The Transformers: Infiltration - Transformers Wiki
This article is about the IDW comic series. For the protocol out of the Decepticon invasion handbook, see infiltration protocol.
The Transformers: Infiltration was the first in a line of miniseries by IDW Publishing set in a re-booted Generation 1 continuity. The series brought the Transformers' presence on Earth into the present day and places the "robots in disguise" concept firmly in the forefront of its narrative.
It is issues #0–6 in the IDW overarching "sub-numbering" (shown in later series by a number in an Autobot-sigil shaped shield beside the bar code on each issue—Stormbringer picks up with #7), and was originally published between October, 2005 and July, 2006.
The Transformers: Infiltration issues: | » | ||
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Contents
Overview
The most immediate shift from original continuity is the nature of the Transformers' presence on Earth. In this continuity, there was no ancient starship crash, nor robots awakening from a four million-year slumber; the Autobots and Decepticons have arrived on Earth fairly recently and on purpose, operating undercover for at least four years. The story is told through the eyes of four main characters: Verity Carlo, a young drifter; Hunter O'Nion, a conspiracy theorist; Jimmy Pink, mechanic and Verity's net-friend; and Ratchet, a medic who puts his conscience over his mission.
The series quickly and consistently establishes a strong Cold War, cloak-and-dagger theme, where secrecy and rules of espionage are as important as, or perhaps even more than, vanquishing the enemy. Thundercracker and the Battlechargers attack the humans and Ratchet to retrieve data on a palmtop PC that might reveal their existence; Ratchet is arrested by Prowl for breaking cover to rescue the humans; both Autobot and Decepticon operations are small cells instead of full-fledged armies. Also, a third faction is at work: a secret human organization known only as the Machination which appears to be aware of the Transformers' presence on Earth and has its own plans, as yet unknown, for the robots. Finally, it becomes evident to the Autobots that the Decepticon operation is up to something unusual, and their new human allies may have a part in unraveling the mystery.
The series has taken an interesting and rather unique approach to the standard Transformers story: introducing only a few new characters with each issue. This enables each issue to focus on a small selection of leads (Ratchet, the humans and later Bumblebee) without overwhelming them and gives each issue space to explore their characters.
The series culminates in a battle between Starscream, who leads the Decepticons on Earth, and the recently arrived Megatron attempting to put his house in order. Their animosity seems to be a constant in any Transformers continuity!
Creative team
Infiltration was scripted by long-time Transformer writer Simon Furman and penciled by E. J. Su. The two also worked together on multiple follow-up miniseries including The Transformers: Escalation and The Transformers: Devastation. Colors were provided primarily by John Rauch, with help from Josh Burcham on issue #1 and assists on issue #6 by Simon Bork, Mark Englert, Aaron Myers, Sunder Raj, and Kevin Senft.
Notes
- The model for Infiltration and its fellow -ations was very much the contemporary Ultimate comics by Marvel Comics, which rebooted old franchises in modernised forms (something far less common in the early 2000s). Much like those comics, the plan was to have a slower pace and drip feed the appearances of the characters, but internet feedback was going "GIVE US THE ROBOTS" while the comic was still coming out. Stormbringer would come out earlier than planned to relieve the pressure on the -ations.[1][2]
- Each of Infiltration's seven issues were released in a choice of multiple covers—some issues had as many as ten. As this was apparently too many to include in the normal trade paperback, IDW released an Infiltration Cover Gallery book which included every cover. This was actually released prior to the normal TPB collection of the series' issues.
Collections
- The Transformers: Infiltration Cover Gallery (August 16, 2006) ASIN: B0039GX7BG
- Includes (almost) all covers from the series.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: Infiltration (September 13, 2006) ISBN 1600100104 / ISBN 978-1600100109
- Collects Infiltration issues #0–6.
- Bonus material includes sketch art by E. J. Su.
- Trade paperback format. It bears the number #1 on its side.
- The Transformers: Infiltration Manga [sic] (November 29, 2006) ISBN 1600100198 / ISBN 978-1600100192
- Collects Infiltration issues #0–6.
- Small size format: 5 x 0.5 x 7 inches.
- Trade paperback format.
- The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 1 (December 5, 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182
- Collects Infiltration issues #0–6, Stormbringer issues #1–4, Escalation issues #1–6, and Spotlight: Shockwave, Nightbeat, Hot Rod, Sixshot & Ultra Magnus.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One (May 26, 2010) ISBN 978-1600106675
- Collects Megatron Origin issues #1–4, Spotlight: Blurr, Cliffjumper, Shockwave, Nightbeat, Hot Rod & Soundwave, and Infiltration issues #0–6.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: Phase One Omnibus (September 10, 2014) ISBN 1631401130 / ISBN 978-1631401138
- Smaller-sized collection of Infiltration issues #0–6, Escalation issues #1–6, and Devastation issues #1–6.
- Trade paperback format.
Infiltration Cover Gallery – cover art by E. J. Su
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1 (July 6, 2016) ISBN 163140637X / ISBN 978-1631406379
- Collects The IDW Collection One and Two.
- Trade paperback format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 32: Infiltration (September 5, 2018)
- Collects Infiltration issues #0–6.
- Bonus material includes an article on "Creating the IDW-Verse: From the Ground Up", "The Pitch" — Furman's original pitch to IDW for Infiltration, sketch art by E. J. Su., a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
- Transformers: Best of Starscream (September 21, 2022)
- Contains Infiltration #6, Robots in Disguise #20: "Three Monologues", The Transformers Holiday Special: "Choose Me", Till All Are One #12: "Your First Mistake", and Shattered Glass #3.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- Comic format.
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 32: Infiltration – cover art by Don Figueroa and E. J. Su
International printings
Spain
The Transformers: Infiltration was translated and released in Spain by NORMA Editorial.
China
The Transformers: Infiltration was translated and released in China by Children's Fun Publishing, StarFish or DMAN.