Animated rendering of a Man in Black.
The men in black (MIB) are an alleged mysterious group of individuals dressed in black suits who are often associated with elaborate cover-ups involving the presence of a UFO or extraterrestrial being. According to self-proclaimed eyewitnesses of encounters with these men, the men in black often appear after an individual or group of people witness a UFO in the sky or any other activity of extraterrestrial origin. Eyewitnesses claim that the men in black have interviewed them, and tell them not to speak to anyone else about witnessing a UFO[1], or else they will suffer an unknown consequence. Some eyewitnesses have also described the men in black as being extraterrestrial in origin themselves.
While it has been speculated that the men in black are part of the United States Federal Government, the government claims that they are not affiliated with these men in black if they do exist. The men in black are possibly an organization of their own or are working for a government outside of the United States. The men in black are often associated with the top-secret military aircraft base Area 51.
In popular culture[]
In 1990, the first issue of Lowell Cunningham's comic book series The Men in Black was published. The story of the comics focused on an undercover international espionage organization that monitors paranormal activity on Earth, such as aliens, werewolves, demons, mutants, zombies, etc. The general population of the world is unaware of their existence, since most witnesses are neuralyzed to erase any memory of their interaction with the agents. However, some witnesses are also killed. In the comics, the Men in Black organization seeks to manipulate and reshape the world in their own image by keeping the supernatural hidden.
Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K (left) and Will Smith as Agent J (right) in a promotional still from Men in Black II.
In 1997, Men in Black, a film adaption of the comics, was released. The film starred Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K and Will Smith as Agent J. The film series differs from the comics in that the Men in Black only police extraterrestrial activity on Earth, only neuralyse witnesses as opposed to killing them, and seek to maintain world order rather than to control it. The franchise opts for comedy, as opposed to the dark and bleak feel of the comics.
The success of the first film lead to two sequels, Men in Black II in 2002 and Men in Black 3 in 2012. Men in Black: The Animated Series aired from October 1997 to June 2001.
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