OK so a couple people seemed interested in the fic rec list so here it is. I havenât done one of these before so keep in mind this is just my personal likes, and idk if this is usual but iâm also going to put my little mini reviews + warnings (not content warnings but anything I think might deter someone from reading) on them so you kind of know what to expect. Obviously I canât vouch for any of the authors on this list as I donât know any of them personally, so if some fic ends up being written by a heinous person just know I didnât raise them that way. List under the cut:Â
OK! Without further ado, Iâm going to be ranking these in descending order down to my all-time favorite, but first I'm going to add two fics that are kind of nebulous to rank because they are both crossovers. If I were going to rank them, both would be near the top of the list.
âNow Youâre Thinking With Real Scienceâ by Jaywings
This fic is just insanely good. Itâs a Portal 2 crossover, and even for two franchises that already seem to blend together really well with the same brand of darkly humorous cyberpunk themes, it does a really good job of fitting the world and characters together in a way that makes perfect sense. Everything flows together really well, and every character from a large cast of characters is well handled and gets a chance to do something (or have something done to them). Fair warning, there are a few pretty intense scenes, and this one is as of yet unfinished, but still updating, and I highly recommend it.Â
Warnings: This fic makes me want to like wheatley again and I won't, dammit. I refuse. Die you traitorous metal ball.
âMad Worldâ by iamwriting
This is a crossover between IZ and Jhonen Vasquezâ other most famous work, his horror/black comedy comic series Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. For those that have never read any of Vasquez' other work, itâs safe to say that JTHM makes Invader Zim look like Blueâs Clues, so fair warning before going into it this fic is dark. I wouldnât go so far as to say itâs depressing, but it certainly handles very heavy themes (insanity, suicide...murder, obviously) and doesnât pull punches. That said, it really surprised me just how well-crafted, compelling and moving this fic is. By the time I was finished with it, all the plot threads had pulled together so tightly I had to go back and reread chapters just to confirm that oh, yeah- I didnât imagine that, the author set that up so subtly I didnât even notice. An absolute 10/10 for plot, mood, and how well it kept me engaged (I spent an entire workday feverishly reading this and didnât even notice the time pass) with a powerful and satisfying payoff.Â
Warnings: This story is told in a very restricted first person pov, which can sometimes feel awkward, but is necessary for setting up an unreliable narrator. Characters, particularly Zim, can also sometimes feel ooc, but this too has an in-fic explanation that I wonât spoil.
OK! Enough crossovers, onto the ranked fics:
#6: âHey, Spacejerkâ by HeCallsMeHisChild
This particular author and her series of fics were some of the first that I read in the fandom, and one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that she has the most original ideas Iâve ever seen. Hey Spacejerk is strange, and thatâs not a bad thing. It starts out as sort of a self-contained exploration of isolation with elements of psychological horror, and blossoms into something totally different by the end. If you donât mind suspending disbelief and being taken along for the ride, I really think this it's an enjoyable read, with a strange but satisfying conclusion.Â
Warnings: not really an issue for me, but this fic was written before the movie release, and Prof. Membrane takes on a villain-like role in this story so if thatâs a deal breaker, youâve been warned.Â
#5 âA Parade of Indignitiesâ by RissyNicoleÂ
A LOT has been said about this fic and how good it is that thereâs almost not much left to say. This story is epic in scope and very good at maintaining the nail-biting suspense it sets up early on. Supporting characters who didnât get much focus in the show are a big part of this one, and help the world feel more fleshed out and alive. This story isnât finished, and I have to admit Iâm actually not caught up with it, but regardless. The fandom considers this one a must-read and I do too.Â
Warnings: If you are an anxious hypochondriac like me this one can be a psychological horror as well! Little added bonus :)
#4 âImportant Messages From Beyond the Starsâ by myrskytuuli
This one is very niche and catered to my interests. I love stories that utilize the Resisty, and I'm an absolute sucker for anything exploring Zimâs time working as a scientist on Vort. Is it canon compliant? Not even close. Is it fully in character? Highly debatable, but this fic rec list needs some of the heartwarming found family healing only fanfic can provide, and goddamn it this fic provides. This one is also unfinished but still updating, and as new chapters and plot threads are introduced Iâm more and more excited to see where it leads.Â
Warnings: Again, if youâre looking for canon compliance and the usual dark cynicism of IZ, this is not the fic for you.Â
#3 "Forced Perspective" by 0palite
I read this fic more recently after stumbling across some of the adorable drawings the author did for each chapter. This fic is quintessential zadf, and thatâs a-ok with me. Itâs character driven all the way through, and great care is taken in examining the different ways they think, as well as their motivations and worldviews. Everything feels in line with canon, and the development of the plot as well as the central friendship is natural and never feels too contrived. Really enjoyable read, and the drawings and animations created for every chapter are so charming and a huge added bonus to this one.
Warnings: None really, if slowburn zadf isnât your thing you wonât enjoy this.Â
#2 âExperimentalâ by HideousBlobÂ
 I don't think it would be an overstatement of any kind to say that Experimental and its lost? sequel Hypothetical are sort of the golden standard when it comes to Invader Zim fics. Butingly funny, very in character, bordering on psychological horror in places, this one excels at utilizing Zim's manic hypochondria to create a real sense of paranoia and keep the reader guessing. A great story with or without the slowburn zadf going on in the background, this fic is also available in the form of a great 8-bit RPG game with multiple choices and endings. One thing to note is that this particular author has since distanced herself from the fandom, so although you can still find the fic on archive.org (dm me if youâd like to play the game) please donât go attempt to contact her about it.Â
Warnings: I just wish I could read her other fics again. Thats all đđ
#1 âLeaving Homeâ by DiscoTeriyaki
This fic is the bane of my existence. Itâs so good I hate it. And the worst part is that I canât even put my finger on exactly what makes it so good. Leaving Homeâs main idiosyncracy is that itâs very grounded in the real world, much more so than most other fics on this list. For example, Dib and Gaz have (or, had) a mother, real-world cities are mentioned, and the author utilizes a soundtrack of real-world songs from the late 1970âs to tell the story. This fic is very self-contained and small in scope, but it has a cutting, straight-forward and bittersweet take on the characters and their relationships. Exploring themes of growing up, death and remembrance, forgiveness, and what it means to be important to someone without particularly liking them. Everytime I read it (and Iâve read it a few times) I notice something new, and Iâm in awe of how well this author is able to say so much in so few words. If you read this, do yourself a favor and listen to the music the fic provides.Â
Gripes: Iâd really like to stop crying everytime âThe Lights Go Downâ by ELO comes on please and thanks.Â
And that's it! If you decide to read anything on this list, let me know what you thought of it, and please show these authors some love. And if there's a fic you think I would enjoy based on these recs, I'd be thrilled to check it out (and YES that includes your own fic). Thanks for reading!
