(Before moderation - and heavily edited. Imagine the true insanity if you can.)
ShaneIvey: Hello there!
JhnenV: GAHHH!!!
ShaneIvey: Heya Jhonen - sorry to hear about all the tech problems over there. But you're here!
JhnenV: It's okay. This place is bad. i expect it.
JhnenV: I am...I AM here.
Pepito: yay
Pepito: this is so awesome
ShaneIvey: And you guys were first!
Pepito: this rulz
Pepito: I saw JV CHAT
ShaneIvey: You're one of the lucky few. Revel in this moment. And stuff.
Pepito: yeah, we have irc
JTHM: awww crap
JTHM: I look like a fan
Shiraa: hehe
XbrokenX: hahah
JTHM hits himself
ShaneIvey: OK, the floodgates are now opening.
Shiraa: eek
Jake: ...Please let this work...
JhnenV: It is scary.
Zooley: So they are.
five gets her advil.
Shadow: Well, where's Jhonen?
XbrokenX: this is funny
Shadow: ..is JhnenV Jhonen?
JhnenV: I'M HERE!!!!
JTHM: JV, you rule
JhnenV: MEEEE!!!!
Shadow: Whoa..heh, it's you.
JTHM: just lettin you know
JhnenV: yes.
ShaneIvey: Once again, JhnenV, welcome!
Shadow: I must say, I love Invader Zim.
JhnenV: thanks.
Shadow: I mean, I have to thank you for bringing such a creative, imaginative, unique cartoon to everyone.
Jake: Is that truthfully you, Jhonen?
JhnenV: Yes...yes it is.
JhnenV: I am quite me.
ShaneIvey: Either it's him, or that Nickelodeon PR person I was just talking to is REALLY EVIL.
JhnenV: Well, she IS evil, but I'm still really me.
Matt-W: Is it true that you MIGHT be considering doing a cartoon based on Johnny the Homocidal Maniac, say, for HBO or another network?
Matt-W: I heard that as a rumor.
JhnenV: that's justa rumor.
AlexEden: Jhonen, I heard you like Trigun, is that true?
JhnenV: yeah, I have all the dvds.
JhnenV: Even the gloves.
ADNOCTVM: sad. NOW!!! WHAT IS JHONENS CURRENT HAIR COLOR?!?!?
JhnenV: Purple.
JhnenV: CAN'T resize windows...
JhnenV: missing all teh questions.
Andrea: Mr. Vasquez I have a question about a Hottopic Invader Zim Merchandise. Is that true that there will be merchandise? If so, where can I purchase it, im a big fan *grins*
JhnenV: There WILL be merchandise, yes.
Sketchez: Jhonen,will there be dvd releases of the episodes and when would it be until tyhere out?
JhnenV: no plans for a dvd yet.
AlexEden: Jhonen, who's your favorite Trigun characer? (last non-you question, I swear)
JhnenV: I actually like Monev.
Stig: (Throws in her question.) People keep asking about a new JTHM series...but I'm wondering if we'll ever see Squee! again.
JhnenV: you will see Squee again, probably IN another JTHM series.
Renee: Jhonen, you plan on going on another tour across America anytime soon?
JhnenV: I'd love to tour, but the show keeps me so busy.
Sketchez: Jhonen,what new character are you introducing in IZ?
JhnenV: New characters?
JhnenV: MINIMOOSE!
JhnenV: He's ZIM's new little sidekick.
Matt-W: Minimoose?
JhnenV: TAK is a girl.
JhnenV: heh. Watch the show. You'll find out.
five: Is the whole moose thing cause by the moose you got from the girl at APE last year?
JhnenV: no, but I still have that moose.
ShaneIvey: OK - moderation is now in place.
ShaneIvey: Sorry to have to do it, but dang, what noise.
ShaneIvey: Here's how we'll do it. Jhonen can talk to everyone. He will answer questions.
ShaneIvey: Send your questions to me via whisper and I'll pass 'em along.
JhnenV: yes, let's try that.
JhnenV: My screen is filthy with whispers.
ShaneIvey: FOLKS. STOP WHISPERING TO JHONEN.
ShaneIvey: QUESTION: How did you get such a strange show as ZIM on Nickelodeon?
JhnenV: I don't think NICK knew what they were really getting!
ShaneIvey: Okay, heh... Q: Mr. Vasquez, are you going to be creating any new comic book series or any additions to the ones out now (JTHM, Squee)?
JhnenV: I've had ideas for a whole series of new JTHM books, but it's all a matter of finding the time to start it up again.
JhnenV: I love those characters, and it's been so long since I've done anything that intimate in my work.
ShaneIvey: Q: Who's your favorite character?
JhnenV: favorite character from ZIM?
ShaneIvey: Yeah - any you just love more than the rest from ZIM?
JhnenV: or my books?
JhnenV: Hmm...I like DIb.
JhnenV: his frustration.
JhnenV: His trenchcoat.
JhnenV: his hair.
ShaneIvey: DIB it is! Whoo! What about in your comics?
JhnenV: And gaz.
JhnenV: Hmm...probably Devi and Tenna.
JhnenV: The dialogue is just too fun to write between the two of them.
ShaneIvey: Q: Were you always interested in comic books, and when did you decide that was what you wanted to do?
ShaneIvey: (Sorry - don't mean to cut you off - feel free to type like a maniac, I won't mind...)
ShaneIvey: Q: What were your personal thoughts on the episodes getting pulled after Sept. 11?
JhnenV: I understand the reasoning behind it, but it all got so reactionary.
JhnenV: It is STILL just a cartoon, and they made it seem like we would bring about the collapse of civilization if we aired that ep.
ShaneIvey: Any word on whether the shows that were pulled will go back on the air? Or when?
JhnenV: We've managed to save two of the best, most recently an episode named "the Girl Who Cried Gnome".
JhnenV: They felt it was offensive because it showed rescue workers trying to get a girl's foot out of a gopher hole.
JhnenV: I mean, that's just sad.
ShaneIvey: Q: Will Zim be offered for retail purchase at any point, possibly in a 'director's cut' format?
JhnenV: No plans for a dvd set have been mentioned, but we're all dying for one.
JhnenV: NICK doesn't really do dvd things, unless it's one of their movies.
JhnenV: So, sorry. I'll let you know when we find out.
ShaneIvey: Do you like getting creative input from fans? Show ideas, story ideas, that kind of thing? Does it ever happen?
JhnenV: Hmm..fanfic stuff?
JhnenV: They have some pretty twisted ideas, some that I've seen.
JhnenV: I don't know if it'd be wise to go with a lot of what they come up with.
JhnenV: They have ZIM and Dib falling in love ideas.
JhnenV: That makes me ill.
ShaneIvey: So I've heard...
JhnenV: ill to my belly.
JhnenV: My ill-prone belly.
ShaneIvey: Q: What role does (did?) Frank Conniff have on the show?
JhnenV: He was head writer for a section of the first season of scripts.
JhnenV: One of the nicest guys I've ever met.
ShaneIvey: Is he still writing for ZIM?
JhnenV: And such white hair.
JhnenV: no, he moved on to other shows.
ShaneIvey: Still white hair?! I thought that was just MST3K!
ShaneIvey: Ah, okay...
JhnenV: Now I'm head writer, and NICK rues the day they allowed that.
ShaneIvey: Hah!
ShaneIvey: Q: What type of toys of Invader Zim will there be?
JhnenV: I'd love to see a GIR toy like an AIBO.
JhnenV: except it simulates stupidity instead of intelligence.
JhnenV: It will actually chase children and scream at them.
ShaneIvey: Oooh... I'd pay good money for it this Christmas... Any discussions with Nick about toys actually happening?
ShaneIvey: (To recap for newcomers: this room is moderated. Whisper to me if you ahve a question for Jhonen. DO NOT whisper to Jhonen.)
JhnenV: Please stop whispering to meee.
JhnenV: It's very difficult to respond to all of these...thingies.
ShaneIvey: Anyway - no word from NICK on ZIM toys?
JhnenV: I dread the ZIM toys.
JhnenV: shirts have been a horror to work with.
JhnenV: they go ahead and do what they want, but the actual creative people on the show always have issues with what they put out.
JhnenV: It's not been very fun dealing with products.
ShaneIvey: Artsy question: Is ZIM drawn on black cels, like the Batman cartoons?
JhnenV: no, it's all digital ink and paint.
ShaneIvey: Q: Were you always interested in comic books, and when did you decide creating them was what you wanted to do? "Death must know."
JhnenV: Well..ehh, DEATH, i just sort of fell into comics.
JhnenV: I always say I never planned it and it's true.
ShaneIvey: Really? What were you doing when you decided to start drawing?
JhnenV: Start drawing? I've been drawing nonstop since kindergarten.
JhnenV: I just...never stopped.
JhnenV: I've actually managed to make a living from doing what little kids do!
ShaneIvey: Q: I would guess that the executives at Nickelodeon have censored quite a bit of what you wanted the show to be like. If this presumption is true, what has been cut or turned down from the show that you would've particularly wanted to do?
JhnenV: many explosions.
JhnenV: a blood covered GIR.
JhnenV: Just some of the things that were removed.
JhnenV: but it was cute blood.
ShaneIvey: It was GIR! How could it not be cute?
JhnenV: please stop whispering to me.
JhnenV: It's impossible to respond to.
ShaneIvey: Okay. "SpookyDoo": "I'm only 15 and my first comic strip is releasing in 3 weeks. I have a commision for a whole year. Would mean alot if you thanked him for me." So, thank you for him.
JhnenV: That's cool!
JhnenV: Congratulations.
ShaneIvey: FOLKS: PLEASE stop whispering to Jhonen. It makes him insane(r).
JhnenV: Yes....so very insane.
JhnenV: I can't believe we actually got the Halloween episode on TV as it is.
JhnenV: It's actually pretty creepy in spots.
ShaneIvey: OK, the inevitable personal questions. Brace yourself...
JhnenV: p...personal??
ShaneIvey: (1) What's your middle name? (2) What color is your hair now?
JhnenV: hair color is now PURPLE.
JhnenV: It's a Gaz phase.
ShaneIvey: (Halloween episode: pretty creepy, yeah. But terrific! Everybody tune in. Just plain hysterical. Especially DIB's not-really-that-giant head.)
JhnenV: Middle name is C.
JhnenV: His head is filled with brains.
ShaneIvey: (Brains... among other things...)
ShaneIvey: Q: Any plans to do a ZIM comic book or strip?
JhnenV: They're spoken of comics, and I'd love to see it, but it would be impossible to draw it myself.
ShaneIvey: Q: Do you find your status as one of the more popular "cult icons" in recent memory flatttering, creepy, amusing, or something else entirely?
JhnenV: It's ALL those things, and more.
JhnenV: It really is a bit odd.
JhnenV: but it's not the kind of thing i think about all the time.
ShaneIvey: Q. from my wife, who has better access than the crazy whisperers: What kind of inspiration did you get from The Kids in the Hall? And don't lie or we'll know.
JhnenV: NONE!
JhnenV: you lie!
ShaneIvey: Aha!
JhnenV: But we do have Kevin McDonald on the show.
JhnenV: And he's a freak.
JhnenV: Almighty PURPLE wouldn;t be the same without Kevin.
ShaneIvey: Q. from Cassie: Jhonen, My sister is so shy she can't even ask you a question, will you say something nice to her?
JhnenV: Cassie.....Cassie babeh....you look so nice.
ShaneIvey: Oooh... okay, um, let's move on... How much control do you have of ZIM?
JhnenV: Wait!! CASSIE'S SISTER!!
ShaneIvey: (Heh - yeah, her sister. I won't tell the probation officer if you won't.)
JhnenV: I've enough [control] to make it worth my while, but it does stretch my patience often enough to make me wonder what the hell is wrong with me to keep doing it.
JhnenV: I'm head writer, I do much of the design work, I'm in on editing, and sound effects.
JhnenV: It's a lot of control. more than you'd think.
ShaneIvey: How many ZIM episodes are we gonna see? Before they try to sign you on for more, that is.
JhnenV: 40.
ShaneIvey: Whoohoo!
JhnenV: 40 episodes have been picked up.
JhnenV: that's two seasons.
ShaneIvey: Are they all planned out now?
JhnenV: Yes, we've plotted them up to episode 40.
JhnenV: Some more vague than others, but the broad strokes are there.
ShaneIvey: AGAIN: PLEASE DON'T WHISPER TO THE JHONEN. IT MAKES HIM UNHAPPY.
JhnenV: I SO UNHAPPY!
ShaneIvey: "Infernal" wants to know: How many souls do you have so far?
JhnenV: I lost count after a shmillion.
JhnenV: A SHMILLION souls. imagine that.
ShaneIvey: I'm trying to.
ShaneIvey: Q. from the fanfic battallion: "I want to know what Jhonen thinks about fanfiction that features original characters. I want to write one, but I want permission from Jhonen first."
JhnenV: Characters not from teh show?
ShaneIvey: Right
JhnenV: I dig it. It's cool to see people using more imagination with their ideas.
JhnenV: Seeing different SIR units and whatnot.
JhnenV: Although only INVADERs get SIRs.
ShaneIvey: Cool... Some writers get really bent out of shape over that - legal fears and whatnot.
ShaneIvey: Q.: "Did they ever find the person who sent you the dead squrrel?"
JhnenV: yes they did.
JhnenV: I hear she was skinned alive and fed to weasils.
ShaneIvey: Well, that's the law in Texas...
JhnenV: Also there are only thirty actual INVADERS.
ShaneIvey: THIRTY actual Invaders! You heard it here first, ZIMfickers!
ShaneIvey: A LOT of people want to know: What's up with the chihuahas and moose(s)?
JhnenV: Well, the chihuahah was just supposed to be a joke, but it kept going.
JhnenV: Something to show how easily freaked out ZIM can be.
JhnenV: As for the moose, well....I love the moose.
JhnenV: I don't know why.
ShaneIvey: Me too.
ShaneIvey: Q: My friend is doing a video game based off of Invader Zim... and I'm writting the music. any ideas on what the music should be like? Oh, and also ask him is he wants to see a marching band field show based on the music from Nightmare before Christmas (I'm 16, and I love doing all this music stuff.) Oh, and he does a great job on the show!
JhnenV: I like a mix of dramatic orchestral with electronic touches.
JhnenV: Like in the show.
JhnenV: Kevin Manthei, our composer, does a beatiful job with the music
ShaneIvey: Q: "Do you believe in the chupacabra? And can you reference it as much as possible please?"
JhnenV: no, chupacabras is such a fake.
JhnenV: unlike Bigfoot.
ShaneIvey: Yeah. That poseur.
JhnenV: Bigfoot could take Chupa DOWN.
ShaneIvey: Don't even get into Bionic Bigfoot.
ShaneIvey: Okay... "What was the 'laser weasel' experiment Zim was referring to in Nanozim?"
JhnenV: ZIM has miles and miles of cavernous labs under his house. Laser Weasils are just ONE of the many experiments down there.
ShaneIvey: Q: "Could you let us in on any new characters we might see in the near future on Invader Zim?"
JhnenV: They are half laser...HALF WEASIL!!
JhnenV: Cool, for some of you guys, the Halloween special is on in about 40 minutes.
ShaneIvey: OoooOOOoohh... laserweasels.
JhnenV: The East Coast fans.
ShaneIvey: That's true - if anybody managed to miss it, there's a big preview on RevolutionSF.com, and if you still need motivation to watch it: WATCH IT! It's funny! And tell other people to watch it.
JhnenV: It's actually a little more disturbing than I was expecting.
JhnenV: There's some intense moments in there.
JhnenV: Truly the children will have nightmares.
JhnenV: And if they don't...I will be sad.
ShaneIvey: Yeah, but they were a fun intense. Not a drab intense. And no intestines coming out of mouths. HOW did Nick let that go on the air, anyway?
JhnenV: The intestines bit from Dark harvest?
JhnenV: I don't really know. It was just so funny looking.
ShaneIvey: Yeah, from Dark Harvest. You know - mouth opens up.. PLOP, guts fall out.
JhnenV: It's not so bad.
JhnenV: Just squishy lookin'.
ShaneIvey: It was that. And easy to suck back into his mouth, like big spagghetti. Really big.
JhnenV: I just really wanted to capture that childhood sense of having eaten children's organs and then vomiting them back up.
ShaneIvey: Any plans for new Johnny the Homicidal Maniac comics?
JhnenV: Yes, always plans, but never time.
JhnenV: once the show is done with, or my involvement in it, I will do more comics.
ShaneIvey: We ought to wrap this up so Jhonen can get back to his life - the one not filled with crazed whispers barraging him at all hours... Jhonen, got time for a couple of last questions?
JhnenV: hey, i'm cool with taking this as far as I can cope with it.
ShaneIvey: AGAIN: DON'T WHISPER TO JHONEN. If you want an answer, whisper to me!
JhnenV: no hurry on my side. not until I start screaming.
ShaneIvey: Awesome... OK, let me dive back in here... let me know when the screaming starts.
JhnenV: AAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!!
ShaneIvey: Q: Are you going to any conventions soon?
JhnenV: okay...I was just testing.
JhnenV: I only do about 2 cons a year.
JhnenV: Those are the APE in San Jose...
JhnenV: and the San Diego con in...well you know.
ShaneIvey: Question that the hardcore fans will get but some of us won't know: "Why do you use the name Mr. Scolex in the end credits of Invader Zim for the characters you voice? Does the name have any significance?"
JhnenV: Scolex is actually a character i have never used in any of my books before.
JhnenV: He's a little insect character.
JhnenV: it's a tapeworm fascination.
JhnenV: mr Scolex was supposed to be one of johnny's little voices.
JhnenV: Like mr. Eff, but he never made it in.
ShaneIvey: DenyFrehm wants to know if you'll say, "Yo Fro!" I think he has friends here.
JhnenV: Hmm..let me try......"um..yo..." NOP can't do it.
JhnenV: NOPE.
JhnenV: It hurts.
ShaneIvey: Well, Deny, I tried.
ShaneIvey: Q: Maggie wants to know if you've ever done any voices on other cartoons. She heard you did Mr. Baget on Garfeild and Friends.
JhnenV: no, I haven't but Rikki's done some anime voices.
ShaneIvey: REMINDER: DO NOT WHISPER TO JHONEN. He will not answer you if you whisper to him. Whisper questions to me. I like it.
JhnenV: Rikki Simons is GIR's voice.
ShaneIvey: Q: I'm a little confused by the beginning of Rise of the Zitboy. Zim appears to be launching chickens into space, while saying "Hmm! HMMM! Hmm? HMM!" ....I'd like to know what, if any, point could possibly be correlated with this intro sequence, outside of maddening confusion and a need to jab a fork into my eye like Oedipus.
JhnenV: It's just a typical expriment with ZIM.
JhnenV: He does that kind of stupid thing.
JhnenV: laser weasils, launching chickens into space...it's normal for him.
ShaneIvey: Another scary personal Q: What do you like in life apart from comics?
JhnenV: I like not being dead.
JhnenV: Anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.
JhnenV: My undead cake of livingness.
ShaneIvey: Dude! I'm SO into that!
ShaneIvey: Okay...
ShaneIvey: Q: Did nick make a rule against any more Jhonen or Rob cameos in the show? if so they're poopy..and have their been any plans to have a Johnny or any such character cameo as well?
JhnenV: no, I made the rule.
JhnenV: it was distracting to me.
JhnenV: It took away from the story and just seemed to stop the episodes.
JhnenV: So no more of those.
ShaneIvey: Scary fan question from Tre: "You're the reason I seek counseling.. Bless you. Make my wish come true, please!!!"
JhnenV: Wow.
JhnenV: just...wow.
ShaneIvey: I'm not sure, but the wish come true part might have been for me to post it.
ShaneIvey: Or maybe that's just my ego.
JhnenV: oh.
ShaneIvey: But you can make it come true if you want.
ShaneIvey: Q: Please ask, if Jhonen was ta get sucked into one of his comic/show dimensions, which one would it be?
JhnenV: oh man...i dunno...they're all such horrible places.
JhnenV: ZIm's world is full of morons.
JhnenV: Johnny's world is full of....well...getting killed.
ShaneIvey: So it kind of comes down to: death or morons?
JhnenV: Death and Morons: the Jhonen Vasquez story.
JhnenV: I'd have to say the Bad art Collection.
JhnenV: I'd get to beat up those squishy looking jellybean characters.
ShaneIvey: Q: "From Dawn: I LOVE filler Bunny! are you ever gonna do any more with him?"
JhnenV: Yes, the bunny must suffer more.
ShaneIvey: Q: Anjanette sez: "Has there been any talk of rescheduling the unaired Zim marathon? Also.. I'd like to know where you got your clever, spooky humor? Because it owns me. You own me too though."
JhnenV: Only the people in scheduling know that.
JhnenV: i think it'd be cool, but there's been no mention of it.
ShaneIvey: On the subject, do you have any advice for the many, many, many people who want to know how best to become your employee and/or slave?
JhnenV: Hmm...no room for employees at the moment, but slaves are always welcome for sandwiches and such.
ShaneIvey: So - just send a resume c/o Nickelodeon?
JhnenV: We look at portfolios all the time.
ShaneIvey: Again, we're going over already here - Jhonen, whenever you need to bail just say the word.
JhnenV: i'm still going!!
JhnenV: It's rare I can respond to things, so this is good.
JhnenV: E-mail has become impossible these days.
ShaneIvey: Another Q in the meantime: What are the ages of the characters on ZIM?
JhnenV: New questions?
ShaneIvey: Yeah - what are the ages of the characters on ZIM?
JhnenV: They have no definite ages.
JhnenV: but they would be around 11, most of teh kids in Dib's class.
JhnenV: Gaz is younger than her brother by a year.
JhnenV: With ZIM being older than any human alive.
ShaneIvey: Q: Since Brian is going to die in the 20th episode, who will take his place in the second season? (If there is no official decision yet, I know I'm not the only one who would love it if you put Lizard Boy in that seat)
JhnenV: Brian get's replaced by a kid named POONCHY: Drinker of HATE.
JhnenV: You actually see Poonchy in Gameslave 2.
ShaneIvey: Is that HATE Cola, the rival of Poop? Or just old-fashioned hate?
JhnenV: good old fashioned HATE!
JhnenV: Poop is more like the Coke of the Dib's world,
ShaneIvey: Right - I figured Hate would be Pepsi... or... something.
JhnenV: He's the first kid to get thrown down the pulley cable after getting his game.
ShaneIvey: Oh yeah! Poor little guy.
ShaneIvey: He exploded.
JhnenV: He explodes for no real reason.
JhnenV: I love that.
JhnenV: i just was really sick of Brian's head, so in came Poonchy.
ShaneIvey: More from people wanting to work for you: what do you look for in a portfolio?
JhnenV: Well, in the case of my show, it has to look like my style.
JhnenV: It's hard getting people to work in the style, even if they're incredible artists.
ShaneIvey: Q: What has been your freakiest fan experience? (Um, aside from this.)
JhnenV: Well, this is a pretty decent wierd one, but...signings can get really strange.
ShaneIvey: Any single event that just stands out and will make us all shudder?
JhnenV: There are always certain people who will hover around you for the entire day.
JhnenV: you see them staring at you, and you run and hide, but they follow..
JhnenV: They follow lke the T-100o and don't let up.
JhnenV: And you shoot them, and they keep coming..
JhnenV: their heads reform and they leap onto your car.
JhnenV: And...well...it just gets odd.
ShaneIvey: BTW, Doodle apologizes for the stalking.
ShaneIvey: You said earlier that you have a great deal of creative control on ZIM. Do you ever worry that Nick might, as a fan put it, "Pull a Ren & Stimpy" on you and hand the show to someone else?
JhnenV: I expect it.
JhnenV: And then I would go and do something new.
JhnenV: And if it DOESN'T happen, then it would be a pleasant surprise.
ShaneIvey: Really? Interesting. Is that just a fact of creating a successful show, or does it have to do with YOUR type of show in particular?
JhnenV: I'm all about things rotting. I base my life around the concept and the eventual reality of it.
JhnenV: I look forward to doing new things...getting away from the old.
JhnenV: I don't think MY kind of show is what gets REALLY popular.
ShaneIvey: Well, it's no DOUG. (Thank God.)
ShaneIvey: REMINDER: The Invader Zim Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom is coming on in ten minutes on the East Coast!
ShaneIvey: REMINDER: The show's coming on in Central, too! Start your VCRs!
ShaneIvey: Psyman: "I must leave soon, plaese, for the love of god, tell Jhonen I said Hi."
JhnenV: HI, Psyman. And BYE Psyman.
ShaneIvey: To clarify, because everyone wants to know for certain: ZIM is signed on for 40 episodes. That's 40 shows, two full seasons, right?
JhnenV: yes, correct.
ShaneIvey: Whoo! again
JhnenV: 40 episodes of pure sick quality.
JhnenV: By the end of that, i will be fully lobotomized.
ShaneIvey: Loco: Please ask jhonen about this pumpkin carving contest bit at www.spookyland.com. What will the prize be?
JhnenV: HAH!, Roman asked me t mention that...thanks Loco.
JhnenV: It's a drawing done by Roman and myself.
JhnenV: A special halloween drawing.
ShaneIvey: Oooh... Fun... Loco is happy.
ShaneIvey: Personal question, from me: What do you think of the American educational establishment?
JhnenV: hmmm....
JhnenV: ehhh...
JhnenV: i think it's great fun to laugh at.
JhnenV: Like most things.
JhnenV: I just had many apathetic public schoolteachers.
JhnenV: And in some places, the conditions are just so hideous.....you have to laugh at it to keep from breaking down screaming.
ShaneIvey: How about anime? Are you into the anime? Got any favorites?
JhnenV: FlCl is a favorite.
JhnenV: As far as recent stuff goes.
JhnenV: The animation in that is just incredible, and the stories are just....beyonf freakish.
JhnenV: beyond....gahhh.
ShaneIvey: Our anime guy Pogo notes that's Gainax's latest work, because I'm ignorant and wouldn't have known it.
JhnenV: hah!
ShaneIvey: Q: How about Jhonen's rumoured website? Is it in progress? How far along is it?
JhnenV: Some Evangelion guys getting even stranger.
JhnenV: it's good stuff.
JhnenV: Oh the website...man. What a dream that was fun attempt.
ShaneIvey: REMINDER: If you have a question for Jhonen, whisper it to me. DO NOT whisper to Jhonen. He won't answer. And he'll resent you, personally, like crazy. Really.
ShaneIvey: So is the website not a going concern now? Or is that in the works?
JhnenV: I just didn;t get it up in time. The show started up and I ran out of time to do ANYTHING else in my life.
JhnenV: The show is a HUGE chunk of existence for me.
JhnenV: I'd love that site to be up, but I also don't want to leave it up to someone else to start up.
ShaneIvey: Understandable. Q from Spoogcake! (Here you go, Spoog!) Do you hang out with Voltaire a lot?
JhnenV: Only when he's on this side of the country, and even then very rarely.
JhnenV: He lives in New York.
ShaneIvey: Oh, and if you need help with that site, RevolutionSF is here for you. <wink>
ShaneIvey: Q: "what's a taguito?" I think he means "tacquito," and I could answer him, but let's get your impressions.
JhnenV: Mexican food. like a little fried taco roll.
JhnenV: GIR loves them.
JhnenV: Or he at least loves talking about them.
ShaneIvey: Them and Halloween chocolate. HINT, HINT, if some of you aren't watching the Spectacular of Spooky Doom!
ShaneIvey: Q: "Are the glasses real or are they for effect?"
JhnenV: Whose glasses???
JhnenV: Dib's?
ShaneIvey: I dunno. Let's start with yours.
JhnenV: Mine are real....they are the price I pay for being able to see into other dimensions.
JhnenV: A dimension of hate and candy.
ShaneIvey: Okay, I hate to ask this, but The People demand to know: What DOES the "G" in GIR stand for?
JhnenV: NO one knows!!
ShaneIvey: I knew it!
JhnenV: It could be GARBAGE.
JhnenV: Because that's all he has in his head, but it's all just speculation.
ShaneIvey: OK: How about Roman Dirge's Lenore movie? Are you involved in that? How's it coming?
JhnenV: He doesn't even look like a normal SIR unit.
JhnenV: No, i'm not involved in it, but I hear it's coming along.
JhnenV: Check out Spookyland.com for answeres to that question.
JhnenV: i could answer for Roman, but I would makes stuff up just because I like lying.
ShaneIvey: Hey, we're cool with that here.
JhnenV: For instance, the movie is all in Spanish, and Lenore is played by gary Coleman.
JhnenV: Or so i hear.
ShaneIvey: I'm THERE!
ShaneIvey: Se habla goth?
JhnenV: but enough about Lenore and her Adventures through space...
JhnenV: lenore is from space in the movie.
ShaneIvey: Q from Maskedmon: What was with that Mexico place at the end of Walk of Doom?
JhnenV: Um...that's a hard one to answer.
JhnenV: It was a changed ending..
JhnenV: so here goes:
JhnenV: It was a joke about how ZIM KNOWS how to get home now. he's positive he knows the way to home....
JhnenV: but he is SO wrong he ends up in mexico, and there was a sign that read "welcome to Mexico", showing just how wrong ZIM was.
ShaneIvey: Plenty of tacquitos for GIR! Unless Taco Bell made them up.
JhnenV: But The standards people thought it was offensive to Mexicans.
JhnenV: Despite the fact that I'm Mexican and it was MY joke)
ShaneIvey: Seriously? How screwy! Did they say WHAT was supposed to be offensive about that?
JhnenV: So we took the sign out, and made it into just a surreal, horrible ending with disco music.
JhnenV: I love that ending now.
JhnenV: I love how twisted it became, in response to the note.
JhnenV: Dancing rats are always comedy, except when they're not funny.
ShaneIvey: How often do you get notes from the Standards people to change something on the show?
JhnenV: HAH!! That's all we get now.
JhnenV: After Sep. 11, we're the most heinous show on TV apparently.
JhnenV: that's why there are no new episodes airing. The schedule's been so devastated since we have to address so many changes.
ShaneIvey: The blood all over GIR and all that? It's horrid. Good thing they don't have live-action shows about kids being terrified in some kind of Nightmare Room... Oh, wait...
JhnenV: hee...
JhnenV: I think that's called Barney.
ShaneIvey: Okay... Q: PLEASE TELL US ABOUT TAK!!!
JhnenV: TAK is a rich girl with much access to lunchmeats.
ShaneIvey: Meats of Evil?
ShaneIvey: Or just meats?
JhnenV: Just meats.
JhnenV: She has a neat little kitty named MiMi.
JhnenV: Her dad is the head of the DEE-Lishus Weenie Corporation, so she's pretty loaded.
ShaneIvey: When does she show up?
JhnenV: Episode 20 is when she shows up.
JhnenV: It's a full half hour.
JhnenV: After that, she pops up very occasionally.
ShaneIvey: Special event like Spooky Doom? Whats the title gonna be?
JhnenV: It's more like a season finale episode.
ShaneIvey: REMINDER: If you have a question for Jhonen, whisper it to ME. Don't whisper to Jhonen. You will rue your moosey fate.
JhnenV: yes...your moosey fate.
ShaneIvey: Q: What is you fascination with pigs?
JhnenV: Another tough one...i don't really like real pigs that much, but I love writing about them, drawing big fat flying ones...you know...pigs.
ShaneIvey: Sure.
ShaneIvey: Q. from Morpheus who has to leave: "May I have your permission to use your characters in art class. My teacher says that I need your permission."
JhnenV: Sure...I don't mind.
ShaneIvey: There you go, Morpheus!
ShaneIvey: Jhonen, how did ZIM wind up on Nickelodeon? Did they approach you for a show, or did you shop around to networks like CN or whatever?
JhnenV: NICK approached me for a show yes.
JhnenV: I just took up the chance, wanting to do something new.
JhnenV: Kind of like with comics, i just took the chance, and ran with it.
JhnenV: I don't think CN would be able to produce ZIm with the same budget. We're kind of a very tech heavy show.
ShaneIvey: They approached you? Wow! Looking at your comics that's surprising. Do you know the background there? How they found out about you, why they approached you, etc?
ShaneIvey: Not that anybody's complaining - just curious!
JhnenV: I know, but Mary harington thought there was something there, in my hideous little books.
JhnenV: She took a chance.
ShaneIvey: Very cool... Speck says, "please complinent JV on his excellent Sppky Doom Eppy!! I jus watched it and....wow... please say congradulations to him!"
JhnenV: THANKS!!
JhnenV: Did he think it was funny, or scary?
ShaneIvey: And someone else wants to know if Nick is going to air it again?
JhnenV: Hmm...I don't kow about repeat episodes.
ShaneIvey: Speck? Funny or scary?
ShaneIvey: Speck says "both... more funny, but definitely creepy. In a good way."
JhnenV: GOOD!
JhnenV: overall I wanted it to be funny, so long as tehre was some creepy in there.
ShaneIvey: Q from Pogo: "Can we please have more Gaz-centered episodes? The Gameslave episode was hysterical. And nice Vampire Hunter D riff, too"
JhnenV: gameslave and Balognius is my favorite episode.
ShaneIvey: (Jhonen, I'm taking the muzzle off Pogo, since he's staff here and is nice and friendly and nonspammy.)
JhnenV: No not vampires...see he was after PIGGIES.
JhnenV: PIGGIES!!!
Pogo: yeah, but they were VAMPIRE piggies!
ShaneIvey: This just in: "Tv guide says they are repeating tonights ep on the 31 at 7 central"
ShaneIvey: So do ZIM for Halloween!
ShaneIvey: By the way folks, Pogo is Kevin Pezzano, anime editor for RevolutionSF. That's why he's special.
ShaneIvey: Jhonen, have you thought of doing any web comics? Was that planned for the website that wasn't?
JhnenV: I have no plans for a webcomic.
JhnenV: I did havea webgame idea, but the company that was going to do it went under.
JhnenV: They flopped like a morbidly obese child into oblivion.
ShaneIvey: Sounds like the company Pogo and I used to work for.
JhnenV: They were worried people might find it too violent, and then they ceased to exist.
JhnenV: I made it so.
JhnenV: I used my power.
ShaneIvey: PIGGIES is going to cry if I don't ask you about plans for tutorials and merchandise: "TUTORIALS AND MERCHANDISE!!! lol, please, please, please, i'll give you a dollar and kiss you feet!"
JhnenV: tutorials??
ShaneIvey: I dunno. How to Create Invader Zim Like Me books, maybe?
ShaneIvey: Ah - "how to draw" books, PIGGIES says.
JhnenV: hah! I don't know...I can't imagine teaching...I was always so bad at BEING taught.
ShaneIvey: How about the merchandise? You said earlier it was a nightmare to develop - are there any items actually in production?
JhnenV: It's just T-shirts right now, but they're planning other little bits for early on: stuffed dolls and such.
JhnenV: The GIR doll might make people happy, but i have no clue how much control we'll have on how it looks.
ShaneIvey: Early on when? Anything besides shirts coming out for Christmas?
JhnenV: Around November for the shirts.
JhnenV: Goofy stuff tha I could do without like air fresheners, and ...ehh....toothpick maybe.
ShaneIvey: Do you know when the GIR doll will hit stores? My kids will kill for one.
JhnenV: I would love to see your children killing for dolls.
ShaneIvey: They already run around beating themselves in the head and dancing like a monkey.
JhnenV: This is a good reaosn to make them in the first place.
JhnenV: But I don't know when exactly.
JhnenV: It's time I got going!
JhnenV: guys, thanks for checking this thing out and putting up with the choas!
JhnenV: CHAOS!!
JhnenV: i dunno what CHOAS are.
JhnenV: They sound scary though.
ShaneIvey: Same for RevolutionSF, folks - thanks very much for coming.
ShaneIvey: Jhonen, thank YOU!
JhnenV: Thanks guys.
ShaneIvey: Thanks so much for taking so much time to hang out and answer all our questions.
ShaneIvey: Well, a fraction of them, anyhow.
ShaneIvey: Best of luck with the show and everything else.
JhnenV: Watch the show and be angry when NICK doesn't air it!!
ShaneIvey: Say, where should we be angry TO?
ShaneIvey: Does Nick have a "Mad ZIM Fans" department we can email or call?
JhnenV: heh...just kick any shifty looking people who look NICK-related, in the groin.
ShaneIvey: Take THAT, Amanda Bynes!
JhnenV: Thanks again.
JhnenV: Pleasant something, people.
ShaneIvey: Thanks Jhonen!
JhnenV: Kick them groins.
JhnenV: BYE!