The original three-issue series of The Men in Black was published in 1990 by Aircel Comics.[2] After acquiring Aircel, Malibu Comics released a second three-issue series, The Men in Black Book II, in 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, a sequel which is a reboot to the original comic line,[4] a sequel to the film,[5] a movie adaptation,[6] and a reprint of the first issue of the original Aircel miniseries.[7]
This section is about the Men in Black organization as described in the original comics. For the organization as described in other media, see Men in Black (franchise) §Premise.
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.
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 Men in Black: International. 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:
The secret organization exclusively polices extraterrestrial activity on Earth, omitting the other paranormal elements.
The agency uses memory erasure, rather than killing witnesses.
The agency's main goal is to maintain order on Earth, rather than to direct it.
Zed physically appears, rather than being an unseen character.
Ecks is absent in the film, and is replaced by Dr. Laurel Weaver (later Agent L).
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