Review – The Destroyer #2 (Marvel Max)

There is so much to love about this miniseries. Fun and imagination are crammed lovingly into every panel. Robert Kirkman writes a quirky story about aging superhero The Destroyer AKA Kevin ‘Keen’ Marlow. Apparently this character has a history at Marvel fighting Nazis, but the back story doesn’t matter a whit. Destroyer is all about a fun futuristic metropolis dealing with candy colored threats on a daily basis.

Cory Walker handles the artwork with cartoonish glee that is perfectly matched to the goofy tone. While there isn’t a whole lot of detail, just the right amount of information is conveyed in the efficient layouts. Character design is consistently great, and the city is recognizably modern, brimming with technology. Kirkman and Walker lay out a hyper realized silly and violent world that the reader can bite into.

The Destroyer appears to be an amalgam of The Punisher and Hobgoblin, but quickly distinguishes himself with brute force tactics. The unoriginal costume design turned me off when I first opened this book, but my reservations vanished as fast as I finished the first page. Bullet proof armor and super strength are the name of the game, but Destroyer is an old man, nearing a fatal heart attack, trying to take care of finished business. The military sends him on regular missions to save the city. This ‘one last job’ storyline is nothing new, but Kirkman makes it feel fresh and fun. Family dynamics are believable, and the interracial marriage isn’t mined for cheap political correctness points.

Destroyer and his wife seem like a real couple despite his super identity. They enjoy a family life anyone can relate to and appreciate. Destroyer’s son is a retired superhero too, but it all feels normal. Panels showing family time in the pool are surprisingly entertaining.

Another place Kirkman does great is in his villain designs. While his serious writing in Walking Dead is good, it’s nice to see him have a relaxed outlet. Destroyer’s enemies are hilarious, evil cyborg Techtronica is a great laugh, and old foes are down on their luck. The Destroyer deals with his enemies the way all superheroes should operate, by mercilessly killing them in fantastic and creative ways. This comic doesn’t hold back on the gore, and renders bodily destruction with cartoonish accuracy.

Of course, this series is going somewhere, and Destroyer isn’t spending all of his time killing helplessly underpowered enemies. Destroyer’s arch nemesis might be alive or dead, and he has to find out before his ticker goes. Of course, comic book rules dictate that Scar is indeed alive and a grave threat to Destroyer and his family. The new threat brings retired son-in-law Turret back into the game. The set up for next issue is palpable, rich with violent possibilities that I will be raptly waiting for.