Invader Zim might have ended with issue #50. But the fun continues in the over-sized new series Invader Zim Quarterly from Oni Press. This premier issue is a big one as it presents one of the missing cancelled stories from the Invader Zim TV show for the very first time!
Invader Zim Quarterly #1
Written by Eric Trueheart
Art by Aaron Alexovich
Published by Oni Press
Retail: $5.99
Fans of Invader Zim are going to want to get their hands on this new quarterly comic! Several episodes of Invader Zim's second season on Nickelodeon went unproduced due to slumping ratings and production costs. The subject of this first issue, 'Gir's Big Day' is one of those stories.
Zim sends his faithful, but rather dim robot helper Gir out in search of a tool. But along the way, Gir, in his green dog costume, is put through a series of hilarious misadventures! It all starts with being kidnapped by a mad scientist and then things get really crazy!
Original series writer Eric Trueheart returns to finish the story he never got to see aired on TV. This is the next best thing to an actual episode of Invader Zim. Gir's dialogue is perfectly scripted in his frank yet dumb nature. There are some very funny moments in this book. But to explain much more would really spoil the fun!
Invader Zim monthly series artist Aaron Alexovich is also back. He presents your favorite characters in their animated series style glory. But what he does with the new characters is so very clever. I loved the assortment of lab animals he created and there's another set of characters that look like something else. Let's just say how Gir deals with those beings was deliciously gory!
I had a lot of fun reading this oversized issue of Invader Zim. There's not very much of Zim. But that's okay. Gir does a fantastic job as the star for once!
I don't say it often as I feel that the term has lost a lot of meaning in the comic book realm. But with it's never-before-seen story, Invader Zim Quarterly is a true collector's item for fans of the series!
Invader Zim Quarterly debuts in print and other digital formats on June 17th 2020.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.
Here we go with another Family Comic Friday. For today's post, I reviewed the latest issue of Invader Zim from Oni Press, issue #27. Based on the popular but short lived Nickelodeon cartoon series of the same name, this comic continues to follow tiny alien invader Zim as he attempts to conquer the world. Assisting him is his faithful but not very competent robot assistant GIR.
In this issue, Zim wants to conquer the earth with an army of radioactive powered beavers. To do this, the would-be ruler of earth needs a rare element called Splodium-235. However, Zim's supply of Splodium has run out. It looks like Zim may have to scrap his plans. That is until he discovers that a large deposit of Splodium-235 rests underneath his secret lair.
This will require Zim and GIR to burrow deep into earth's crust to obtain the ore. Unfortunately, the Splodium has already been discovered by another would-be alien conqueror named Xooxi!
Xooxi just happens to be a member of the Dooxisi race. Known as the most boring aliens in the universe, Zim must become friends with Xooxi if he hopes to obtain the much needed element for his radioactive beaver army. Facing a day filled with slide shows, awful board games, and dirt tea, let's just hope Zim doesn't die of boredom before this encounter is over.
I'm going to be honest with you folks, I did not realize what I had selected. I thought this was Earthworm Jim. A huge fan of Doug TenNapel, my thoughts were that this comic was based on the superhero earthworm video game/cartoon series from the late 90s. This was an entertaining comic book. It just wasn't what I thought it was.
I had to read this book twice because after the first reading, I was very disappointed that this book did have anything to do with Earthworm Jim. Plus on the last page two human characters pop up out of nowhere. Their very presence left me very perplexed as I felt that at first read, they had nothing to offer to the story. For someone totally unfamiliar with the Invader Zim franchise, it was a really mind-boggling twist. I thought for a couple of minutes that somebody accidentally printed the wrong last page. After a little research, I discovered my mistake about the new characters. So, I gave this issue another try.
The two human characters are a boy and girl named Dib and his sister Gaz. Dib is an amateur paranormal investigator who constantly tries to prove that Zim really is an alien. Gaz, a true skeptic, often berates Dib when his theories don't pan out. Though Zim doesn't appear in the last page, Dib is once again made a fool for thinking aliens exist by his kid sister!
After that second read, I can say that this story by Eric Trueheart was very funny. There's a few fart jokes peppered throughout. Plus, Zim can get a little violent, but that level is about as serious as stuff you'd see in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. In other words, Zim might get hurt but by the next scene, he's dusted himself off nicely.
The artwork by Maddie C. was pretty good. Again, not being familiar with the show, I don't quite know how Zim is supposed to look. With exception of a couple of pictures on Google, I couldn't tell you if that was Invader Zim or a Space Invader. But from what little I did see, Maddie C's work looked pretty accurate.
If you are an established fan of Invader Zim, then I think you are in for a treat. Fans of UFO comedies like Men In Black and Marvin the Martian will enjoy this too.
If the young reader in your life is unfamiliar with Invader Zim, now might be a good time to get them introduced to this series. Sometime later this year, Nicktoons will air an all-new TV movie produced by series creator Jhnoen Vasquez. Expected to feature all of the original voice cast, there is some speculation that if the movie is a success, a new series of Invader Zim might be in the works for 2019.
Invader Zim #27 was a funny story. It just wasn't the best starting point issue for new fans. But I think those who already know of and love the franchise will delight in this all-ages romp.
Issue #27 debuted in stores and digital platforms on January 24th.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
This review was published concurrently on outrightgeekery.com.
