Despite being in a different continuity from the comics, the movie, and most of the unproduced episodes of the show, the fic occasionally references them.
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Season 1
- Truth Shrieker, the paranormal magazine/website introduced in the comics, is referenced a few times.
- This exchange from Episode 2 is lifted almost verbatim from the first issue:Zim: [You're] A constant squak in my shmoopsquizz.Dib: A what in your huh?
- In Episode 7, Steve and Dib try to placate the Children of the Bright and Shining Saucer by saying they love aliens like Zim, only for Dib to give up on it because he hates Zim too much. This is similar to Issue 3, where Dib tries to get out of the "Art Hater's Closet" by claiming to actually love Zim's artwork, only to likewise admit he hates Zim too much to lie about it.
- In Episode 8, Nny mentions having been to Hell, and how an Eldritch Abomination used to live in his basement wall. Both are a reference to his own comic series.
- Episode 9 has Dib mention a dream he had where Zim conquered the city with organic pants. This references both the cancelled episode "When Pants Ruled", and Issue 8, which adapted it.
- Zim's dream in Episode 9 has him dressed up like Emperor Zim, his future self from Issue 12.
- In Episode 10, the Tallest try to torment Zim by sending him after a Snarl Beast on Sylvestria (which he does of his own volition in Issue 10), but are thwarted by the fact he's already left the planet to go to a "space mall" (which he does prior to the events of Issue 7).
- Episode 11 has Dib referencing Gretchen's conspiracy theories about Miss Bitters' origins from Issue 15. He also mentions the rumor that she never leaves the skool and it was built around her, which has been floating around the fandom for years.
- Episode 12 features a cameo by Jeff Sheffy, a TV reporter introduced in Issue 3.
- Episode 13 has an unnamed cameo by Agent Batflaps, Dib's online nemesis from several issues.
- In Episode 14, it's revealed that Invader Larb was officially declared the best Invader, something that happened in Issue 18.
- Episode 14 also briefly shows Zim in his "scheming nook", which featured in Issue 13.
- Also in Episode 14, Tenn at one point wonders if there's something in the food making humans stupid. In Issue 21, Gaz (who is in Zim's body) takes over the world partially thanks to solving world hunger via food laced with chemicals that make people stupid.
- In Episode 17, a drunken Purple calls Zim "Shmim", part of his artist alias in Issue 3.
- Episode 18's plot, involving Gaz being forced into a series of immersive VR games, is based on (and meant as a counter to) what she puts Dib through in Issue 5.
- In Episode 19, GIR finds a rat which is wearing a tiny sombrero, which has appeared as a brief gag in several issues.
- Jhonen Vasquez is referenced at least twice — the diner where Tenn and Skoodge meet in Episode 14 is called Jhonen's, and Episode 18 features the Vasquez Convention Center.
- In the epilogue, Zim mentions buying a device called a signal blaster, which is a reference to the Gargantis Array from Issue 2.
Season 2
- Mention is made in Episode 1 of Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy, a Show Within a Show from Issue 20 of the comics.
- In Episode 2, Nyx mentions the video game planet Arcadikon, from Issue 16. She and Gaz go on a trip there in Episode 8.
- Bill's grand conspiracy theory includes secret societies of wizards whose magic is powered by Poop soda. This was the plot of Issues 29 and 30.
- In Episode 7, Tenn notes that the interdimensional Smarkle Rift is a smaller version of a Florpus Hole.
- Episode 8 has Nyx's ship's radio playing the song "Hinka Dinka Hoinka Smeedge" from Enter the Florpus. Gaz also sees a billboard for the Galaxy's Largest Space Donut, which appeared in Issue 1.
- One of the TV shows that the teams end up in in Episode 12 is Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy from Issue 20.
