Dr. John A. Zoidberg
Species: Decapodian
Planet of Origin: Decapod 10
Age: Unknown
First Appearance: "The Series Has Landed" (1ACV02)
General Information
Dr. John Zoidberg is Staff Doctor at Planet Express and has been employed in the company for the past ten years. It is uncertain whether he is technically and legally qualified for this job, for he seems to be a bit hazy on details of human anatomy and frequently mixes up organs or genders and can't even tell a human from a robot. There is evidence that he doesn't even have a medical degree or diploma, but Zoidberg has never let himself be stopped by this. In fact he has occasionally shown extraordinary medical skills, although this was perhaps only by accident. He is desperately poor and most of his meals come from garbage cans or dumpsters, he seems to be able to eat almost anything, including clothing. He will do almost anything for a free meal.
Zoidberg seems not to be hugely intelligent, but is rather nice and friendly despite the fact that most of his co-workers look down on him, especially Hermes likes to make his life even more miserable than it already is. Zoidberg is Professor Farnsworth's oldest friend, which indicates that they must have known each other for quite some time and that maybe he is a lot older than he looks. He is a citizen of Earth and loves his chosen home planet for the personal freedom it provides.
Biography
Dr. Zoidberg was born on Decapod 10 and seems to have visited high school there, apparently Edna was a class mate or at least on the same school. During that time, his face was covered in barnacles, for which he was laughed at. Eventually, he went to medical school and left his home planet to seek his fortune on Earth, although it is not known whether he studied on Decapod 10 or on Earth. For this, he had to give up his life-long dream of stepping into the footsteps of his uncle Harold Zoid, the famous master comedian of earlier days, and becoming a comedian. He has tried to be a freelance comedian nonetheless, but somehow seems to lack the necessary talent.
Zoidberg once saved Fry's life by transplanting his head onto Amy's shoulder when his body was severely damaged in a car crash on Jupiter's moon Europa. On another occasion, he tried to kill Fry in the Decapodian tradition of Claw-Plach. He has served as a military doctor in the conflict with Spheron 1 and defeated the Decapodian oppressors who had occupied Earth in response to Zoidberg being sentenced to death for eating an Earth flag.