Bolognius Maximus (Invader Zim)

"Bolognius Maximus"
"Dumb like a moose, Dib. Dumb like a moose." — Zim
Series: Invader Zim Part of Season: 1 Episode Number: 12a Air Date: September 21, 2001 Writer: Jhonen Vasquez Director: Steve Russel Previous episode: "Bloaty's Pizza Hog" Next episode: "Game Slave 2"

"Bolognius Maximus" is the first segment in the 12th episode of the first season of Invader Zim. It premiered on September 21, 2001, on Nickelodeon.

Plot

Dib throws bologna at Zim during the lunch break at school, which dissolves his skin. As revenge, Zim places a thumbtack on Dib's chair, which Dib sits on. The next day Zim informs Dib that he infected Dib with a virus that is altering his DNA, turning him into bologna. When Zim discovers that Dib's initial attack is also turning himself into bologna, the pair team up in an attempt to find a cure.

Why It's Dumb Like a Moose

1. This episode is way too disturbing and gross at the same time that it almost doesn’t fit the tone of the show.
2. It’s a bit of a Zim and Dib torture episode.
3. The welt Zim has after Dib throws bologna at him is quite gross.
4. When Dib is slowly transforming into Bologna, Gaz takes a piece of him and eats it. Yes, Dib is mostly bologna at the moment, but there's still human within him, technically making that cannibalism.
5. Carl's line, "I left my underwear on for a month once and it kinda smelled like he does!" is rather disgusting.
6. Everyone is unlikable and cruel to both Zim and Dib for absolutely no reason, resulting in this episode being mean-spirited.
7. It's even worse when Zim tells Dib that there's no cure for the bologna virus, and their attempt at making a cure failed.
8. Terrible ending: it's unnerving and baffling as it shows Zim and Dib being fully transformed into bologna sausages after being driven off by the dogs.

Redeeming Qualities

1. Dib may have scared Gaz for the very first time when he tells her to "taste him" because "he's delicious".
2. Dib is considered the Most Likable Character.
3. These are one of the times where Zim and Dib work together.
4. The concept of a bologna virus is kind of interesting and funny.

Trivia

• Jhonen Vasquez (the creator) claims this is one of his favorite episodes of the show, despite it being one of the series' most hated episodes (along with "Gaz, Taster of Pork").
• In the comic series, the episode has become a running gag to reference the events of this episode.