Zimself: A self portrait.

Earth has been invaded by a hostile alien but don't lose any sleep; the invader in question is Zim, the most hapless would-be conqueror in the universe. Although Zim is supremely confident that the world will fall at his tiny green feet, neither he nor his malfunctioning robot GIR can get through a typical day without inflicting disasters of galactic proportions upon themselves. Invader Zim is one of Nickelodeon's hottest new series and it originates from the wickedly fertile mind of writer/artist Jhonen Vasquez, best known for his comic book series Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and SQUEE! (rightfully the world's most phobic little boy). Jhonen recently spoke with me about Zim, his ideas and inspirations, and the ups and downs of producing his first animated series.

Dr. Toon: Let's start out with how Invader Zim came to Nickelodeon. Mary Harrington contacted you after checking out SQUEE! What did Ms. Harrington tell you she liked about the SQUEE! series?

Jhonen Vasquez: I think she saw a certain amount of "kid relatability," mainly in the way I handled the kids and the way Squee's behavior was an overall mood. I don't think anyone would ever want to make SQUEE! into a kids' show -- I don't think anyone would be that insane -- but I think she liked the way I handled the characters and the way there was actual character as opposed to just sick humor. Something in that made her take a chance on coming to me and asking me to come up with the idea for a show. I'm not certain whether it was with the intention of converting SQUEE! into a series -- I like to think it wasn't.

Dr. T: I understand that you came up with the idea for Invader Zim for Harrington on the spot.

JV: Pretty much, yeah. At the time, when I was asked if I had any ideas for a show I had been working on SQUEE! and had done seven Johnnys [the Homicidal Manic]. I was about to finish up SQUEE! and figured, "Yeah, it's time to do something different." That night after I had the initial conversation where I had said, "Sure, I'll try to think up something," I just sat there in bed -- didn't sleep, just sat there thinking -- and came up with the basic idea for the show; Zim being the outcast alien who just doesn't see himself as anything but the greatest creature ever to exist. Zim, Dib and Gaz pretty much came full-formed and the rest of the show just built around it. The whole idea came that one night, in just about an hour or so.

Dr. T: I notice that in SQUEE! there are a few stories featuring malevolent but totally incompetent aliens. Was that sort of the jumping-off point for you?

The books that started it all: SQUEE! and Johnny the Homicidal Manic. © Slave Labor Graphics.

JV: Oh, yeah, I love that! I love the idea of anything that's considered to be a superior being -- they've got all this amazing technology -- and yet ultimately they're still just idiots! They're just guys piloting this gigantic spaceship. You get the idea that they stole it rather than built it themselves. They haven't evolved beyond being driven by their personalities. That's what Zim is. He's got this incredible arsenal at his hand and the only thing that's stopping him from destroying the Earth is the fact that he's a moron! Anyone else in that position, there would be no show because Earth would be destroyed in the first episode! It's more fun working with Zim as an idiot.