‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters’ Deserves To Be Revisited

It’d been a while since I last kicked it with my old pals Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm. So long, in fact, I had to look up the correct spelling of Krumm’s name while searching for Krumm GIFs earlier (I thought it might be “Krumb,” like a Kardashian-ified take on a certain cupcake chain). (And please don’t ask me why or how I never forgot how to spell “Oblina” and “Ickis,” because I don’t have an answer. All I can tell you is that their names flowed from my fingertips effortlessly, like a stench wafting from Krumm's hairy underarms.) Needless to say, a revisit was long overdue; I was beyond ready to un-forget the things I've forgotten about Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.

In October of 1994, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters premiered on Nickelodeon, scuttling straight into viewers’ hearts, à la a horde of cockroaches scurrying across a clock at the stroke of midnight. For four seasons, audiences watched the Aaahh!!! trio go to school, learn the ancient art of scaring the bejeezus out of humans, and pester Headmaster Gromble. After 52 gloriously zany two-part episodes, the Klasky Csupo series concluded in 1997. And I hadn't seen an episode since the early '00s.

...Until today, that is. Here are some of the aaahh-mazing things I un-forgot about Aaahh!!! Real Monsters as I revisited the tremendous animated series this afternoon.

1. How To Spell The First Word In The Series Title

Is it one “A,” or is it two? No wait, maybe it’s three? And what about the “H”? What do I do with that letter? And don’t even get me started on the exclamation points. *Wipes sweat from brow.* Gosh, it's been too long since I watched Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh? Real Monsters.

2. The Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Monsters Were On Rugrats

In the sixth season of Rugrats, Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm crashed Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, Lil, Dil, and Angelica’s spooky slumber party. "Ghost Story" is a Nicktoons crossover for the ages.

3. Oblina Could & Would Pull Out All Of Her Organs At The Drop Of A Hat

Why in the world would Oblina pull out all of her internal organs, you ask? To terrify humans, duh. This was her thing, her party trick, her move.

4. A Cave Monster Helped Invent The Wheel

Thanks for the history lesson, the Gromble!

5. The Snorch & Zimbo

I don't know how I forgot about them entirely, but yeesh. A gruesome twosome if there ever was one.

6. Speaking Of The Zimbo…

The Scorch’s sidekick was voiced by Tim "Dr. Frank-N-Furter" Curry.

7. And Simon The Monster Hunter?

The human who was keen on capturing the monsters was voiced by Jim Belushi.

8. Ickis, Oblina & Krumm Really Love Lava Lamps

So much so that they once got trapped in a shopping mall for one.

9. The Annual Riding Of The Great Wave Coincides With Another Major Sporting Event

When the humans flush their toilets at Super Bowl halftime, the monsters' big sewer surfing competition begins.

10. Krickis Was A Thing That Happened

In "Joined at the Hip," The Gromble punishes Ickis and Krumm by fusing them together. Hello, Krickis/nightmare fuel. So nice to see you again.

11. Oblina Once Scared A Guy So Badly…

…He developed a serious rice obsession.

Do you know what I'll never forget?

The show's iconic opening credits, that's what.

Images: Nickelodeon (5); bribooth, spacecadet, intothesweetmorningfog, nickelodeonmemories, retro80sgifs/tumblr