Infestation (IDW)
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| The name or term "Infestation" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, seeInfestation (disambiguation). |
Infestationis a2011IDW Publishingcrossover event that sees azombieinfection spread between dimensions. Kicked off by a framing story that collides IDW's ownZombies vs. RobotsandCVO: Covert Vampiric Operations,the resulting "infestation" then reaches into the worlds ofTransformers,Star Trek,G.I. Joe,andGhostbusters,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 invadingZVRandCVOcharacters.
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. Aneight-page previewbooklet featuring in-universe prose teasers was also released in the run-up to the event.
Dan AbnettandAndy Lanning(who used to work on most of those properties decades ago forMarvel UK) were the brain trust behindInfestationand wrote both the bookend issues andThe Transformers: Infestationmini-series.Nick Rochedrew theTransformersportion of the crossover.
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Contents |
Overview
Scientists at Kirtland Underground Munitions Storage Complex inadvertently opens a portal to "Dimension Z", home to a horde of zombies controlled by the ravenousUndermindintelligence.Covert Vampiric Operationsis 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 theworld of the Transformers,Britt and the zombies emerge in deep space, but are recovered byGalvatron's ship. The zombies attack the crew, infecting severalSweepsand sending the craft crashing down toLas VegasonEarth,while Britt uses her power to disguise herself as theTransformer"Bayonet", enthralling Galvatron and his remaining comrades to believe her a longtime ally. TheAutobotsarrive 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 unstableKup,his suppressed memories of fighting "zombies" onTsiehshiresurfacing, 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 toCybertron's prosperous past, as glimpsed in Kup's mind. However,Prowluses a mental connection installed years ago to have Kup redirect the gateway to the birth of theDead 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 agentCrosstransforms 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
- Infestation, Volume 1(August 10,2011)ISBN 1600109772/ISBN 978-1600109775
- CollectsInfestation#1,The Transformers: Infestation#1–2, andG.I. Joe: Infestation#1–2.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- Trade paperback format.
- Infestation, Volume 2(August 31,2011)ISBN 1613770030/ISBN 978-1613770030
- CollectsStar Trek: Infestation#1,Ghostbusters: Infestation#1, andInfestation#2.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- Trade paperback format.
- Infestation(January 11,2012)ISBN 1613771061/ISBN 978-1613771068
- CollectsInfestation#1,The Transformers: Infestation#1–2,G.I. Joe: Infestation#1–2,Star Trek: Infestation#1,Ghostbusters: Infestation#1, andInfestation#2.
- Bonus material includesPocket God: Infestationand an art gallery.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Seven(October 17,2012)ISBN 1613774060/ISBN 978-1613774069
- Infestation Omnibus(July 30,2014)ISBN 1631400142/ISBN 978-1631400148
- CollectsCVO: Covert Vampiric Operations#1,Infestation#1–2,Infestation: G.I. Joe#1–2,Infestation: Ghostbusters#1–2,Infestation: Outbreak#1–4,Infestation: Pocket God#1,Infestation: Star Trek#1–2,Infestation: The Transformers#1–2,Infestation 2#1–2,Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night#1,Infestation 2: Dungeons & Dragons#1–2,Infestation 2: G.I. Joe#1–2,Infestation 2: Team-Up#1,Infestation 2: The Transformers#1–2, andInfestation 2: TMNT#1–2.
- Bonus material unknown at this time.
- Trade paperback format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection:Volume 50: Heart of Darkness(May 31,2017)
- CollectsHeart of Darkness#1–4,andThe Transformers: Infestation#1–2.
- Bonus material includes a post-mortem on "Zombots"across the various comics and a bio on IDWHardhead.
- Hardcover format.
Volume 1– cover art byJohn K. Snyder IIIandJason Wright
Volume 2– cover art by John K. Snyder III and Jason Wright
Infestation– cover art byGabriel Rodríguez
The IDW Collection Volume Seven– cover art byE. J. Su
Omnibus– cover art by Gabriel Rodríguez
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 50: Heart of Darkness– cover art byGuido Guidi(Prowl) andUlises Fariñas(retro)
Notes
- In case you're wondering: theG.I. Joeportionof the crossover sees a zombie computer-virus take over an underwaterCobrabase, theGhostbustersportionhas theGhostbusters firehouseunder attack by a zombifiedStay Puft Marshmallow Man,and theStar Trekportioninvolves aFederationcolony world enduring a zombie plague.
- Amusingly, IDW'sTransformersline would eventually go on to have proper crossovers with all three of these properties: various incarnations of the Transformers cast crossed paths with G.I. Joe in 2014'sTransformers vs. G.I. Joemaxiseries and 2016'sRevolutionevent, met up with the crew ofUSS Enterprisein 2018'sStar Trek vs. Transformers,and encountered theGhostbustersin 2019'sTransformers/Ghostbustersminiseries.
