The short-lived animated series Invader Zim (2001-2003) is yet another twisted creation of artist/writer Jhonen Vasquez. For those unfamiliar with the show, it's quite a strange concept indeed, but I'll try and be brief.

In short, "Zim" is a small alien from the planet Irk whose frequent accidents nearly destroy the planet. Eventually, Zim is sent to the faraway planet Earth on a "secret mission" (along with a defective robot known as "Gir"), although his superiors really sent him there in hopes he wouldn't make it back. Zim quickly becomes fixated on ending the human race, but his identity and intentions are immediately recognized by Dib Membrane, a young X-Files reject whose paranormal research fuels his desire to stop Zim from conquering Earth. Zim and Deb go to the same school, and this show revolves around their strange rivalry.

Got all that?

As mentioned earlier, this isn't the first twisted creation of creator Jhonen Vasquez. Hardcore comic book fans may be familiar with his first creation, Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, a character that has garnered quite a cult following since the first issue landed in August 1995. Normally, you'd think a creator with such a demented sense of humor wouldn't fit inside the usual mold of a cartoon seemingly geared toward kids, and you'd be half-right. Fortunately for us, some of TV's most memorable and original cartoons don't exactly fit inside this mold either: Ren & Stimpy, The Tick, and other classics such as The Simpsons (and even Looney Tunes) immediately come to mind. While Invader Zim isn't quite up to these levels, it's an interesting show that really took chances by just being itself, and it makes for quite a unique viewing experience.

Unfortunately, Invader Zim was cancelled within a year of its premiere, much to the dismay of its relatively small (but rabid) fanbase. It lasted a total of 37 episodes, although there were many more in production at the time at the time of cancellation. Nickelodeon blamed low ratings, but the show's content may have been the real reason for the early demise. While it's far from the gross-out factor of Ren & Stimpy or the adult themes of Family, this still isn't a show for younger kids. NOTE: According to the geniuses at Nickelodeon, Invade Zim was targeted towards "2 to 11-year olds", which is about as demographically responsible as airing Ninja Scroll at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Regardless of this issue, Zim has finally arrived on DVD courtesy of Anime Works (an imprint of Media Blasters). This first volume, Doom Doom Doom, contains the first nine episodes of Invader Zim in their original chronological order, and features a total of 18 shorts for your maniacal viewing enjoyment. A brief episode listing for this 2-disc set has been provided below, and a link to the full episode recaps (including spoilers) appears at the conclusion of this review.

Disc Two
Episode 6: "Career Day", "Battle-Dib" (airdate: May 4, 2001)
Episode 7: "Planet Jackers", "Rise of the Zitboy" (airdate: August 31, 2001)
Episode 8: "Invasion of the Idiot Dog Brain", "Bad, Bad Rubber Piggy" (airdate: August 24, 2001)
Episode 9: "A Room With a Moose", "Hamstergeddon" (airdate: August 17, 2001)

Confined to the second disc are a few more great features, the first being the original Pilot Episode (11 minutes). This will be especially interesting for Zim fans, as it's always nice to see the early stages of any show (as shaky as they often are). Even so, the pilot really isn't too far off base from the actual series, save for a few basic character designs and voices (including the incomparable Billy West of Futurama and Ren & Stimpy fame as the voice of Zim!). Rounding out the extras on Disc Two is a Voice Actors Interview (13 minutes), including appearances by Richard Horvitz (Zim), Rikki Simons (Gir), Melissa Fahn (Caz, seen above), Andy Berman (Dib), and Wally Wingert (Almight Tallest Red).

While these features were excellent overall, there were a few things notably absent from the lineup. For example, I'd have appreciated a little more visual participation from Jhonen Vasquez, the main madman responsible for this wacked-out show (*gasp*...maybe he's camera-shy?). An interview with this guy would have been especially nice, or at least a text-based biography/filmography of his work. An additional Art Gallery or Sketchbook would have also been appreciated---on top of the great Animatics---since this artwork is so sharp and attention-getting. Still, there's a nice amount of stuff to go through here, and Zim fans will surely get a kick out of these solid bonus features. For future volumes, I'm wondering if we'll ever be able to see some of the previously-unaired episodes, as that would really be quite a treat for die-hard fans of the show. We'll have to wait and see!

If you like your animation with a side order of schizophrenia, look no further than Invader Zim. Each episode is a real head trip, and the series succeeds on DVD despite its relatively quick exit from TV land. It's not the most consistently funny cartoon you'll ever see, but the strongest portions of the show are unlike anything else on TV...and that's what sets this one apart from the crowd. Featuring a warped sense of humor, a truly unique cast of characters, and---most importantly---a solid DVD presentation from Media Blasters, this is a release worth looking into. Hardcore fans have demanded it, and now they have much to look forward to with this satisfying 2-disc set. Invader Zim has finally landed, and he isn't going anywhere for a long time. Recommended.

Other Links of Interest:

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Official Nickelodeon site for Invader Zim
Complete Invader Zim Episode Guide
Immortalizing the Moment (Dedicated to Jhonen Vasquez)