,has red eyes and is a cyborg, and Sigma is tan (head only) with blue eyes and is a Maverick, although sometimes he has red eyes as well.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Music
- The Dillinger Escape Plan has a song named "Destro's Secret" on their album "Calculating Infinity"
- Underground rappers Apathy and Esoteric of the Demigodz reference Destro in some songs.
| Toy Line | G.I. Joe | G.I. Joe Adventure Team | G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero | Action Force | Sgt. Savage and the Screaming Eagles | G.I. Joe Extreme | Hall of Fame | Masterpiece Edition | Timeless Collection | Classic Collection | G.I. Joe: Sigma 6 |
|---|---|
| Comics | List of G.I. Joe comics |
| Animated Series | Sunbow series | DiC series | G.I. Joe Extreme | Sigma 6 |
| G.I. Joe Characters | Duke | Snake-Eyes | Scarlett | Stalker | Hawk | Flint | Lady Jaye | Roadblock | Shipwreck | Cover Girl | List of G.I. Joe ARAH characters |
| G.I. Joe Villains | Cobra Commander | Destro | Baroness | Zartan | Storm Shadow | Dr. Mindbender | Serpentor | Firefly | Overkill |
| Movies | G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987) | Spy Troops (2003) | Valor vs. Venom (2004) |
| Factions | G.I. Joe | Cobra | Dreadnoks | Oktober Guard | Iron Grenadiers | Cobra-La | Arashikage | Phoenix Guard |
| Video Games | G.I. Joe | The Atlantis Factor |
