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 haven’t been in the fandom for a while so my memory’s a little rusty.
What I can say is that the “zim is 1000+ year old adult” is a recent statement on Zim’s age. Even then, when it’s brought up, it’s said in a joking context. I take everything Jhonen says with a grain of salt, canon isn’t something he prioritizes when it comes to zim, he bends what’s established to service the humor. In the 20+ year of the show’s existence, a good chunck of the viewers has assumed zim’s 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 Jhonen’s been consistently joking Zim’s an “old man” (note, he doesn’t specify an age. He just. says “old man” hfjffj) it’s safe to assume he’s an adult. probably?? Even then, I’ve seen vet fans and mutuals say that the trial script would have clarified Zim’s as old as the Tallest. But then, what about the one zagr fanart on the staff’s fanart wall? what about the storyboard zadr doodles during production of the movie?? Joke or not, wouldn’t it be weird if not un-pc of the staff to pit the boys together like that?? Again, it’s all very muddy. It’s 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* It’s untrue btw. It’s a beautiful offspring of fandom telephone that’s lasted all these years :’) The IZ wiki is… um, highly opinionated on certain topics (Gaz’s supposed pyro abilities, for example) and there’s NO citation for this claim. I wouldn’t look to it as a totally reliable source…. I personally scoured the internet and youtube, I watched any Jhonen Invadercon interview I could (god. PLEASE don’t watch them. Fans ask intruding and embarrassing questions to the poor guy). I’ve yet to find him say zagr was endgame.
Jhonen’s depictions of IZ has changed. 2019 Jhonen wanted to focus on family and Dib’s dynamic with his dad. He wanted Membrane to be a prominent character. 2000 Jhonen was fine having Membrane waltz in and out of the kid’s 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. He’s 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 don’t hang out more (which is shut down by Gaz lmao)??? But that’s it.
I’m sorry abt the confusion :( Do what you feel is best, be mindful how you engage in conversation abt stuff like Zim’s age to other fans. Zim’s an adult? cool. Zim’s ageless and doesn’t adhere to human standards of maturity? complicated, but ok. Zim’s a kid? alrighty. It’s something we’ll be forever divided on, unfortunately. So: To each their own!
