MY HEAD'S NOT BIG!

Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom
2001

Synopses: Zim, the would be invader, notes the conspicuous absence of his arch nemesis, Dib (Dorkus Maximus) Halloween day, at school.  Dib shows up completely freaked and after a trip to the Crazy Home for Boys (courtesy of one of three monthly crazy cards allotted the classroom), we learn the reason: he's been experiencing "reality jumps" as a result of tweaking one of his brilliant but emotional detached father, Dr. Membrane's inventions.  Dib goes to Zim for help and they both get sucked into a nightmarish dimension, born of his imagination, that literally exists within Dib's enormous head.

Review:  It must be said that Jhonen Vasquez is God.  Invader Zim was--is a brilliant work of art.  I'm kicking myself for not going to InvaderCon during the 10th anniversary celebration.  That said, I'm not going to go into the pop culture/cult references people either genuinely find or lovingly imbue this episode with, but instead mention the maybe not so obvious irony.  Dib is terrified of a world that LOOKS nightmarish but is really not much different than his reality in subtext:

• he's a prisoner of his imagination
• his sister hates him
• his father has only a cerebral interest in him
• he's ostracized from his peers
• his teacher, Mrs. Bitters is a monster out to crush the dreams and drain the promise of every child
• Zim is his only ally/friend albeit never willingly

Why should you watch it?  Filthy meat creature!  You dare say to me that you will not!  You are no match for the mighty Zim! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.  GIR, attack mode!  GIR!  Take off those bologna pants! GIR...GIR!