Infiltration #0
Runaway Verity Carlo absconds with a mini-computer that just might hold bigger secrets than she’s prepared to handle. And when she’s made aware of a larger conspiracy that involves gigantic alien robots, well, the skeptic in her refuses to believe what she’s been told. Until she has no choice but to believe if she wants to survive at all!
Infiltration #0 Covers and Images
Infiltration #0 Release Info
Publisher | IDW |
Type | Comic Book |
Series | Transformers Infiltration Comics |
Release Status | Released |
Year | 2005 |
Release Date | October 2005 |
Infiltration #0 Print Data
Has Exclusive? | Yes |
Exclusive Description | BotCon 2005 Exclusive Cover - Optimus Prime sketches on wrap-around cover, Retailer Summit (Boston) Exclusive - Optimus Prime face, Retailer Summit (Fort Wayne) Exclusive - Megatron face |
Incentive Description | The incentive cover was provided for every one hundred regular cover copies ordered through Diamond Comic Distributors. |
Total # of Covers | 8 |
Infiltration #0 Artists, Writers and More
Cover A | (Artist: E.J. Su) |
Cover B | (Artist: E.J. Su) |
Cover C | (Artist: James Raiz) |
Cover D | (Artist: Milx) |
Cover RI (Retailer Incentive) | (Artist: Ed McGuinness) |
Botcon 2005 Exclusive Cover | (Artist: Aaron Archer) |
Retailer Summit (Boston) Exclusive Cover | (Artist: E.J. Su) |
Retailer Summit (Fort Wayne) Exclusive Cover | (Artist: E.J. Su) |
Artist | E.J. Su |
Colorist | John Rauch |
Letters | Robbie Robbins, Tom B. Long |
Writer | Simon Furman |
Editor | Chris Ryall |
Infiltration #0 Synopsis
Synopsis Submitted By: Tim Formas
They are among us. Here, now. They have been on Earth for years, the populace at large unaware of their presence or their terrifying intentions. An advance guard of alien mechanoids, in forms designed to mimic local forms of transportation, communications hardware and weaponry, instigating a staged plan of staggering proportions.
Phase One has begun…
At as bus stop in Phoenix, Arizona, a young human woman named Verity Carlo narrates how bus stations are like a mall to a wanderer like her with items such as a smart phone, bus ticket to Los Angeles, and lunch available to a thief like her. At the same bus stop, an unknown Decepticon has detected a Decepticon signal coming from a middle-aged human dressed like a business man. The man boards the same bus as Verity and sits in the row in front of her.
A little while into the trip, the man falls asleep. Verity, through the crack between the seats, cuts the man’s travel bag and removes a palm computer from it. Soon after, Verity fakes sickness and the bus lets her off in the middle of nowhere. Along the roadside, she sticks out her thumb and prepares to hitchhike.
At an undisclosed location in Oregon, the Decepticon computer reports that the human target has been sanitized but that the “cache” is missing. An unidentified Decepticons tells another to find it.
Meanwhile, Verity has been picked up by another young adult named Hunter O’Nion. Hunter informs Verity that he can only take her as far as Desert Center, which is his final stop. Verity knows the area and knows that there is nothing of note there, so she asks Hunter why he would go there. Hunter is obviously frazzled by the question and replies that he’ll just head north when he gets there. Verity continues her inquisition, stating that there is nothing but rocks or desert in the area and that he must be some kind of nature boy. Hunter tries to get Verity to drop the subject, saying that she’ll think he is weird. Verity, however, continues and suggests that Hunter is looking for “little green men”. Having somewhat guessed Hunter’s mission, Hunter was about to correct him when he suddenly stops his van.
Frazzled, Verity takes his sudden stopping of the car to mean that Hunter is some sort of predator. Hunter tries to ease her fears and tells her to look off in the distance a little ways off the road. Verity, meanwhile, has pulled out cans of pepper spray and demands to be brought back to the interstate and let go. Hunter continues to drive off the road and reaches a bus that is stuck in a crater…the same bus that Verity was riding in. Hunter pulls up to the passengers standing outside the bus and asks if everyone is okay. A male passenger informs them that all passengers are surprisingly okay. He informs Hunter that two cars forced them off of the road, followed by a flash. Following the flash, everyone was accounted for except for the middle-aged salesman that Verity stole the palm computer from. The bus driver then tells Hunter to leave, suggesting that this was just an accident, the man wandered off, and that the bus company is on the way.
As they head back to the road, Verity asks Hunter what exactly he is looking for. Hunter informs Verity that he is looking for giant robots. He adds that he runs a website called Mechatopia.com that supports a theory that Earth was invaded several years ago by extraterrestrial mechanoids. Verity asks him why the majority of humans haven’t noticed, to which Hunter replies that they are not noticed because they are in disguise. Verity breaks out laughing but is quickly interrupted when a fighter jet flies right over Hunter’s van. Hunter tries to regain control of his van as it skids out of control. Verity berates Hunter, claiming that he drove them into some military testing area. Hunter confirms that the jet was not of the US military and that he believes they were just scanned for something and that whatever they scanned was found.
At the Decepticon base in Oregon, the silhouette of Starscream is seen and he hears the report that the “cache” has been found. Starscream orders that the cache be contained and the humans be purged.
The jet, Thundercracker, turns back towards the van and fires a missile at it. Hunter and Verity jump out of the car and head for cover as the van explodes upon missile contact. Hunter tries to get Verity to run, stating that the jet will come back to finish the job if it is what he thinks it is (a giant robot). Verity states that they should just wave at the jet and surrender. Hunter, however, states that he saw into the cockpit very clearly on the last pass and saw that nobody was inside. As they start to run, Thundercracker turns again and heads towards them. Speeding towards them on the ground is an ambulance. As it speeds towards them, guns on the top of the ambulance take aim at Thundercracker. The counter fire causes Thundercracker to veer off course and clip a cliff. A man in the ambulance, whose expression doesn’t change, tells the humans to come with him if they want to live.
Infiltration #0 Review
Review Submitted By: Tim Formas
Transformers #0 presents a new start to the Generation One brand of Transformers. IDW Publishing has taken over the license following the collapse of Dreamwave. Rather than basing their storing on that created by Dreamwave, by the original cartoon or comics, or any other sort of publication, IDW has decided to create a fresh reboot with a new origin story about how the war between Autobots and Decepticons came to Earth.
In an effort to provide some continuity to the Transformers that long-time fans are familiar with, IDW has brought in long-time Transformers comic writer Simon Furman to write this issue and also author the six-issue series that will follow this premiere issue. Being an Issue #0 in a reboot, it is hard to judge the writing thus far or how the series is going to look. Simon’s focus in the premiere story is providing background on two of the main human characters. Rather than being an innocent teenager like fans are used to with Buster (Marvel Comics) or Spike Witwicky (cartoon), the fans are introduced to a young woman who is a drifter and a young man with some quirky intentions. The young woman does not trust anyone and the young man is longing for someone to believe him.
The art is the issue is by EJ Su. This issue does not feature any clear looks at any of the Transformers in robot modes (only a few are featured in vehicle mode), so EJ is forced to ensure that his drawings of humans are convincing. During the course of the issue, EJ seems ready and able to portray the varying emotions of the two main human characters. Expressions of happiness, fear, and uncertainty can be easily determined through interpretations of his art. Meanwhile, readers will have to wait until Infiltration #1 to determine if they like his designs for the Transformers.
Nobody would likely drop and or pick-up future Transformers comics based on IDW’s first shot at the Transformers brand. This issue is mainly meant as a teaser and a set-up to their future story arcs, with the Transformers not even being the main focus of this issue and not even featured in robot modes. The new story of the Transformers and of IDW Publishing truly will begin with the release of Infiltration #1, as fans are reintroduced to their favorite robots in disguise!
Overall Rating: 4