This is it Monster-maniacs - the final release of the show too darn weird for Nickelodeon... INVADER ZIM VOLUME THREE: horrible holiday cheer. This collection includes not only the complete Xmas program, but also the unaired episodes of the "why the heck did ya cancel us just when we were finding our audience" season two of that lovable alien Zim. So get set for exciting space battles, Irken chicks, lots of Gir, moose, robot elves, elections and waffles! The battle for Earth grows ever stranger...

Most of the episodes unfortunately were unaired when ZIM was cancelled. All are worth watching, but here are just a few highlights:

GIR GOES CRAZY AND STUFF - Zim decides Gir is just too stupid and useless, so he creates a new 'behavioral modulator" to keep Gir in his serious 'duty mode.' Things go incredibly wrong when the new 'sane' Gir concludes Zim is the stupid one and takes over the mission. Can Zim and the squid cop (now you have to watch) stop Gir before the Irkens are exposed?

DIB'S WONDEFRFUL LIFE OF DOOM - Dib is frustrated no one believes him about Zim being an alien. He feels he must do something - anything! So he throws a muffin at Zim's head. Thus begins the life story of Dib - paranormal super hero, defender of Earth, and basically the greatest person ever. Or is it???

TAK THE HIDEOUS NEW GIRL - The new girl in class, Tak seems a little too interested in Zim - she keeps causing him hideous pain. The dim alien believes it's "human affection". However, after a whirlwind 'romance' (which finds Zim beaten, bruised and on fire most of the time), Tak reveals herself to him as a fellow IRKEN! Zim's stupidity forced her into a life of custodial service. To revenge herself, she escaped, stole a ship, found Zim, and now will prove herself as a warrior to the Tallest when she destroys the Earth - and ruins Zim's life. Zim must ally himself with Dib and Gaz in order to save the planet, but what chance do they have against a smart invader?

ZIM EATS WAFFLES - As Dib tries to use his spy ware to expose Zim's next plan, the alien enjoys waffles prepared by a happy Gir. It's a hilarious Zim takeoff on "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" (but since it's Dib, that should be "Boy Who Cried Alien"), with breakfast food!

VINDICATED - new school counselor Mr. Dwicky helps Dib by telling the boy he believes in the paranormal, too. But what he thinks is simply Dib's delusions really wreck the poor sucker when he discovers Zim is all too real...

GAZ TASTER OF PORK - Dib's latest meddling - using 'spell drives' - curses Gaz with the ability to taste nothing but pork. Dib must find a way to reverse the curse before Gaz escapes and ...well, you know it won't be pretty. Will Zim repay his mortal enemy by helping Dib out of this mess?

FRYCOOK WHAT COME FROM ALL THAT SPACE - An alien kidnaps Zim right in the middle of class, but the kids still ridicule Dib. His abductor is Sizz-lor - Zim's boss when the Irken was exiled to Foodcourtia after he trashed "Operation Impending Doom One " (see the pilot episode). Sizz-lor was stuck by himself working the fast food joint during the 20 year "Foodening" (where no one can leave the planet) because of Zim bailed on him. Now he will force Zim to work the next Foodening as his way of revenge. Trapped in fast food hell, will Zim devise a cleverly evil (or evilly clever) plan to escape Sizz-lor and Foodcourtia before the next feeding?

MOST HORRIBLE XMAS EVER - 2 million years in the future, the kids hear the story of he worst Xmas ever from snowman Mr. Sludgy. Way back when (about 2 million years) Zim is perplexed by this human Xmas tradition. Once he finds out all the people eagerly await the return of Santa, he devises an evil plan. Building a computerized Santa suit, downloaded with all known information on St. Nick, Zim convinces the humans he is the one true Santa; the people rejoice and declare they'll do anything for their Xmas icon. Which is exactly what the Irken was hoping for. Can Dib and a reluctant Gaz stop Zim's plot before the Earth's population is teleported to their doom? Or can the spirit of Xmas break through to even an alien's heart and save the holiday?

INVADER ZIM VOLUME THREE gives fans more of the same insane comedy from the first two volumes. However, instead of every episode standing alone, this season attempts to carry over elements from one story to another. Even though Tak is defeated, her ship - which falls literally into Dib's hands-plays a major role in subsequent episodes and showing the consequences of Zim's impetuousness in FRYCOOK makes for some rollicking good comedy. This series extends Zim's universe, adding new and stranger characters (and Mini-moose) to the mix. It's a shame the show was nixed by Nick, because the potential of Zim was just starting to show. The animation design is the same as previous volumes; strong lines and bold dark colors saturate the screen. There's more crazy angles and computer-assisted animation that gives the show a fluidity not found in many American cartoons. AS usual, production quality and audio are excellent, as well as music and they found just the right voices for the characters - flawless voice casting.

The DVD for INVADER ZIM VOLUME THREE includes only a few extras, such as Irken and Spanish subtitle options and a commentary by the cast and crew. This go round the commentaries are a bit better than on other volumes, because the guys discuss some ideas that were in pre-production when the series was dropped. (but you're going to have to find out exactly what on your own) There are also animatics for most episodes as well.

INVADER ZIM VOLUME THREE is the last of the series, but Zim certainly goes out on top. The potential for ZIM was limitless; unfortunately, the guys with the money didn't 'get it'. Perhaps we could rally like the 'Family Guy' fans and get INVADER ZIM back. With his track record in Earth-destroying, we'd be perfectly safe from the wraith of Zim!

ZIM RULES!!!!!! (and Gir...)