History WesternAnimation / InvaderZim

* DarkerAndEdgier: This show is virtually this to every other Nickelodeon series (and to a lesser extent, other children's programming) at the time, even surpassing ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'' in terms of how much it got away with. Compare the unaired pilot to the first episode of the series (or just the series in general). The unaired pilot was goofy, lighter, and had more of a basis of exaggerated fun. Meanwhile, the series was much closer to Vasquez's previous work, with a darker sense of humor.

* DarkerAndEdgier: Compare the unaired pilot to the first episode of the series (or just the series in general). The unaired pilot was goofy, lighter, and had more of a basis of exaggerated fun. Meanwhile, the series was much closer to Vasquez's previous work, with a darker sense of humor.

* AliensAndMonsters: A good number of the characters, especially their alternative selves in the Halloween special.

* OnlyOneName: Dib and Gaz do not seem to have a last name (ZIM's holographic Meekrob refer to Dib as "Dib... whatever-your-last-name-is"). A Nick.com e-card for the show claimed that Membrane's first name was [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Professor]], but Jhonen (and the original flash version of official website) says that, in fact, Membrane is the professor's first name and his last name is a mystery like so many other things about him.
** Dib replies to "Dib... Whatever-Your-Last-Name-Is" with "that's right," which could be taken as confirmation of its correctness, unless he was just confirming his ''first'' name, or agreeing that it wasn't important and indicating that the speaker should just continue with their main point. Some fans jokingly like to say Dib's full name, then, is "Dib Whateveryourlastnameis."
** Though this hasn't stopped fans from referring to Dib as "Dib Membrane," however, who seem to love using that as his last name. On occasion Jhonen himself has even referred to him (possibly mockingly) as "Dib Membrane" on his blog.
*** It's finally confirmed in the comics that "Membrane" is the family name.

* ArtisticLicenseAstronomy:
** All over the place in "Planet Jackers". Parodying the Twin Cities bit from ''Film/{{Fargo}}'', one of the pilots points out a [[BinarySuns binary star system]], implying it's a rare sight. However the truth is that most stars in the galaxy, or at least the most visible ones, are part of a binary system.
** Plenty in "Battle of the Planets", too.

* KnightTemplar: The Delouser in "Lice," being rather [[{{anvilicious}} pointedly]] NotSoDifferent from Dib. Slab Rankle, the security guard from "FBI Warning of Doom," could be argued as one too.

* GamerChick: Gaz can be best described as this, with one of her most defining character traits being her love of video games, which she is almost always shown playing.

'''''Invader Zim''''' was a {{dark comedy}} {{science fiction}} AnimatedSeries created by Creator/JhonenVasquez for Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}. This [[Franchise/{{Nicktoons}} Nicktoon]] premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' on March 30, 2001 and is considered one of the bigger [[NetworkRedHeadedStepchild oddballs]] within the channel's cartoon lineup. But considering that Jhonen's previous work before this was an underground comic called ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'', that should come as no surprise.

%%* GamerChick: Gaz
%%* GenkiGirl: Moofy from "Girl Who Cries Gnome".

%%* GirlScoutsAreEvil: Moofy and the Girly Rangers.

%%* RiseOfZitboy: TropeNamer

'''''Invader Zim''''' was a {{dark comedy}} {{science fiction}} AnimatedSeries created by Creator/JhonenVasquez for Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}. This [[Franchise/{{Nicktoons}} Nicktoon]] premiered alongside ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' on March 30, 2001 and is considered one of the bigger [[EnsembleDarkhorse dark horses]]/[[OddballInTheSeries oddballs]] within the channel's cartoon lineup. But considering that Jhonen's previous work before this was an underground comic called ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'', that should come as no surprise.

* ContinuityLockout: Played with in-universe in [[ChristmasEpisode "The Most Horrible X-Mas Ever"]]. ZIM's motive for trying to conquer earth and where the Santa suit came from [[MemeticMutation COMPLEEEETLY ELUUUUDES]] one of the kids Mr. Slushy is telling the story to, because he didn't elaborate on it. His response is to [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments pick the kid up and tuck her 'under' the bed.]]

* GamerChick: Gaz
* GenkiGirl: Moofy from "Girl Who Cries Gnome".

* GilliganCut: In "Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom", Zim is seen worrying whether GIR will be okay. Cut to GIR attacking trick-or-treaters and stealing their candy, [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments flying tackling someone so hard their underpants fly off.]]
* GirlScoutsAreEvil: Moofy and the Girly Rangers.

* RiseOfZitboy: TropeNamer

* ArtificialHuman: In the DVD writer's interview Eric Trueheart said that had the show gone on for several years, Dib would have discovered (while on a quest to discover why his life was so horrible) he was one, created by Membrane.

* MessyPig: A few of them.

* TeachersPet: Zita to Ms. Bitters

In February 2015, Creator/OniPress announced an ''Invader Zim'' [[ComicBook/InvaderZimOni comic book revival]] in collaboration with Nickelodeon, with the first issue of the ongoing monthly series being released on July 8, 2015. The comic is overseen by Jhonen Vasquez himself, with him also writing a handful of issues. Many other issues have been done by Eric Trueheart, a veteran writer of the series. Other series veterans, such as artist Aaron Alexovich and colorist Rikki Simons, would lend their talents to the comic during its early run as well. The monthly series ended with its 50th issue in March 2020, followed by the start of a new quarterly series (simply called ''Invader Zim Quarterly'') later that year.

'''Dib:''' That's just-''dumb.''\\

'''Dib:''' That's just dumb.\\
'''Zim:''' Dumb like a moose, Dib. DUMB LIKE A MOOSE!

%%* ChewToy: Poor little Invader Skoodge...

%%* ChristmasEpisode: "The Most Horrible X-Mas Ever"
%%* ClarkKenting: ZIM.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: The supplies Zim requested at the start of Hobo 13.
-->'''Tallest Purple:''' Plasmaran battle tanks, Maim-bots, death ray cannons, a sack of taquitos?!\\

Unfortunately, the show was left as quickly as it came. While the show was quite popular, it was mainly popular ''outside'' of Nickelodeon's core demographic of kids 6-to-11, meaning its ratings did not have far to slip before Nickelodeon deemed the show's budgetary issues no longer worth the hassle: [[CommonKnowledge despite popular belief]], while Nick did have their issues [[ExecutiveMeddling regarding the show's content]], these were absolutely minor in comparison to the actual logistics of the production. Naturally, petitions immediately rose up in attempts to save the show from cancellation, and with this time period having ChannelHop be quite common, many of these urged for Nickelodeon to sell the show to another network. This never happened, much to the dismay of fans, but outcry about the sudden cancellation did accomplish one thing -- Nickelodeon would give Media Blasters the rights to sell [=DVDs=] of the show, full of special features such as cast and crew commentary, as well as ''several'' unreleased episodes that wouldn't see television airings until 2006. One limited edition boxset even included the series' soundtrack and voice recordings for seven unfinished episodes.[[note]]When we say the show was suddenly cancelled, we mean ''cancelled''. The crew was in the middle of producing a second season of 20 half-hours when the plug was pulled, with several episodes in various states of production. Only 7 half-hours were completed.[[/note]] These Media Blasters [=DVDs=] have since gone out of print, with Amazon.com now having their own "manufactured-on-demand" VanillaEdition collections of the show. Nickelodeon has also released a "best of" disc called ''Operation Doom''. [[NoExportForYou All of these home media releases were North America only.]]

* AllThereInTheManual: A lot of minor aspects of the setting and background for ZIM and the Irken race as a whole are only known thanks to WordOfGod from Creator/JhonenVasquez. Much of this backstory and extra info ''was'' going to be shown later on in the series but [[CutShort y'kn]][[TooGoodToLast ow]]...

** Mall security, [[FrickinLaserBeams lasers]] (and Smoke Machines!), lice, ''video games'', parent-teacher-night, pizza... hell, is there an episode where this ''didn't'' feature?

--> Keef: ''(hugs Zim)'' I'm so happy!\\

Zim: Don't touch me.