WARNING! Spoilers for Destro #4The Energon Universe has found several new takes on classic characters from the G.I. Joe franchise, and their latest update on one villain is something no fan could have ever foreseen. Destro #4 reveals that the new Chameleon is an obscure character from Hasbro’s past, setting the stage for an epic conclusion to the miniseries.
Coming from the creative team of Dan Watters, Andrei Bressan, Adriano Lucas and Rus Wooton, Destro #4 reveals that the new Chameleon is actually Astoria Carlton-Ritz, the spoiled heiress of Hybrid Technologies.
Astoria appeared in the first issue of Destro, in what is perhaps the deepest pull yet seen in the Energon Universe. The character’s only major appearance prior to this was an episode of the Transformers cartoon in the eighties, where she developed a bond with the Autobot Powerglide.
In previous continuities, Chameleon was actually the half-sister of Baroness, who would impersonate her sibling while working undercover for the Joes.
The “New” Chameleon Is Revealed as Astoria Carlton-Ritz
G.I. Joe’s Villain Update Is a Deep Pull
After appearing in the first issue at Destro’s arms bazaar in Darklonia, Astoria virtually disappeared from the series. Destro got caught up in a war with the Crimson Twins, Tomax and Xamot, and had his hands full when the hi-tech assassin Chameleon tracked him down to his ancestral castle in the Scottish Highlands.
Of course, now that readers know Chameleon’s true identity, they know that Astoria has been hiding in plain sight all along, albeit wearing a long, blonde wig to mask her true identity. The new Chameleon is revealed to have a special ability known as a FLUKE Pulse, an EMP blast that allows her to disable any and all technology around her at will.
The FLUKE Pulse is a clever homage to Astoria Carlton-Ritz’s original appearance in the
Transformers
cartoon, where the character’s mere presence seemed to disrupt all technology in her immediate vicinity.
It’s a very intriguing reveal, as readers also learn that the attack on the arms bazaar in Destro #1 was carried out by a new version of Overkill, an adaptive A.I. developed by her late father to detect and nullify any potential threats before they happen. Overkill has now taken on a life of its own, making decisions for itself on how best to “protect” the world. Destro had to fake his own death and form an alliance with General Flagg to uncover the conspiracy, which now places the stakes of the series in a whole new light as Destro races to its conclusion.
Cobra Continues to Rise in the Energon Universe
What Role Will Chameleon Play in the New G.I. Joe?
With Tomax and Xamot making moves to acquire Destro’s MARS Industries, the silver-masked arms dealer will certainly have his hands full before all is said and done. With the new G.I. Joe #1 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly launching in November, fans are definitely curious to learn how all these various organizations and individuals will come together under the banner of Cobra. With both Chameleon and Destro featured prominently on the cover of G.I. Joe #1, both characters look to be major players in the Energon Universe moving forward.
Destro #4 is available now from Skybound Entertainment.