The Transformers: Infiltration

The Transformers: Infiltration is the first in a line of miniseries by IDW Publishing set in a "re-boot" of the Generation 1 continuity, bringing the presence on Earth of the Autobots and Decepticons into the present day and placing the "robots in disguise" concept firmly in the forefront of its narrative. Infiltration is set in the same time period as The Transformers: Stormbringer and both are followed by The Transformers: Escalation.

Overview

Spoiler warning: Plot details follow. Please give an expiry date ({{spoiler|(story)|DATE}}) - either the date of the next episode/issue in the series or 30 days after release, whichever is sooner

The most immediate shift from original continuity is the nature of the Transformers' presence on Earth. No ancient starship crash, no 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. We also discover that there is a third faction 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.

New alternate modes

Most of the Transformers seen in Infiltration feature alternate modes updated to the modern day:

• Ratchet: Dodge Sprinter ambulance
• Runamuck and Runabout: Chevrolet Camaro SS
• Thundercracker, Skywarp and Starscream: F-22 Raptor
• Prowl: Nissan 350Z police car
• Sunstreaker: Lamborghini Diablo
• Ironhide: Dodge Sprinter van
• Jazz: Current-model Porsche 911 (aka 997)

The exceptions to this are Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Optimus Prime, who retain their original G1 alternate forms (although Bumblebee possesses a new transformation scheme, making for a different looking robot mode to G1); Blitzwing and Astrotrain may also be exceptions.

(Note: Although Jazz did get a redesigned alt-mode for IDW's G1 comics, one of the covers for issue #0 feature Jazz with his original Porsche 935 hood/chest.)

New technology

Updated for the modern day is the concept of "facsimile circuitry" dummy drivers introduced in the G1 Marvel Comics continuity. Instead of poorly-articulated mannequins, the new drivers are sophisticated projections created by a technology called holomatter. Generators for holomatter are built into each member of the Autobot contingent on Earth. Conversely, the Decepticons use facsimile constructs—synthetic humans grown in special pods from the bodies and minds of kidnapped "template" humans.

Both sides also possess some form of teleportation technology, seen when Megatron travels to Starscream's Oregon command bunker and, later in Escalation, when the Autobots travel to and from Brasnya. This "orbital bounce" can apparently be coordinated from an Ark spacecraft or the Decepticons' bunker headquarters.

Creative team

Infiltration was scripted by long-time Transformer writer Simon Furman and penciled by E. J. Su. The two also worked together on the follow-up miniseries: The Transformers: Escalation.

Collections

Manga cover

• Infiltration TPB (Sep, 2006) ISBN 978-1600100109

Bonus material includes images of each cover.

• Infiltration Manga (Nov, 2006) ISBN 978-1600100192
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.