Infiltration



A fresh take on the Transformers concept.

=IDW Transformers issues #0-6=

Script: Simon Furman Art: EJ Su Lettering: Tom B. Long (#2-5) with Robbie Robbins (#0-1, #6) Colors: John Rauch (#0, #2-6) with Josh Burcham (#1), Simon Bork, Mark Englert, Aaron Myers, Sunder Raj and Kevin Senft (#6) Editor: Chris Ryall (#0) with Dan Taylor (#1-6)


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Verity Carlo, Hunter O'Nion, Ratchet, Starscream, Jimmy Pink, Prowl, Bumblebee, Megatron
 * Originally published: October, 2005 (#0); January, 2006 (#1); February, 2006 (#2); March, 2006 (#3); March, 2006 (#4); May, 2006 (#5)

Synopsis
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. 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.

Throughout the story, the under-cover nature of the activities of both sides is emphasised. The first page of Issue Two indicates that the Transformers have been present on earth for at least four years without anyone outside of conspiracy theorists noticing; 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 details of this new war are revealed slowly, with each issue introducing only a few new characters. The reader is given a good look at a Transformer in primary mode for the first time at the end of Issue 1 (the Decepticon Battlechargers Runamuck and Runabout), and Autobots other than Ratchet are only introduced near the end of Issue #2. The leaders of the opposing forces are held in the wings; Megatron only makes his first appearance in the final page of Issue 4 and Optimus Prime, first mentioned in Issue #3, only appears in the last panel of Issue #6.

The lead humans in the story stumble across the Transformers' secret war largely by accident. Verity Carlo happens on (well, steals) the handheld computer that contains evidence of the Decepticons' activities and then thumbs Hunter down by chance (although Hunter happens by on the trail of giant robot activity in the area); after Ratchet saves their lives from the attacking Thundercracker, Verity asks Jimmy, who owns a garage, for a place to hide.

The series has taken an interesting and rather unique approach to the standard Transformers story: the slow introduction of characters allows 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.

Errors
In Issue #0, after identifying herself as "Verity Carlo" in the narrative text, the character identifies herself to Hunter as "Verity Carter". An internal justification could be that "Verity Carter" is alias she uses to prevent Social Services tracking her down, but when Ratchet asks for her name in Issue #1 she answers with "Verity Carlo".

Items of note
As of issue 5, most of the Transformers seen thus far 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?)
 * 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; 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.

Also 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.

Finally, Issue #6 introduces that (at least) the Decepticons possess some form of teleportation technology, which Megatron is seen to use to travel 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.