IDW Plans an Infestation

Today at the New York Comic-Con, IDW Publishing announced a crossover event for their licensed products that starts in January. Called "Infestation", it will be essentially a multi-universe zombie invasion (like Marvel Zombies) that will impact Transformers, Star Trek, G.I. Joe, and Ghostbusters. The zombies are based on IDW's Zombies vs. Robots comic book where the bad guys have the capability to zombify robots so the threat could cause problems for Transformers.

The crossover event is being written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (Legion, Realm of Kings) with various artists for the books. The invasions begin with Infestation #1, continue in Transformers: Infestation #1-2, Star Trek: Infestation #1-2, G.I. Joe: Infestation #1-2, and Ghostbusters: Infestation #1-2. Infestation #2 will close out the crossover. Comic Book Resources spoke with event editors Tom Waltz and Andy Schmidt about the crossover. Click here for more details and the first issue covers.

"Without giving too much away, I can say that we start in the IDW universe with a zombie outbreak of epic proportions. The threat is contained (or is it?), but not before it infests other realities - the realities of our licensed books," Waltz told CBR. "The individual series will show just how our intrepid heroes - folks like Optimus Prime, Dr. Peter Venkman, Mr. Spock, Baroness, and so many others - face down this new and obviously shocking threat, and their desperate efforts to stop it before it can completely consume - both literally and figuratively - their realities."

"To me, that's the true beauty of this event, because the methods of counteracting the threat are as diverse as the licenses and the creators involved," Waltz added. "I don't want to give anything away, but rest assured, each book will be fresh and exciting and different - each license facing down the same dangers, but no two in the same way. Success and survival are not guaranteed. Our creators have surprises up their sleeves and things will never be the same for any of these titles when all is said and done."

Waltz confirmed, though, that "Transformers: Infestation" and "G.I. Joe: Infestation" are set in the core comic book universes and that "Star Trek: Infestation" takes place during the "Motion Picture" era and will star Spock, Kirk, and Dr. McCoy. "And the 'Ghostbusters: Infestation' books take place in the ongoing 'Ghostbusters' continuity (in which the movies, cartoons, and comics basically co-exist)," Waltz said.

With both editors suggesting that there would be ramifications beyond the "Infestation" event, CBR asked Schmidt, who oversees the ongoing "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe" titles, whether this means that the miniseries would tie back into the core books. "Yes to one, and maybe to the other... Ha ha! I love being evil!" he said.