Invader ZIM
August 20, 2004 | 
46 Comments
Summary: A review. Invader ZIM Vol. 1. Doom! Doom! Doom!
Jhonen Vasquez’s Invader ZIM is awesome. Simply awesome.
Invader ZIM begins with a great first episode, in which our unlikely space invader ZIM gets his assignment from “The Almighty Tallest” to go to Earth as part of “Operation Impending Doom 2.” Assigned a semi-functional, and totally hilarious robot, “Gir”, ZIM heads to Earth to do the Irken Empire’s bidding.
“Disguised” as a “skool” kid (most of the time) with Gir as a funny looking dog, he infiltrates human society and does his best to pave the way for DOOM!
What follows is pure comedic brilliance. Just about every episode had me almost peeing my pants. Seriously, this show is straight-up one of the funniest, coolest, wackiest shows around. It’s really too bad it’s no longer in production—I think it’s a classic.
The animation is very cool and I’ve been a big fan of Vasquez’s style for quite awhile. I have to admit I wasn’t sure how it’d translate to the screen, but as great as his comics are, they don’t compare to what he’s done with Invader ZIM. The writing and vocals are top notch and the production value here is very, very high.
Aside from that I’m not quite sure how to describe it, other than to say it’s great and I think It’d be pretty darn hard to compare Invader ZIM to another show as it’s way out there and very unique (although ZIM in his “skool” kid disguise kind of reminds me of Bart Simpson). So what I’ll leave you with is a synopsis of one of the episodes, maybe that will shed some light on the greatness that is Zim!
In “A Room With A Moose”, ZIM decides to have his revenge on all the kids that picked on him. He loads them into a rocket disguised as a bus (with the help of a beat-boxing Gir) and sends them toward another dimension. He talks about sending them to a “Dimension of Pure Itching!” and a “Dimension of PUUURREEE DOOKEY!” but, no, that would be too easy for the almighty ZIM, Lord of Humaaanz! He decides to send them to…dun, dun da…A Room With A Moose!
With Invader ZIM, the premise, while very silly yet usually pretty fun, isn’t all that important. It’s all the funny little details and one-liners along the way. If you’re into animation, comedy and don’t mind it crude and goofy, I highly recommend Invader ZIM.
Oh and the DVD extras are great as well! Buy it NOW puny human!
Recommended if you like: Samurai Jack, Dexter’s Laboratory, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Lenore, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Filed under: Review
Comments
1. Simon Jessey said:
I’ve had that DVD for quite a while now. It is easily the most enjoyable, and just plain bizarre, cartoon I have ever seen. My favorite character is Grr - a creation of pure genius. You should Pre-order volume 2, which is due out at the end of the month. Volume 3 comes out in October.
Posted on August 20, 2004 02:37 PM | #
2. Simon Jessey said:
Oops. I mean Gir, of course. Most of the main characters in Invader Zim have only three letters in their name. Just another example of how odd the whole thing is. I have a huge MP3 collection of music from the series as well.
Posted on August 20, 2004 02:45 PM | #
3. Keith said:
Simon – I love Gir! He’s the best. There is the episode where they get lost and Gir didn’t have his tracking software…”I had to make room for the muffin!” Love it.
Yeah I’m getting vol 2 and 3 for sure. Oh and the music is great too.
Posted on August 20, 2004 02:47 PM | #
4. Yannick L. said:
I used to watch the series. I couldn’t agree with you more Keith, it was a great show and yes very hilarious. Gir is well…the best.
Posted on August 20, 2004 03:43 PM | #
5. Shade said:
For the longest time, I used Zim as my 404 page…
Such brilliance.
-Shade
Posted on August 20, 2004 04:14 PM | #
6. Seth Thomas Rasmussen said:
YES!
j’aime teh ZIM… so much beaucoup’s
zim:
why was there bacon in the soap???
gir:
i made it myself!
i must obtain Acne Blast…
Posted on August 20, 2004 07:18 PM | #
7. Jason Santa Maria said:
I loved this show when it was on, and am so happy to now have the DVD to watch whenever I want. Pure macabre brilliance. Though I wish I hadn’t watched the cast interviews… it destroyed a bit of the mystique to see how big of idiots they were… especially when trying to ad-lib. I still can’t wait for the next one.
Posted on August 20, 2004 09:26 PM | #
8. Robyn said:
Invader Zim is awesome! I still don’t understand why Nickelodeon let Jhonen Vasquez have his own show in the first place but now the world has GIR so it doesn’t matter. GIR MUST RULE ALL! Everyone can have stuffed animal piggies.
Posted on August 20, 2004 10:21 PM | #
9. Aaron said:
I can believe that cartoon was for kids on Nickelodeon. It was some kind of creepy.
Posted on August 21, 2004 10:23 AM | #
10. Ben said:
I couldn’t agree more.
Zim is peeing-your-pants funny.
I love it. One of my greatest regrets is that they stopped making it, as you noted.
“There’s a pigeon on you head. You’ve got head pigeons. Get the nurse before it spreads to the other children!” -Ms. Bitters
Posted on August 23, 2004 11:26 PM | #
11. Rebecca said:
Invader Zim is the best show in the wrold! Nickeloden was really stupid to get rid of it. I’m an obsessed fan! The creator Jhonen makes the best books ever! I have all 3 DVDs and I’m gonna paint Invader Zim all over my room! I love the character Tak! She is awesome! My favs are Tak, Zim, Gir, Tallests, Membrane, Gaz, Dib. Well, those are the characters that I put from best to worst. Dib is actually ok, so I would put him in front of Gaz. Please E-mail me! At zim_rules0@hotmail.com if your also an obsessed fan!
Posted on December 22, 2004 09:58 AM | #
12. sarabeth said:
i loved this show so much i never get to see it any more becuase the people on nick took it off the air that made me so mad i live all of jhonen’s work. like squee and jthm, i feel sick and all ove it yes i want it back on!!!!!
Posted on January 7, 2005 07:32 AM | #
13. Rebecca said:
hi!!!!! invader zim was da bomb!!!!! i can’t beleave NICK took it off air though. if it was still on air Johnen said he would have had plans to have Tak return in a few more episodes. and the horrible sponge bob show would be off air cause it wouldn’t be loved anymore………that would be cool. Mwahahahahaha long live zim!!!!!!………….AND THE ALMIGHTY TTTAAAKKK!!!! YAY TAK!!!!!!! IF YOU R A OBSESSED ZIM, GIR, DIB , or THE ALLMIGHTY TAK FAN E-MAIL ME AT snore415@yahoo.com
Posted on January 15, 2005 06:49 AM | #
14. Invader Mar (Zims girlfriend) said:
HI!!!!!!!!!!!!! I haven’t been through the web yet but i will soon. I LOVE MY ZIMMY!!!!!!!!! He’s telling me now that he loves me. And by the way, i am Zims REAL girlfriend.
Posted on January 21, 2005 08:35 AM | #
15. Invader Dreamah said:
Invader Zim was the best. i cant believe it was cancelled. how heartless are those nick people? *sobs*
Posted on January 24, 2005 12:58 PM | #
16. stefan said:
i love invader zim its freakin cool its one of my favorite shows. its so insane and spontaniouse…
that its cool !!
Posted on February 16, 2005 04:26 PM | #
17. Kira said:
yay!! zim!! sry i wuv zim…and— Jhonen Vasquez is a buddy of Roman Dirge..Roman Dirge made……..Lenore!! yay~! *cough*..
luv,
Kira
*leaves*..lol
Posted on March 7, 2005 12:52 AM | #
18. Blue dude said:
I luvvv IZ (on nick.com it stands for invader zim)
I am like the #1 fan!!!!! :/ Though I do not know WHY WHY!!!!!! they cancled it. @ first i didnt get it. NOW I LUVVVVVVVVVV IT!!! I just DONT UNDERSTAND WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well I may sound crazy,weird (you get the point) Thats how I’m addresssed A school.
Weird huh? I dont know about u guys but I HATE ZIM!!!!!!!!!! :D He just isnt a REAL invader.
Posted on March 11, 2005 05:51 PM | #
19. Ahyma said:
I just love this cartoon!
Here in Mexico it’s only transsmited saturdays and sundays, It’s been a lot of time since i saw it….
You must give thanks for having the DVD, here I can only buy it for more than 50$ and I have to wait 3 moths until they get it….but I still love Zim!! (and of course I´m in love whit dib!!)
Posted on March 17, 2005 03:46 PM | #
20. Devidooo said:
i luvv invader zim it rocks
im trying to make a website for invader zim and foamy fans only though im having trouble i’ll keep u updated if u want me too
Posted on March 20, 2005 11:02 AM | #
21. JICEL ! E. said:
invader zim is my favorite show , but I don’t get it that they took it off nickolodian ( i know i spelled it wrong it is because im only 10 years old ) so quickly ! THEY DIDN’T EVEN SHOW THE 3RD SEASON BECAUSE OF THAT ! so stupid………but they show invader zim on nicktoons at 7:00pm I recall…..just to tell you people invader zim is still on….. [(‘o’)] BYE!
Posted on March 29, 2005 07:55 PM | #
22. JICEL ! E. said:
invader zim is soooooo! sooooooooo!………………COOL! even if im only 10 years old , my mind is poluted with zim Gir Dib and Gaz.I like it when gir does “the dance” if any of you guys know what i mean…….. do do d do do do do do do! that dance………in fact i know all you guys are mad at nickolodeon *Rebecca* because that they took it off but i have good news for all of you. invader zim is on nicktoon at 7:00pm i recall. yay i watched it just a while a go. oh yah! i hate sponge bob too even so many kids my age adore that thing!!zim and Gir will concer the word( me too! )!!!!
Posted on March 29, 2005 08:14 PM | #
23. Janel _ note said:
HI!! Just to tell all you folks… i’m jicel’s sister we share the same site. Oh yes, it sucks that they removed invader zim on nick.. Who cares about zoe 101 or unfabulous!!! There all gay shows!!! They replaced zim for a couple of dumb teens? i mean cum on … TEENs!!!!!?????? Your also in luck, invader zim hasn’t been canceled on the NICKTOONS. If you wan’t to watch it you need to have HBO on demand, the show usaully comes on at 6 or so, TAK, ZIM, GRR, DIB GAZ(DIB’s SISTER), PROFESSER( i 4 got), and that scarey teacher plus all the frolicking dirt children. I salute you!! ( puts hand up and salutes)_ may the force be with you. BY!!!! BY!!!! :)
Posted on March 29, 2005 08:33 PM | #
24. JICEL ! E. said:
hi! ……………zim is sooo da bomb digity!
Posted on March 30, 2005 04:40 PM | #
25. McKack said:
Great show. I do get the feeling though that the audience it brought upon itself ruined the show, or ruined the feel that Jhonen Vasquez was looking for. It became a kiddietoon and not as much a bizzare freakshow:) But hey, he didn’t HAVE to do it for Nickelodeon… One other thing, I don’t see why people like Gir so much, he’s SO cliché, I HATE “ooh look at me I’m so dumb and cute” characters.
Posted on April 3, 2005 12:01 PM | #
26. JICEL ! E. said:
love this show it’s the greatest! zim gaz dib grr(my favorite) and Tak!
Posted on April 6, 2005 04:38 PM | #
27. JICEL ! E. said:
LOVE THIS SHOW ! i watch this show ever since i was 7 but they don’t show it anymore…..but it is on nicktoons around 1:30-7:30 I think …….their is still hope… their is still hope………
Posted on April 6, 2005 04:48 PM | #
28. JICEL ! E.(10 yrs.) said:
zim and grr are cool!!!!!
Posted on April 9, 2005 04:31 PM | #
29. JICEL ! E.(10 yrs.) said:
hi!
Posted on April 9, 2005 04:31 PM | #
30. JICEL ! E.(10 yrs.) said:
so……cooooool! i found a site of invader zim!
Posted on April 9, 2005 04:35 PM | #
31. Kevin said:
I love Zim!
Posted on April 16, 2005 08:21 PM | #
32. Zim said:
STUPID NICK !!! they better put it back on
Posted on May 8, 2005 02:47 AM | #
33. Angelika said:
I am lord of humans! I will rule you all with an iron fist! you, obey the fist!!
Posted on May 21, 2005 07:46 PM | #
34. Sam said:
Zim is the coolest!!
Posted on October 18, 2005 11:09 AM | #
35. catalina said:
zim and gir are the best
Posted on October 27, 2005 06:21 PM | #
36. Invader Roxy said:
Everyone knows that I’m ZIM’s REEEEAAALLL girlfriend!!! I love him more than Invader BUTT (Mar) does!!! I actually watch his show every night! Yea, that’s right. Surly, they took the show off Nickolodian…. but… they put it on a different channel at a different time. Nope, I’m not giving any more information to anybody…. espesially not Invader BUTT (Mar)!!!
P.S I LOVE MY ZIMMY MORE THAN MAR!!!
Posted on November 23, 2005 05:43 PM | #
37. Invader Roxy said:
P.S.S ZIM is RIGHT NOW telling me how much he hates MAR! She is so on our hatelist! ……I love you, too, ZIMMY! How cute is that?
Posted on November 23, 2005 05:49 PM | #
38. Invader Roxy said:
I love that show more than you all do!!! If you say not, I will rule you all! Invader blood pumps through my veins!!! Do not ignor my veins! Oh, yea…. YOU STINK, MAR!! YOU STINK!!!! Oh, that horid monkey!
Posted on November 23, 2005 06:07 PM | #
39. Invader Roxy said:
I HATE INVADER MAR…. you know… like I’m number 39. Well, she’s number 14. Oh that horid monkey! Hey, if you agree with me, wright back to me now! I might wright you back!
Posted on November 23, 2005 06:11 PM | #
40. Invader Roxy said:
I love ZIM! Him and his sexy evilness!:) Most of you may think I am spoiled right now. But just to let you know.. I’m not! I just hate MAR because she thinks ZIM is her boyfriend when he’s really mine! I LOVE ZIM!!!
Posted on November 23, 2005 06:31 PM | #
41. Invader Sid said:
‘OW DARE YOU HATE GIR :O ‘oy, I’m jus kiddin, mate. Ish your opinion not moine. Im so much sexier dan anywoon >:o I can actu’lly DRAW them >:D I’m sure SOMEONE has ta be able to draw Zim in hea…I mean draw him good >:P Ha! Ya roit. Naw, I’m sure someone can it’s easy, mate.
Posted on December 8, 2005 10:48 AM | #
42. The Awesomeness that is Gir said:
you guys do know that zim wasnt totally and completely cancelled right?
I still watch it sometimes on channel 126, nicktoons. Weekdays at 7:00, 10:00 and 10:30 pm.is funny. My favorite episode is Gir goes crazy and stuff.
Word.
Posted on December 10, 2005 09:00 PM | #
43. Invader Cat said:
ZZZZZZIIIIIIIIMMMMMMM!!! *drools* I love him SOOOOO much! I am a #1 fan! He is SOOOO HOTT! *drools again* I don’t think anyone in the world loves him as much as I do! Not even Mar and Roxy!;p
Posted on December 22, 2005 12:41 PM | #
44. Invader Cat said:
YOOOOOOOO!!! DUUUUDES!!! Write me back! I’ll be back to check this message board January! Write your opinion on each of the characters in Invader Zim! Then, I’ll tell you what I think! PLLLEEEEEAAAAAASSSSE, write me back!
P.S. If Invader Mar is reading this… YOU HAVE WRITE ME BACK!!! I’ve been to your web and it rocks! I’m a HUGE fan of your art work!!! I agree… ZIM IS HOTT!!!!!!!
Merry Christmas, everybody! CAT OUT! O_~
Posted on December 24, 2005 06:16 PM | #
45. Invader Kaz said:
Zim IS pretty cute…. OH, WHAT AM I SAYING?!!?! HE’S GOR-JESS!!! …..I know I spelled that wrong. Mar’s a little crazy to be in love with a cartoon when she’s 15 years old. I mean you have to admit… that IS pretty rediculous! Anyways, Cat… MY favorite characters are ZIM, GIR, TAK, and MIMI. THEY’RE SO AWSOME!!! I think I spelled that wrong,too. Oh,well… SEE Y’ALL!!!
KAZ out! Zim IS pretty cute…. OH, WHAT AM I SAYING?!!?! HE’S GOR-JESS!!! …..I know I spelled that wrong. Mar’s a little crazy to be in love with a cartoon when she’s 15 years old. I mean you have to admit… that IS pretty rediculous! Anyways, Cat… MY favorite characters are ZIM, GIR, TAK, and MIMI. THEY’RE SO AWSOME!!! I think I spelled that wrong,too. Oh,well… SEE Y’ALL!!!
KAZ out!
Posted on January 21, 2006 11:30 AM | #
46. Invader Kaz said:
OMG!!! I’M SORRY PEEPS! Something’s wrong with my computer… or my brain… o.O (You: *backs away slowly* ) No, I’m just anoying! Please write me back, whoever’s reading this! ;P
Posted on January 21, 2006 11:35 AM | #
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