IDK how ZAGR can work when Jhonen confirmed that Zim is a thousands year old adult while Gaz is a kid... yet he also says ZAGR would have been endgame if he had to do romance. Was he joking about it or is Zim biologically a (presumably) perpetual young adult to where when Gaz grows up, it isn't illegal or creepy (Like everlasting adulthood, but still mortal)??? I'm more confused than I should be.
oof, the classic zim-age battle. I havenβt been in the fandom for a while so my memoryβs a little rusty.
What I can say is that the βzim is 1000+ year old adultβ is a recent statement on Zimβs age. Even then, when itβs brought up, itβs said in a joking context. I take everything Jhonen says with a grain of salt, canon isnβt something he prioritizes when it comes to zim, he bends whatβs established to service the humor. In the 20+ year of the showβs existence, a good chunck of the viewers has assumed zimβs age was likened to the kids. Or that at the very least, he conveniently aged alongside the cast. I thought similarly when watching the show for the first time. But now that Jhonenβs been consistently joking Zimβs an βold manβ (note, he doesnβt specify an age. He just. says βold manβ hfjffj) itβs safe to assume heβs an adult. probably?? Even then, Iβve seen vet fans and mutuals say that the trial script would have clarified Zimβs as old as the Tallest. But then, what about the one zagr fanart on the staffβs fanart wall? what about the storyboard zadr doodles during production of the movie?? Joke or not, wouldnβt it be weird if not un-pc of the staff to pit the boys together like that?? Again, itβs all very muddy. Itβs not my favorite topic to discuss because our only authority on the issue loves to play with canon like a cat with a ball of yarn. and violently ingest it. then hack it up like a hairball.
Ah, the zagr endgame claim. *wipes tear* Itβs untrue btw. Itβs a beautiful offspring of fandom telephone thatβs lasted all these years :β) The IZ wiki isβ¦ um, highly opinionated on certain topics (Gazβs supposed pyro abilities, for example) and thereβs NO citation for this claim. I wouldnβt look to it as a totally reliable sourceβ¦. I personally scoured the internet and youtube, I watched any Jhonen Invadercon interview I could (god. PLEASE donβt watch them. Fans ask intruding and embarrassing questions to the poor guy). Iβve yet to find him say zagr was endgame.
Jhonenβs depictions of IZ has changed. 2019 Jhonen wanted to focus on family and Dibβs dynamic with his dad. He wanted Membrane to be a prominent character. 2000 Jhonen was fine having Membrane waltz in and out of the kidβs life, even having Membrane be absent with a drone monitoring the kids in his place (cynical implications lmao). So even if he DID entertain the idea of zagr, his opinion likely changed. Heβs had the comics to suggest an alliance between Zim and Gaz, or develop some kind of relationship. We kinda made progress with issue 16 with Zim realizing Gaz is tolerable to be around and wondering out loud why they donβt hang out more (which is shut down by Gaz lmao)??? But thatβs it.
Iβm sorry abt the confusion :( Do what you feel is best, be mindful how you engage in conversation abt stuff like Zimβs age to other fans. Zimβs an adult? cool. Zimβs ageless and doesnβt adhere to human standards of maturity? complicated, but ok. Zimβs a kid? alrighty. Itβs something weβll be forever divided on, unfortunately. So: To each their own!
