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Men in Black (comic book)
Encyclopedia
The Men in Black was a comic book
created and written by Lowell Cunningham
, illustrated by Sandy Carruthers
, and published by Aircel Comics
. 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. It was adapted into the film Men in Black
, which was a commercial success, leading to two sequels and various spin-offs
, as well as a number of tie-in
one-shot comics from Marvel.
by Aircel Comics
. After being acquired by Malibu Comics
a second series appeared in 1991
.
Malibu was purchased by Marvel
in 1994
, and when the first film was released Marvel published a number of one-shots in 1997
, including two prequel
s, a sequel
, and a movie adaptation.
The first series has been collected into a trade paperback
(June 1990, ISBN 0944735606).
, and other such beings), while keeping the populace ignorant of its happenings. Notable members include Zed, Jay, and Kay. An agent named Ecks went rogue after learning the truth behind the MiB: they seek to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image by keeping the supernatural hidden.
An agent will use any means necessary, including murder and destruction, to accomplish a mission. Agents sever all ties with their former lives, and as far as the world is concerned, they do not exist. Agents who go rogue (such as Ecks) are hunted down and eliminated.
film Men in Black
and its sequel
and spin-offs. The spin-offs include a soundtrack with an award-winning song
, the TV show Men in Black: The Series
, a novelization
of each film, video games, and an amusement park ride
. Men in Black III
is set to be released in 2012.
Among the changes in the film version are the focus of the secret organization (only policing and monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth, omitting the other paranormal elements), Agent J's race changed to African-American (he was Caucasian in the comics), its methods (using memory erasure rather than killing witnesses), and its goals (merely maintaining order on Earth, rather than directing it). The movie also significantly alters the tone, playing the Men in Black's isolation from society for pathos and the bizarreness of their day to day lives for humor, primarily the latter.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
created and written by Lowell Cunningham
Lowell Cunningham
Lowell Cunningham is an American creator and writer best known for The Men in Black, which became the basis for a media franchise.-Biography:Cunningham created the comic book series The Men in Black...
, illustrated by Sandy Carruthers
Sandy Carruthers
Sandy Carruthers is a Canadian artist and graphic design instructor, known for his work as the first illustrator of the original Men in Black comic book series, and as creator of the webcomic series, Canadiana: the New Spirit of Canada.- Biography :...
, and published by Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics was a Canadian comic book publisher founded by Barry Blair, based in Ottawa and active between 1985 and 1994. In 1988, it merged with American publisher Eternity Comics, itself an imprint of Malibu Comics, and in the late 1980s was taken over by Malibu before ceasing publication...
. Aircel would later be bought out by Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
, which itself was bought out by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. Three issues were published in 1990
1990 in comics
-Year overall:Days of Future Present, the sequel to Days of Future Past, appeared in the annuals of Fantastic Four, New Mutants, X-Factor and X-Men.-January:* Dinosaurs for Hire is cancelled by Eternity Comics with issue #9....
, with another three the following year. It was adapted into the film Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
, which was a commercial success, leading to two sequels and various spin-offs
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
, as well as a number of tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
one-shot comics from Marvel.
Publication history
The first series consisted of three issues and was published in 19901990 in comics
-Year overall:Days of Future Present, the sequel to Days of Future Past, appeared in the annuals of Fantastic Four, New Mutants, X-Factor and X-Men.-January:* Dinosaurs for Hire is cancelled by Eternity Comics with issue #9....
by Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics
Aircel Comics was a Canadian comic book publisher founded by Barry Blair, based in Ottawa and active between 1985 and 1994. In 1988, it merged with American publisher Eternity Comics, itself an imprint of Malibu Comics, and in the late 1980s was taken over by Malibu before ceasing publication...
. After being acquired by Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
a second series appeared in 1991
1991 in comics
-January:* Checkmate is canceled by DC Comics with issue #33.* El Diablo vol. 2 is canceled by DC with issue #16.* Count Duckula is canceled by the Marvel Comics imprint Star Comics with issue #15....
.
Malibu was purchased by Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
in 1994
1994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
, and when the first film was released Marvel published a number of one-shots in 1997
1997 in comics
-January:*Avengers #3 - Marvel Comics*Captain America #3 - Marvel Comics*Fantastic Four #3 - Marvel Comics*Iron Man #3 - Marvel Comics-February:...
, including two prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
s, a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, and a movie adaptation.
The first series has been collected into a trade paperback
Trade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
(June 1990, ISBN 0944735606).
Fictional history
The Men in Black are a secret organization that monitors and suppresses paranormal activity on Earth (which includes aliens, demons, mutantsMutant (fictional)
The concept of a mutant is a common trope in comic books and science fiction. The new phenotypes that appear in fictional mutations generally go far beyond what is typically seen in biological mutants, and often result in the mutated life form exhibiting superhuman abilities or qualities.-Marvel...
, and other such beings), while keeping the populace ignorant of its happenings. Notable members include Zed, Jay, and Kay. An agent named Ecks went rogue after learning the truth behind the MiB: they seek to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image by keeping the supernatural hidden.
An agent will use any means necessary, including murder and destruction, to accomplish a mission. Agents sever all ties with their former lives, and as far as the world is concerned, they do not exist. Agents who go rogue (such as Ecks) are hunted down and eliminated.
Adaptations
The series provided the premise and characters of the 19971997 in film
-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
film Men in Black
Men in Black (film)
Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
and its sequel
Men in Black II
Men in Black II is a 2002 science fiction action comedy starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The film also stars Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson and Rip Torn...
and spin-offs. The spin-offs include a soundtrack with an award-winning song
Men in Black (song)
"Men in Black" is a song by Will Smith from the movie Men in Black, in which he also starred. The song plays during the movie's closing credits...
, the TV show Men in Black: The Series
Men in Black: The Series
Men in Black: The Series also known as Men in Black: The Animated Series is an American animated television series that aired during The WB's Kids' WB programming block for four seasons from 1997 through 2001.The show features characters from 1997's science fiction film Men in Black, which was...
, a novelization
Novelization
A novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
of each film, video games, and an amusement park ride
Men in Black: Alien Attack
Men in Black: Alien Attack is a spinning, laser-shooting dark ride located at Universal Studios Florida themed to the 1997 film, Men in Black. The building housing the ride was made to resemble a pavilion at the 1964 New York World Expo while the towers resemble their real life counterpart.The...
. Men in Black III
Men in Black III
Men in Black III is an upcoming 3D science fiction comedy film starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones...
is set to be released in 2012.
Among the changes in the film version are the focus of the secret organization (only policing and monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth, omitting the other paranormal elements), Agent J's race changed to African-American (he was Caucasian in the comics), its methods (using memory erasure rather than killing witnesses), and its goals (merely maintaining order on Earth, rather than directing it). The movie also significantly alters the tone, playing the Men in Black's isolation from society for pathos and the bizarreness of their day to day lives for humor, primarily the latter.
External links
- Men in Black at Don Markstein's ToonopediaDon Markstein's ToonopediaDon Markstein's Toonopedia was a web encyclopedia of print cartoons, comic strips and animation. Don D...