The Men in Black: Initiation · Encounter · Invocation

Men In Black Comic #1-3

by Lowell Cunningham, Chris Ulm (Editor), Sandy Carruthers (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Aliens, Science Fiction

76 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

About the author

Lowell Cunningham is an American comic creator and writer. He is easily best known for creating The Men in Black comic series in 1990, which would subsequently launch the entire Men in Black franchise. He also is known for creating and writing the Alien Nation comic series.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's "Small Press Comics that You Probably Didn't Know Existed Day!" SPCtYPDKED for short.

This is the original three issue comic run that eventually became the beloved Men in Black movie franchise. The plot is pretty much completely different, and Jay is a completely different character, but there are a couple of lines here and there that make you realize that whomever wrote the MiB script actually read these and didn't just hear the concept and run with it.

And I am sorry they went through that. These are certainly not the standard case where the book is better than the movie. Kay is fairly similar to his movie counterpart, but Jay is so different, and the plot is so different... both being 'worse' different, that this just isn't worth your time. The biggest difference between the two (and there are many, but that's expected) is one of tone. In the movie, Jay is funny. It's lighthearted despite the world being on the verge of destruction. This comic run isn't funny. Ever. There are some places where Kay makes fun of Jay for something, but I'm not sure there's a joke in these pages. Men in Black without comedy just isn't that enjoyable. Go watch the movie instead.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty damn sub-par. I'm used to the source material ending up being gutted when it's turning into a movie. This time, the original makes me wonder why they wanted to make an adaptation in the first place. The first series is slow and no charm, but at least it's obviously a scrappy publisher doing it's own thing. The second series gets a better illustrator, but the writing gets worse. He tries to make it "edgy" and then "funny". Notice all the question marks. Yea. Avoid.

[Ill D · Rating 3 out of 5]

a horrifying and equally disappointingly rare example of of a book that is exceeded by a movie.

Screw you Lowell Cunningham

[Yongyoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The comics that inspired the popular movie series is far from good.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

The bones of the future movie franchise are here but the execution is slipshod. Watch the film again instead.