Last week, FOG! checked in with our friends at IDW Publishing to learn about their upcoming event, Infestation 2, the sequel to last year’s successful Infestation crossover.
Whereas the first series used zombies as the antagonist, Infestation 2 brings Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythos to the party. Participating on the conference call with various journalists was IDW CCO Chris Ryall, Editor Bobby Curnow and AnnaMaria White, Director of Marketing and PR.
Under a logo by the inimitable Rian Hughes, Infestation 2 is a crossover storyline incorporating a number of IDW titles and characters responding to the same threat. The first Infestation used such characters as Star Trek, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Ghostbusters, this series will use a (mostly) different set of characters.
After the jump, find out the titles, creative teams, and more!
The series begins with Infestation 2 #1 by Duane Swierczynski and David Messina, with covers by David Messina and Alex Garner.
This issue sets up the series, and will feature the Danger Girl characters (prior to their upcoming Revolver comic) and Ryall’s C.V.O. characters (Covert Vampire Operations). Infestation 2 #1 arrives in stores on January 25, 2012. The second issue, which bookends the entire story arrives in stores on April 11, 2012.
Now, for the mini-series and one-shots.
Infestation 2: Transformers #1 (in stores 2/1/12) & #2 (in stores 2/15/11) from Chuck Dixon with art and covers by Guido Guidi.
This takes place in the steampunk Transformers: Hearts of Steel continuity and will also feature famous historical characters such as Thomas Edison. The original Transformers: Hearts of Steel will also be reprinted.
Infestation 2: Dungeons and Dragons: Eberron #1 (in stores 2/8/12) & #2 (in stores 2/22/12) from Paul Crilley and Valerio Schiti with cover by Menton Matthews.
This is the first time the Eberron campaign setting has been seen in comics and will feature Abraxis Wren, a Holmesian-Han Solo-esque character who stumbles onto the horrible Lovecraftian conspiracy.
Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (in stores 3/7/12) & #2 ( in stores 3/21/12) by Tristan Jones and Mark Torres with a cover by Livio Ramondelli.
Infestation 2: G.I. Joe #1 (in stores 3/14/12) & #2 (in stores 3/28/11) is written by Mike Raicht with art and cover by Valentine De Landro.
Mike is the only writer from the first Infestation making a return appearance and this book features Crystal Ball (created by Owen King, Joe Hill’s brother) who is based on a young Alan Moore(!). The plot of this book is that Cobra has uncovered a relic that drives people insane, as a result, it can only be fought by those previously insane. Crazy, huh?
Infestation 2: One Shots
Infestation – Team Up (in stores 2/29/12) featuring characters from Chris Ryall’s Groom Lake and Weekly World News. This one is written by Ryall with art by Alan Robinson and a cover by Eric Powell.
This has Bat Boy and Ng Hudson sitting in a bar during the Infestation commenting on big event comics.
30 Days of Night (in stores 4/4/12) and written by Duane Swierczynski with art by Stuart Sayger.
This one shot takes place in North Pole where a secret temple, an old home of the Elder Gods is discovered by humans, but it’s already been found, by the vampires of Barrow.
Infestation 2 will be supported by retailers with temporary tattoos and ashcans for giveaway.
For more information, visit the IDW Publishing website.
