The Transformers: Infiltration
Transformers: Infiltration is a "re-boot" of Generation 1 continuity, bringing the invasion of Earth by the Autobots and Decepticons into the modern mid-2000s day and placing the "Robots in Disguise" concept firmly in the forefront of its narrative.
| Infiltration issues: |
|---|
| #0 | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 |
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 million-year slumber; the Autobots and Decepticons have arrived on Earth 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, perhaps 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 organisation known only as the Machination 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 unravelling 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 forms updated to the modern day:
- Ratchet: Ambulance (modernised - make and model?)
- Runamuck: Sports car (make and model?)
- Runabout: Sports car (make and model?)
- Thundercracker: F-22 Raptor
- Prowl: Nissan 350Z police car
- Sunstreaker: Lamborghini Diablo
- Ironhide: Van (modernised - make and model?)
- Jazz: Porsche (Which model?)
- Skywarp: F-22 Raptor
- Starscream: F-22 Raptor
The only confirmed exceptions to this are Bumblebee and Wheeljack, who retain their original G1 alternate forms (although Bumblebee, unlike Wheeljack, posesses a new transformation scheme, making for a different looking robot mode to G1); Blitzwing, Astrotrain and Optimus Prime may also be exceptions.
Based on his appearance, Megatron's alternate form is obviously not a pistol or any other form of sidearm; the presence of at least two, possibly four track bogies on his primary form suggests some sort of self-propelled cannon (a near-identical apperance in the first issue of Stormbringer suggests that he has yet to select an Earth-based alternate form). As of the end of the Infiltration series, we have yet to see Megatron in alternate form.
New technology
Updated for the modern day is the concept of 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 of the Autobot contingent on Earth; the absence of a pilot in Thundercracker's cockpit in Issue #0, the layout of Runabout's alternate form passenger compartment (without human seating) in Issue #1 and the gold tinted windows of both Battlechargers all suggest that the Decepticons do not employ a similar system.
Issue #6 introduces that (at least) the Decepticons possess some form of teleportation technology, which Megatron is seen using when he travels to Starscream's Oregon command bunker. Bumblebee refers to Megatron's appearance as an "orbital bounce", suggesting that the technology is satellite- or ship-based.
