Infestation (IDW)
| The name or term "Infestation" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Infestation (disambiguation). |
Infestation is a 2011 IDW Publishing crossover event that sees a zombie infection spread between dimensions. Kicked off by a framing story that collides IDW's own Zombies vs. Robots and CVO: Covert Vampiric Operations, the resulting "infestation" then reaches into the worlds of Transformers, Star Trek, G.I. Joe, and Ghostbusters, representing the majority of IDW's licensed properties at the time. The different licensed worlds do not interact with each other at any point, only with invading ZVR and CVO characters.
Infestation's framing story was told in a pair of bookend issues, between which was released a two-part tie-in story for each of the four licensed properties. An eight-page preview booklet featuring in-universe prose teasers was also released in the run-up to the event.
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (who used to work on most of those properties decades ago for Marvel UK) were the brain trust behind Infestation and wrote both the bookend issues and The Transformers: Infestation mini-series. Nick Roche drew the Transformers portion of the crossover.
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Overview
Scientists at Kirtland Underground Munitions Storage Complex inadvertently opens a portal to "Dimension Z", home to a horde of zombies controlled by the ravenous Undermind intelligence. Covert Vampiric Operations is sent in contain the facility, but one of their vampire agents, Britt, is bitten by a zombie and becomes an ultra-powerful zombie-vampire. Seeking new power and knowledge, the Undermind uses Britt's power to open portals to other worlds, sending zombies and an avatar of Britt to each one.
In the world of the Transformers, Britt and the zombies emerge in deep space, but are recovered by Galvatron's ship. The zombies attack the crew, infecting several Sweeps and sending the craft crashing down to Las Vegas on Earth, while Britt uses her power to disguise herself as the Transformer "Bayonet", enthralling Galvatron and his remaining comrades to believe her a longtime ally. The Autobots arrive on the scene and clash with Galvatron's forces, eventually reaching a tenuous truce in order to respond to the greater threat of the zombie infestation. Before long, an unstable Kup, his suppressed memories of fighting "zombies" on Tsiehshi resurfacing, sees through Britt's illusion and correctly identifies her as the true threat. She promptly infects the elderly Autobot and absorbs his memories, gathering precious knowledge of Cybertronian technology for the Undermind. Hungry for more, Britt transforms her robot body into a time-space transportation gateway, and prepares to send the zombie infestation to Cybertron's prosperous past, as glimpsed in Kup's mind. However, Prowl uses a mental connection installed years ago to have Kup redirect the gateway to the birth of the Dead Universe, successfully trapping Britt and her horde in a world of nothingness—but the elderly Autobot is trapped with them...
Back in CVO's universe, the original Britt transports her avatars home and reabsorbs them, elevating her power such that she can open a portal leading to the Undermind's horrific physical form. To prevent it accessing their world, Britt's fellow agent Cross transforms himself into a second zombie-vampire, protecting himself from the Undermind's control with demon blood. Following a super-powered zombie-vampire showdown, Cross manages to use his newfound abilities to totally rewrite the laws of magic and erase the Undermind from existence. With its influence gone, Britt is left comatose, and Cross, thought dead by his teammates, goes into self-imposed exile.
Collections
- Contains Infestation Part 1, The Transformers: Infestation #1–2 and G.I. Joe: Infestation #1–2.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- Infestation, Vol. 2 (August 31, 2011) ISBN 1613770030 / ISBN 978-1613770030
- Contains Star Trek: Infestation, Ghostbusters: Infestation and Infestation Part 2.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- Infestation Hardcover (January 11, 2012) ISBN 1613771061 / ISBN 978-1613771068
- Contains Infestation: Part 1, Transformers: Infestation, G.I. Joe: Infestation, Star Trek: Infestation, Ghostbusters: Infestation and Infestation: Part 2.
- Bonus material includes Pocket God: Infestation and an art gallery.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Seven (October 17, 2012) ISBN 1613774060 / ISBN 978-1613774069
- Collection includes: The Transformers: Infestation #1–2, The Transformers #7–18, and The Transformers: Ironhide #1–4.
- Contains Infestation: Part 1, Infestation: Transformers, Infestation: G.I. Joe, Infestation: Star Trek, Infestation: Ghostbusters, Infestation: Part 2, Infestation: Pocket God, Infestation 2: Part 1, Infestation 2: Transformers, Infestation 2: Dungeons & Dragons, Infestation 2: Team-Up, Infestation 2: TMNT, Infestation 2: G.I. Joe, Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night and Infestation 2: Part 2.
- Bonus material includes ???
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 50: Heart of Darkness (May 31, 2017)
- Hardcover collection of Transformers: Infestation #1–2 and The Transformers: Heart of Darkness #1–4.
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Infestation, Vol. 1; cover art by John K. Snyder III and Jason Wright -
Infestation, Vol. 2; cover art by John K. Snyder III and Jason Wright -
Infestation HC; cover art by Gabriel Rodriguez -
IDW Collection Volume Seven; cover art by E. J. Su -
Infestation Omnibus; cover art by Gabriel Rodriguez -
Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 50; cover art by Guido Guidi (Prowl) and Ulises Farinas (retro)
Notes
- In case you're wondering: the G.I. Joe portion of the crossover sees a zombie computer-virus take over an underwater Cobra base, the Ghostbusters portion has the Ghostbusters' firehouse under attack and a zombified Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and the Star Trek portion involves a Federation colony world enduring a zombie plague.
