Gaz, Taster of Pork

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The Shadowhog.
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The Shadowhog.

"Gaz, Taster of Pork" is a double-length episode of Invader Zim, originally produced as Episode 26. While not airing on Nickelodeon in the US, it aired on the Nicktoons Network in the US on August 12, 2006.

[edit] Plot

Dib has acquired a "spell-drive" (hinting that Invader Zim is in the future, where books are obsolite), an anthology of various spells in a kind of digital book. Dib thinks that it is no longer usable, but learns that he can try out a spell. Dib tests a spell from the "Shadowhog" on Gaz, who is sleeping in the next room.

The next morning, Gaz doesn't seem to be any different, but it turns out that the spell did work. Gaz discovers that she tastes nothing but pork in everything she eats, even dairy products (although she finds that actual pork tastes the same). Dib desperately works to save her from her fate, even calling on Zim (though it doesn't work out). Gaz becomes a media sensation, and a movie is even made about her (which GIR and Pig go see).

Finally, Dib transports he and Gaz to the Shadowhog's dimension with a new spell. The Shadowhog turns out to be a tall, large magical being with a pig head. He declares that to reverse the spell (which is a wonderful spell in their demension), Gaz must face him down in a challenge. Dib is forced to wait outside, convinced that Gaz won't be able to win.

As it turns out, the questions are very easy (as Gaz is a video game addict) and they mostly play chess for awhile, as Gaz explains her knowledge of Zim's identity (she knows, but realizes that he is too utterly stupid to conquer the Earth).

Dib suddenly bursts in, begging the Shadowhog to spare Gaz and punish Dib instead. The Shadowhog attempts to explain, but Gaz stops him. The Shadowhog then punishes Dib to clean the toilets (with brushes attached in a crown-like fashion to his head), which, for some unknown reason, are horrible. Gaz happily goes home.

[edit] References

  • This episode suggests that Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac (another comic by Jhonen Vasquez) may take place in the same city. Just before Dib and Gaz travel to the Realm of the Shadow Hog, they seem to be standing on the same fenced in ledge from where Johnny C stares down at the city.
  • This entire episode is based off of a "MEANWHILE" featured in the back of "SQUEE'S Wonderful Big Giant Book of Unspeakable Horrors," another comic by Vasquez. The "MEANWHILE" features Tickle-Me-Hellmo, a demonic children's toy who puts kids through several levels of torture. Level 8 is "Alters child's taste buds so that everything tastes like pork."
  • The code in Super Kicky Fighter (↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → A B B A start) is almost identical to the Konami Code (↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A start).
  • There is an indication that there is a passage of time in the series when Dib points out to Zim that he helped him when they got turned into bologna (a ref. to Bolognius Maximus).

[edit] Trivia

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  • The second time Gaz admits that Zim is an alien, but too incompetent to destroy mankind (though she explains in fuller detail this time). The previous time was in the episode, Bloaty's Pizza Hog.
  • Gaz and Dib actually hold hands in the episode, an unusual sign of affection for the obsessed Dib and the anti-social Gaz. This was most likely an animation mistake however, because no one in the DVD commentary knew why it was in the episode.
  • Gaz seems to have robotic stuffed animals as "bouncers". She also sleeps in pink angel pajamas.
  • When Gaz is looming over Dib with the mashed potatoes, and she throws them away (apparently in the other eye of Zeta) he screams "ZETA!" Showing some form of affection for Zeta.
  • GIR has one line in this episode ("I GOT MONKEYS IN ME!"). Rosearik Rikki Simmons (the voice of GIR) says on the commentary 'I got paid for that!'


 v • d • e 
Season One Episodes Pilot • The Nightmare Begins • Parent Teacher Night • Walk of Doom • Bestest Friend • NanoZIM • Germs • Dark Harvest • Attack of the Saucer Morons • The Wettening • Career Day • Battle-Dib • A Room with a Moose • Hamstergeddon • Invasion of the Idiot Dog Brain • Planet Jackers • Rise of the Zitboy • Plague of Babies • Bloaty's Pizza Hog • Bolognius Maximus • Game Slave 2 • Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom • Mysterious Mysteries • Future Dib • Door to Door • FBI Warning of Doom • Battle of the Planets • Abducted • The Sad, Sad Tale of Chickenfoot • Megadoomer • Lice • Tak: The Hideous New Girl • GIR Goes Crazy and Stuff • Dib's Wonderful Life of Doom • Hobo 13 •

Walk for Your Lives
Season Two Episodes The Most Horrible X-mas Ever • Backseat Drivers From Beyond the Stars • Mortos Der Soulstealer • Zim Eats Waffles • The Girl Who Cried Gnome • Dibship Rising • Vindicated • The Voting of the Doomed • Gaz, Taster of Pork • The Frycook What Came from All That Space • unfinished episodes
Main Characters Zim • GIR • Dib • Gaz • Almighty Tallest
Planets Callnowia • Conventia • Foodcourtia • Irk • Meekrob
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