Take a Stand, Say What You Feel. Be Who You Want, But be for Real.
Infiltration Issue 3. March 8th 2006.
Ooo... a Bug? Coo-oool!
One thing that might not be immediately apparent to newer readers is that the Transformers comics of 2006 are 22 pages, whilst those of 2021 are, and have been for some time, a mere 20. On the surface, that might not seem like much of a difference, but at the time the transition happened, it did create headaches for the writers (as I’ll discuss down the line) and there are two very clear examples in this third issue of Infiltration of things a comic today simply wouldn’t have the space to devote the same time to.
Starting on the very first page, as we see (from behind) Sunstreaker, Ratchet and Prowl looking at CCTV monitors of Verity (and the other two, in some sort of holding cell) screaming at the camera that she’s prepared to delete all the photos on it unless someone listens to her.
To which Sunstreaker simply notes “Noisy creatures aren’t they? Still, easily sorted”, before he puts her on mute.
How very Zoom of him.
It’s a simple gag, and one clearly meant to be funnier on rereads as you contrast his disgust at humans with what happens to him later on, but it’s also one no title now would devote an entire page to. It would be half at most.
Ooo... a Bug? Coo-oool!
One thing that might not be immediately apparent to newer readers is that the Transformers comics of 2006 are 22 pages, whilst those of 2021 are, and have been for some time, a mere 20. On the surface, that might not seem like much of a difference, but at the time the transition happened, it did create headaches for the writers (as I’ll discuss down the line) and there are two very clear examples in this third issue of Infiltration of things a comic today simply wouldn’t have the space to devote the same time to.
Starting on the very first page, as we see (from behind) Sunstreaker, Ratchet and Prowl looking at CCTV monitors of Verity (and the other two, in some sort of holding cell) screaming at the camera that she’s prepared to delete all the photos on it unless someone listens to her.
To which Sunstreaker simply notes “Noisy creatures aren’t they? Still, easily sorted”, before he puts her on mute.
How very Zoom of him.
It’s a simple gag, and one clearly meant to be funnier on rereads as you contrast his disgust at humans with what happens to him later on, but it’s also one no title now would devote an entire page to. It would be half at most.
Wheeljack's Ass.
But even now, a double page spread is a good way to introduce your lead cast, and that’s what we get next, as Ironhide, Sunstreaker, Bumblebee, Wheeljack (those two introduced to the reader ass first) and Jazz watch Prowl chewing Ratchet out for breaking so many rules.
It also gives us a key moment for the art. Despite there being no humans in this scene, it’s still drawn from a human eye level POV, looking up. Su is keeping the aliens one stage removed, scary and looming, even when just having a conversation amongst themselves. It’s a trick the first film would repeat to great success.
Said conversation leads us into a strange sequence for a story that, as has been said, is very much written for trade. An entire page given over to Ratchet recapping the story so far. Which is far more the sort of thing you’d get in the Marvel days, when each issue had to work as its own unit, even if part of a longer story.
Whilst that suggests you can’t quite take Furman out of the 80’s, it at least works better when reading the series like this, an issue at a time, with the midpoint an excellent time for a quick catch-up.
There is however an attempt to make the Transformers seem weird and alien that doesn’t stand up to any scrutiny as Ratchet apparently has no concept of surnames, calling the humans Veritycarlo and Hunteronion. Just a few pages before he’s begging to have Optimus Prime called in rather than Optimusprime.
It also gives us a key moment for the art. Despite there being no humans in this scene, it’s still drawn from a human eye level POV, looking up. Su is keeping the aliens one stage removed, scary and looming, even when just having a conversation amongst themselves. It’s a trick the first film would repeat to great success.
Said conversation leads us into a strange sequence for a story that, as has been said, is very much written for trade. An entire page given over to Ratchet recapping the story so far. Which is far more the sort of thing you’d get in the Marvel days, when each issue had to work as its own unit, even if part of a longer story.
Whilst that suggests you can’t quite take Furman out of the 80’s, it at least works better when reading the series like this, an issue at a time, with the midpoint an excellent time for a quick catch-up.
There is however an attempt to make the Transformers seem weird and alien that doesn’t stand up to any scrutiny as Ratchet apparently has no concept of surnames, calling the humans Veritycarlo and Hunteronion. Just a few pages before he’s begging to have Optimus Prime called in rather than Optimusprime.
Look at the detail in Ratchet's armpit!
The actual confrontation between Ratchet and Prowl is gold though. In later years, as I suspect I will go at length about, Prowl is going to be a one dimensional For The Greater Good fascist. Here, he has as legitimate a point as Ratchet. The Doctor insisting that they are here to save lives in the end and he, as a medic, is prepared to do it one life at a time. With Prowl stopping him dead by pointing out he totally failed to save the guy’s life. It’s a very smart exchange, even with Prowl’s head being drawn totally in shadow perhaps making him seem a little too evil.
With Ratchet on the back-foot, Prowl orders the PDA be drained and the humans gotten rid of, leaving Ratchet to first implore him and then, when he’s ignored, Ironhide, to call Optimus Prime in because the Decepticons are breaking the rules to have gone into siege mode now. And whether under orders or not, that means Megatron will be coming.
Which establishes something that later years will completely undermine. Earth is not special until this point, we have a random team of Autobots and a random team of Decepticons stationed here of no significance until events require the big boys to come in.
Except it’s going to turn under other authors that the Autobot team includes all of Optimus Prime’s best friends and the Decepticon team the single second most important officer in their ranks.
With Ratchet on the back-foot, Prowl orders the PDA be drained and the humans gotten rid of, leaving Ratchet to first implore him and then, when he’s ignored, Ironhide, to call Optimus Prime in because the Decepticons are breaking the rules to have gone into siege mode now. And whether under orders or not, that means Megatron will be coming.
Which establishes something that later years will completely undermine. Earth is not special until this point, we have a random team of Autobots and a random team of Decepticons stationed here of no significance until events require the big boys to come in.
Except it’s going to turn under other authors that the Autobot team includes all of Optimus Prime’s best friends and the Decepticon team the single second most important officer in their ranks.
No one would make up a name like Finklerock except a comic writer.
The mention of the Decepticons leads us to the first of three cutaway scenes of them cleaning up the evidence of their presence that start as light comedy, with a state trooper visiting the house of PDA man and showing a picture of his dead body to his landlord.
And because we haven’t have a human with a stupid name for a hot ten minutes, the guy turns out to be called (though it’s probably a pseudonym) Mr Finklerock. A mix of Danny Finkleberg and G.B. Blackrock from the Marvel days.
But before it can be explained why a guy fleeing from Nebraska to LA with evidence of aliens would rent a house in Arizona, Skywarp teleports himself and Blitzwing in and destroy the place.
And because we haven’t have a human with a stupid name for a hot ten minutes, the guy turns out to be called (though it’s probably a pseudonym) Mr Finklerock. A mix of Danny Finkleberg and G.B. Blackrock from the Marvel days.
But before it can be explained why a guy fleeing from Nebraska to LA with evidence of aliens would rent a house in Arizona, Skywarp teleports himself and Blitzwing in and destroy the place.
Character development!
Back in the ship (called Ark-19, and to Hunter’s disappointment at the bottom of Lake Michigan rather than in SPACE), Ratchet comes to talk to the humans in the best scene they’ve had yet. Largely because it’s largely ignores the two boys and focuses on Verity, who continues to be a much better character than I remembered.
She initially continues the bluster of shouting at the CCTV (with the hilarious implication she’s been doing it nonstop throughout the previous scene, no wonder Hunter and Jimmy are quiet), but once Ratchet’s holo-avatar comes in and asks for the PDA, there’s a moment of hesitation, and then she choses to trust.
Which, as chunkily written as they were, is something her previous conversations with Jimmy have established is a big deal.
Also, as the scene cuts between holo-Ratchet and the real deal outside the human’s cell (a box), talking away, it’s emphasised they are both speaking in the same voice. Which is something I’ll come back to in a bit.
She initially continues the bluster of shouting at the CCTV (with the hilarious implication she’s been doing it nonstop throughout the previous scene, no wonder Hunter and Jimmy are quiet), but once Ratchet’s holo-avatar comes in and asks for the PDA, there’s a moment of hesitation, and then she choses to trust.
Which, as chunkily written as they were, is something her previous conversations with Jimmy have established is a big deal.
Also, as the scene cuts between holo-Ratchet and the real deal outside the human’s cell (a box), talking away, it’s emphasised they are both speaking in the same voice. Which is something I’ll come back to in a bit.
Su giving himself an easy day at the office.
Which leads us into the second page in the issue that couldn’t happen today in the 20 page comic world. Three identical panels of Ironhide looking at a monitor and thinking, one that’s nearly the same but with him reaching out to press a button and then the confirmation (in a very 80’s typeface) that he’s listened to Ratchet and is putting a Zoom call of his own in, to Optimus Prime.
Meanwhile, Ratchet has discovered that Finklerock had managed to take photographs of the super secret hidden Decepticon base. Don’t know what gave it away, but he even managed to get inside and take pictures that show it has been abandoned.
Ratchet also takes this moment to explain the title of the series, and how the Decepticons infiltrate planets in stages, and what they’re doing now is going straight to Phase 5.
And boy do you not want to see Phase 6.
Which is when Verity asks a key question: Why did they move bases?
Meanwhile, Ratchet has discovered that Finklerock had managed to take photographs of the super secret hidden Decepticon base. Don’t know what gave it away, but he even managed to get inside and take pictures that show it has been abandoned.
Ratchet also takes this moment to explain the title of the series, and how the Decepticons infiltrate planets in stages, and what they’re doing now is going straight to Phase 5.
And boy do you not want to see Phase 6.
Which is when Verity asks a key question: Why did they move bases?
Remember this for a callback later...
Back at Jimmy’s garage (which is confirmed to be a proper business, “Auto Solutions”. Jimmy is 17), a reporter for K-IDW (groan) is covering the mysterious destruction of the surrounding area, and much to her frustration her camera crew fail to capture Blitzwing and Skywarp destroying the place.
Back at the Ark, a very silly argument is taking place where the humans are trying to convince Ratchet they should be the ones to go to Nebraska and explore the base themselves, on the tortuous logic that the previous guy got in and out OK.
This makes no sense for any of the characters bar the into this shit Hunter to be keen to do, with the previously the most natural acting Verity even making “We laugh in the face of danger” jokes. It’s clearly a writer having to awkwardly make everyone out of character to fit the plot he wants to tell.
Ratchet starts off being sensible (and we’ll see next issue how well humans exploring a Transformers sized base will go), but ends up being shut up by Hunter throwing “Siege mode” at him.
Which is when Ratchet needs a moment. And suddenly finds out Bumblebee was listening all along. With a great line of “Couldn’t help but overhear... largely because I was lurking back here where I had no good reason to be”.
Back at the Ark, a very silly argument is taking place where the humans are trying to convince Ratchet they should be the ones to go to Nebraska and explore the base themselves, on the tortuous logic that the previous guy got in and out OK.
This makes no sense for any of the characters bar the into this shit Hunter to be keen to do, with the previously the most natural acting Verity even making “We laugh in the face of danger” jokes. It’s clearly a writer having to awkwardly make everyone out of character to fit the plot he wants to tell.
Ratchet starts off being sensible (and we’ll see next issue how well humans exploring a Transformers sized base will go), but ends up being shut up by Hunter throwing “Siege mode” at him.
Which is when Ratchet needs a moment. And suddenly finds out Bumblebee was listening all along. With a great line of “Couldn’t help but overhear... largely because I was lurking back here where I had no good reason to be”.
Time for a weak-ass argument. Note the flowing conversation fro robot to avatar though.
There are several major characters who have completely different personalities over the years from author to author, and the biggest shame for me is that this cool, calm, slightly snarky spy Bumblebee will suddenly become a weak willed incompetent idiot as soon as someone else starts putting words in his mouth. This Bumblebee is actually one of the great, understated, successes of the era.
And successfully gives Ratchet the pep-talk he needs (“A wrong call here and the whole of mankind might not live to regret it!”) for them all to go to Nebraska. Because Bumblebee is coming as well.
Whilst Hunter and Jimmy are happy to ride with Ratchet, Verity is immediately drawn to Bumblebee’s Bug (the robot mode has been tweaked a bit, but he’s the first Transformer in the series with their G1 mode).
Or rather, she’s very obviously drawn to Bee’s holo-avatar, based on Herbie remake star Lindsay Lohan. At the time, when queer rep in Transformers was incredibly rare, fans read a lot into this one panel. Though in the end, even a decade later, there will be little to say what sort of Love Bug Verity is after.
And successfully gives Ratchet the pep-talk he needs (“A wrong call here and the whole of mankind might not live to regret it!”) for them all to go to Nebraska. Because Bumblebee is coming as well.
Whilst Hunter and Jimmy are happy to ride with Ratchet, Verity is immediately drawn to Bumblebee’s Bug (the robot mode has been tweaked a bit, but he’s the first Transformer in the series with their G1 mode).
Or rather, she’s very obviously drawn to Bee’s holo-avatar, based on Herbie remake star Lindsay Lohan. At the time, when queer rep in Transformers was incredibly rare, fans read a lot into this one panel. Though in the end, even a decade later, there will be little to say what sort of Love Bug Verity is after.
There's no heterosexual explanation for this.
What also stands out, in relation to the fact we already know Ratchet’s avatar uses his own voice, is that Bumblebee has a female one. In Ultimates style revamps of franchises with a strong male/female imbalance, it’s fairly common to gender swap some roles. The then recent Battlestar Galactica remake having some notable examples. So, as Bumblebee isn’t called by any pronouns here, it’d be easy to assume they’re a she.
But, it could equally be saying something about the gender-fluid nature of the Transformers, that as alien robots they could present themselves as anything to humans in communication with them.
Because, as a point I’ll be hammering home several times as we go along, there’s certainly no logic that lets the robots be “He” that doesn’t also let them be “She”.
Sadly, any implications of this scene are clearly not something Furman has thought about, and Bumblebee is going to indeed turn out to be a “He” and the avatars mean nothing beyond actor jokes. And when we finally get some conversation about how Transformers identify…
…well, there’s a tale for another time.
But, it could equally be saying something about the gender-fluid nature of the Transformers, that as alien robots they could present themselves as anything to humans in communication with them.
Because, as a point I’ll be hammering home several times as we go along, there’s certainly no logic that lets the robots be “He” that doesn’t also let them be “She”.
Sadly, any implications of this scene are clearly not something Furman has thought about, and Bumblebee is going to indeed turn out to be a “He” and the avatars mean nothing beyond actor jokes. And when we finally get some conversation about how Transformers identify…
…well, there’s a tale for another time.
"I'd help, but my thighs are too thicc"
I wouldn’t be completely surprised if the choice of avatar was entirely down to Su (its hard to imagine Furman writing “Lindsay Lohan” into a script), so even the Sapphic implications were whizzing over the writer’s head.
After touching on something potentially new and interesting, the issue ends with, like the in-issue recap, Furman retreating into the 80’s with the return of the comedy human bystander. Back in Phoenix, the bus Verity was on is at the car wash, with the maintenance man annoyed that it is so battered, it should have gone to the repair bay. He gets on the phone... at which point Blitzwing and Skywarp come in and explode it. Leading to him simply going “Never mind” to the person he’s been complaining to.
Having cleaned up all the other lose ends (possibly, as we’ll see, in the wrong order), the issue ends with what can only be described as a Dummy Thicc Starscream at their new base ordering them to the next target... the Nebraska Bunker!
I am actually surprised at how much I’m enjoying Infiltration at this point, my memory of the last few reads has been that it didn’t really hold up very well.
But, halfway through, it feels like Furman has found his groove and this is a lot of fun with only some very small niggles. Not to mention that E.J. Su continues to excel. I wish the humans hadn’t suddenly gone out of character, but this is quite a nice piece.
And perhaps it’s simply the case that Furman never really got the hang of writing for trade and this works better issue by issue. But whatever the reason, this is quite a blast.
Next week, we’ll see if this continues into issue 4.
INFILTRATION 2
2005-2206
COMMENT
KO-FI
After touching on something potentially new and interesting, the issue ends with, like the in-issue recap, Furman retreating into the 80’s with the return of the comedy human bystander. Back in Phoenix, the bus Verity was on is at the car wash, with the maintenance man annoyed that it is so battered, it should have gone to the repair bay. He gets on the phone... at which point Blitzwing and Skywarp come in and explode it. Leading to him simply going “Never mind” to the person he’s been complaining to.
Having cleaned up all the other lose ends (possibly, as we’ll see, in the wrong order), the issue ends with what can only be described as a Dummy Thicc Starscream at their new base ordering them to the next target... the Nebraska Bunker!
I am actually surprised at how much I’m enjoying Infiltration at this point, my memory of the last few reads has been that it didn’t really hold up very well.
But, halfway through, it feels like Furman has found his groove and this is a lot of fun with only some very small niggles. Not to mention that E.J. Su continues to excel. I wish the humans hadn’t suddenly gone out of character, but this is quite a nice piece.
And perhaps it’s simply the case that Furman never really got the hang of writing for trade and this works better issue by issue. But whatever the reason, this is quite a blast.
Next week, we’ll see if this continues into issue 4.
INFILTRATION 2
2005-2206
COMMENT
KO-FI
