Men in Black (fictional)

The Men in Black (MiB for short) is a fictional organization from the film, sequel, and animated series of the same name.

Fictional history

The Men in Black are a secret organization devoted to policing and monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The Men in Black, founded in the U.S. in the mid-1950s, began as a small and poorly funded government organization devoted to making contact with extraterrestrial life known as the Baltians. They were initially seen as a joke, but did make contact on March 2, 1961, outside New York City.

It was decided to make Earth an apolitical zone for aliens without a planet, and the organization broke its government ties to become the Men in Black, which became the force to conceal and police the aliens that came to Earth. The founding members were the agents present at the landing, plus an amateur astronomer and a teenager who got lost going to see his girlfriend. This last became Kay, and one of the agents became his partner Dee. The MiB has continued since then, with Zed as its senior agent, to protect the normal citizens of Earth from alien threats and police extraterrestrial immigrants, with notable member including Bee, Jay, and Elle.

All MiB agents sever every tie with their former lives, but these lives may be restored upon retirement, wherein they are neuralyzed and their memories of MiB erased. All agents dress in black business suits with Rayban sunglasses, and have access to a wide array of alien technologies for their missions. Note that not every member is a human - several aliens are part of the staff (or are just hanging around in headquarters).

The MiB are supported by the patents they hold on various confiscated alien innovations, including liposuction and velcro. Their standard operating day is based on Centaurian time, which lasts 37 hours, 16 of which an agent must spend on duty. Their main base is located at 504 Battery Drive in New York City.

The Series

The Men in Black had bases in other locations, including one in the western United States (Zone 16), one mobile undersea base, and a Hollywood division (dubbed "The Agency"). The three other founding members became Agent T, H and Q. Alpha was the first chief of the MiB - after he went rogue, Zed stepped in as the leader.

See also

• Men in Black