Norlock arrives in Doomsville to start working with Zim, and is given his first assignment — pretending to be Zim and Skoodge's grandfather for Parent Teacher Night.
- Ancient Evil: Norlock claims that he knew Caligula, and built pyramids for a living when he was human.
- Anti-Villain: Dib notes that Skoodge is a genuinely nice guy, but that he's still just as dedicated to conquering Earth as Zim.
- Bring My Brown Pants: Zim mocks Dib's fear at Norlock showing up by asking if he'd like a change of pants.
- Caligula's Horse: The Trope Namer was apparently Norlock's idea. Though he does state that it was said in jest when they were both drunk, and didn't think that Caligula would actually do it.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Norlock is an ancient vampire who's a Card-Carrying Villain, but even he's disturbed by seeing Nny at work.
- Eviler than Thou: Dib feels that Norlock is worse than Zim.
- Failed a Spot Check: Dib is keeping an eye out for Zim at the Parent Teacher conference, and yet Zim's whole group sneaks up behind him.
- Flat Scare: Norlock pulls this on Dib at the meeting. He sneaks up on him, and when Dib turns around and sees him, merely says "Boo". Dib ends up shrieking like a monkey and scuttling away.
- Flaying Alive: Nny is doing this to some poor bastard when Norlock stumbles across him.
- Gilligan Cut: At the start of the chapter, Dib makes a comment about planning for whatever evil plot Zim is up to, and it cuts to Zim and Skoodge simply having breakfast.
- Metaphorgotten: Norlock drifts into this when first taking note of how oblivious the general human population is.[He felt] like a wolf among the sheep. Admittedly, a very large wolf among a bunch of sheep who all appeared to be blind and deaf, and probably collectively lacking a sense of smell too… where was he going with this again?
- Mythology Gag: This exchange is taken almost verbatim from Issue 2 of the comic series:Zim: [You're] A constant squak in my shmoopsquizz.Dib: A what in your huh?
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Zim forces Norlock to wear one, composed of a white-haired wig and Groucho glasses. Norlock is disgruntled, but dumbfounded that it works.
- Paranoia Gambit: Norlock messes with Dib by sitting outside his house watching him, dropping threats of attacking the house, knowing it'll keep him from sleeping and slowly drive him crazy.
- Persona Non Grata: When giving the announcement on the Parent-Teacher Conference, Mrs. Bitters takes a moment to let Zim know that his robot-parents have been banned.
- Refuse to Rescue the Disliked: Defied, when Dib decides to protect everyone at the Parent-Teacher Night despite them being a bunch of "oblivious jerks".
- Ship Tease: Between Norlock and Ms. Bitters, of all people.
- Shout-Out:
- The Computer's ID number is THX 1138.
- Johnny the Homicidal Maniac is the skool janitor. Which is itself a reference to Invader Zim: The Series.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Zim pulls this on Dib when arriving at Parent-Teacher Night.
- Weak-Willed: Norlock's victim, Mrs. Slunchy, is this so much that he doesn't even get to finish hypnotizing her before she falls unconscious.
- You're Insane!: Dib says this about Zim, in regards to his decision to team up with Norlock. Then he amends it to "more than usual".
