The Men in Black (comics) explained

The Men in Black
Schedule:Monthly
Format:Mini-series
One-shots
Publisher:Aircel Comics
Malibu Comics
(now owned by Marvel Comics)
Date:Jan.–March 1990
May–July 1991
Issues:6
Genre:Science fiction
Writers:Lowell Cunningham
Artists:Sandy Carruthers
Creators:Lowell Cunningham
Tpb:The Men in Black
Isbn:0944735606

The Men in Black is an American comic book created and written by Lowell Cunningham, illustrated by Sandy Carruthers, and originally published by Aircel Comics, based on the "men in black" conspiracy theory. Aircel would later be bought out by Malibu Comics, which itself was bought out by Marvel Comics. Three issues were published in 1990, with another three the following year. The comic book later spawned a media franchise which includes a series of four films, an animated television series, video games, and a theme park attraction, as well as a number of tie-in one-shot comics from Marvel. Cunningham had the idea for the comic once a friend of his introduced him to the concept of government "men in black" upon seeing a black van riding the streets.[1]

Publication history

The first series consisted of three issues and was published in 1990 by Aircel Comics, cover-dated January to March 1990.[2] After Aircel was acquired by Malibu Comics, a second series appeared, The Men in Black Book II #1-3 (May–July 1991).[3]

Malibu was purchased by Marvel Comics in 1994, and when the feature film Men in Black was released, Marvel published a number of one-shots in 1997, including a reboot of the original comic line,[4] a sequel,[5] a movie adaptation,[6] and a reprint of the first issue of the original Aircel miniseries.[7]

The first series was collected into a trade paperback (June 1990,).[8]

Plot

The Men in Black is an international agency which oversees and investigates both good and evil paranormal activity on Earth, including alien life, demons, mutants, zombies, werewolves, vampires, legendary creatures and other paranormal beings. In order to keep their investigations secret, much of the global population are unaware of their activities, and are liable to be neuralyzed to blank their memory of any interaction with the agents or phenomena connected to them.

Notable members include Zed, Jay, Kay, and Ecks. Ecks later becomes a rogue agent after learning that the MIB seeks to keep the supernatural hidden in order to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image.

An agent may use any means necessary, including death and destruction, to accomplish a mission. Agents sever all ties with their former lives, and (thanks to the neuralyzer) as far as the world is concerned, they do not exist.

Adaptations

See also: Men in Black (franchise). Beginning with the release of the film Men in Black in 1997, the comic book has been adapted across a wide variety of media, spawning an entire franchise. Starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the film proved a huge box office success for Columbia Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, resulting in two sequels: Men in Black II and Men in Black 3. The popularity of the films subsequently led to many tie-ins and spin-offs, including an animated series, novelizations, soundtracks of each film, video games, and a theme park attraction. A spin-off was released in 2019, titled . It continues the universe of the first three films, instead of adapting the original material from the comic book.

Despite sharing the same basic premise, the various adaptations differ greatly from the original comics. Some of these differences include:

External links

Notes and References

  1. "Metamorphosis of 'Men in Black'", Men in Black Blu-Ray
  2. http://www.comics.org/series/26170/ The Men in Black
  3. http://www.comics.org/series/30715/ The Men In Black Book II
  4. http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=2458 Men in Black: Far Cry
  5. http://www.comics.org/series/40903/ Men in Black: Retribution (Marvel, 1997 series)
  6. http://www.comics.org/series/40846/ Men in Black: The Movie
  7. http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=29889 Men in Black: American Entertainment Exclusive
  8. http://www.comics.org/series/40561/ The Men in Black