Vector 13

"Vector 13" is a 2000 AD comic strip which featured the eponymous agency setup to investigate anomalous phenomena and conspiracy theories. It was influenced by The X-Files (which was at the height of its popularity at the time) and other events like the 1995 release of the alien autopsy film. However, it was very much "of its time", and as the general interest in the paranormal and parapolitics waned, the series was wound up and replaced by "Pulp Sci-Fi" as a venue for single issue self-contained stories. In turn it foreshadowed other agencies like Caballistics, Inc. and the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense.

It is notable not just for the number of (usually single issue) installments produced in such a short space of time but for the wide mix of the best of the comic's talent of that period. It really acted to bring together the various tales from "Tharg's Future Shocks", "Terror Tales" and "Beyond Science" under one "umbrella" plot. The format was created by former 2000 AD editor and long-time contributor, Alan McKenzie.

Plot

Each story was presented, by the Men in Black, as being a true file from their cases touching on a whole range of Forteana from Mothman to the Chupacabras and broader conspiracy theories like MKULTRA.

In the middle of the series run (and as the interest in such subjects peaked) the MiB even broke out of their own strip and took over the running of the magazine from #1014 (appearing as part of the logo from #1018), as Tharg was away dealing with a crisis. This first issue coinciding with a promotion of the X-Files series 2 trading cards.

Bibliography

Installments include:

*Series 1:
** "Case One: Who Was the Mothman?" (with Shaky Kane and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #951, 1995)
** "Case Two: In Hollow Lands" (with Kek-W and Paul Marshall, in "2000 AD" #952, 1995)
** "Case Three: Circle of Evil" (with Nick Abadzis and Kevin Cullen, in "2000 AD" #953, 1995)
** "Case Four: Parallel Lines" (with John Tomlinson and Lee Sullivan, in "2000 AD" #954, 1995)
** "Case Five: The Henderson Event" (with Alan McKenzie and Dave D'Antiquis, in "2000 AD" #955, 1995)
** "Case Six: Marion" (with Dan Abnett and Sean Phillips, in "2000 AD" #956, 1995)
** "Case Seven: Are They Cats?" (with Peter Hogan and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #957, 1995)
** "Case Eight: Echo Location" (with Dan Abnett and Nigel Dobbyn, in "2000 AD" #958, 1995)
** "Case Nine: Spear of Destiny" (with Peter Hogan and David Hine, in "2000 AD" #959, 1995)

*Series 2:
** "Case One: Berserkers" (with Brian Williamson and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #965, 1995)
** "Case Two: Danse Macabre" (with Dan Abnett and Kevin Cullen, in "2000 AD" #966, 1995)
** "Case Three: Heatwave" (with Kevin Gill and Dave D'Antiquis, in "2000 AD" #967, 1995)
** "Case Four: Operation Mordred" (with Peter Hogan and Lee Sullivan, in "2000 AD" #968, 1995)
** "Case Five: Shadrach" (with Dan Abnett and Nick Percival, in "2000 AD" #969, 1995)
** "Case Six: A Salver in the Heavens" (with Dan Abnett and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #970, 1995)
** "Case Seven: Psi-Wars" (with Kek-W and Kevin Cullen, in "2000 AD" #971, 1995)
** "Case Eight: Red in Tooth and Claus" (with John Tomlinson and Lee Sullivan, in "2000 AD" #972, 1995)
** "Case Nine: Blackout" (with Dan Abnett and Mike Perkins, in "2000 AD" #973, 1996)
** "Case Ten: Thrillkill" (with Brian Williamson and John Burns, in "2000 AD" #974, 1995)
** "Case Eleven: K2" (with Kevin Gill and Mike Hadley, in "2000 AD" #975, 1995)

*Series 3:
** "Case Zero: Oath of Office" (with Gordon Rennie and Garry Marshall, in "2000 AD" #987, 1996)
** "Case One: Extraction Point" (with Simon Jowett and Paul Johnson, in "2000 AD" #988, 1996)
** "Case Two: Trinity" (with Simon Furman and John Higgins, in "2000 AD" #989, 1996)
** "Case Three: The Dream Factory" (with Kek-W and Steve Yeowell, in "2000 AD" #990, 1996)
** "Case Four: Parts and Labour" (with Dan Abnett and Mick Austin, in "2000 AD" #991, 1996)
** "Case Five: Assassin" (with Alan McKenzie and Dave D'Antiquis, in "2000 AD" #992, 1996)
** "Case Six: Screaming Friar" (with Brian Williamson and John Burns, in "2000 AD" #993, 1996)
** "Case Seven: Buzz-Saw" (with Kevin Gill and Kevin Cullen, in "2000 AD" #994, 1996)
** "Case Eight: Worlds at War" (with Dan Abnett and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #995, 1996)
** "Case Nine: Down to the Woods" (with Brian Williamson and Kevin Cullen, in "2000 AD" #996, 1996)
** "Case Ten: Video Nasty" (with Pat Mills and John Ridgway, in "2000 AD" #997, 1996)
** "Case Eleven: Imaginary Friend" (with Nick Abadzis and Paul Johnson, in "2000 AD" #998-999, 1996)

*Series 4:
** "Case One: Devil in the Deep Blue Sea" (with Steve White and Henry Flint, in "2000 AD" #1024, 1997)
** "Case Two: It's Good to Talk" (with Nick Abadzis and Sean Phillips, in "2000 AD" #1025, 1997)
** "Case Three: The Blackwater Incident" (with Shaky Kane and David Bircham, in "2000 AD" #1026, 1997)
** "Case Four: Bad Moon Rising" (with Steve White and Amanda Fletcher, in "2000 AD" #1027, 1997)
** "Case Five: Patent Pending" (with Gordon Rennie and Mike Perkins, in "2000 AD" #1028, 1997)
** "Case Six: Bodysnatchers" (with Gordon Rennie and Alex Ronald, in "2000 AD" #1029, 1997)
** "Case Seven: The Immortality Question" (with Paul Neal and Cyril Julien, in "2000 AD" #1030, 1997)
** "Case Eight: Unhallowed Ground" (with Gordon Rennie and Allan Bednar as "Neal Brand", in "2000 AD" #1031, 1997)
** "Case Nine: The Sad Child" (with Dan Abnett and Paul Marshall, in "2000 AD" # 1032, 1997)
** "Case Ten: Case Closed?" (with David Bishop and Simon Davis, in "2000 AD" #1032, 1997)

*Series 5:
** "Case Zero: Shadows and Light" (with Gordon Rennie and Dylan Teague, in "2000 AD" #1060, 1997)
** "Case One: Side Step" (with Dan Abnett and Chris Weston, in "2000 AD" # 1062, 1997)
** "Case Two: Cryptogram" (with Dan Abnett and Alex Ronald, in "2000 AD" #1063, 1997)
** "Case Three: Graven Images" (with John Smith and Cliff Robinson, in "2000 AD" #1064, 1997)
** "Case Four: HALO" (with Chris Standley and Robert McCallum, in "2000 AD" # 1065 (1997))
** "Case Six: MK-Ultra" (with Gordon Rennie and Alex Ronald, in "2000 AD" #1067, 1997)
** "Case Seven: Night of the Jaguar" (with Steve White and Marc Wigmore, in "2000 AD" #1068, 1997)
** "Case Eight: Midnight Rambler" (with Gordon Rennie and Paul Johnson, in "2000 AD" #1069, 1997)
** "Case Nine: JFKed" (with Dan Abnett and Allan Bednar as "Neal Brand", in "2000 AD" #1070, 1997)
** "Case Ten: Angels" (with Robbie Morrison and Lee Sullivan, in "2000 AD" #1071, 1997)
** "Case Eleven: Search & Rescue" (with Gordon Rennie and Cliff Robinson, in "2000 AD" #1072, 1997)
** "Case Twelve: Deep Freeze" (with Kek-W and Paul Marshall, in "2000 AD" #1073, 1997)
** "Case Thirteen: Sands of Death" (with Robbie Morrison and Alex Ronald, in "2000 AD" #1074, 1997)
** "Case Fourteen: Chupacabras" (with Chris Standley and Allan Bednar as "Neal Brand", in "2000 AD" #1075, 1997)
** "Case Fifteen: Time's Arrow" (with Gordon Rennie and Patrick Woodrow, in "2000 AD" #1076, 1998)

*Series 6:
** "Case One: Houdini" (with Dan Abnett and Robert McCallum, in "2000 AD" #1078, 1998)
** "Case Two: Chill Out" (with D. McDonagh and Charles Gillespie, in "2000 AD" #1079, 1998)
** "Case Three: Shades of Grey" (with Dan Abnett and Robert McCallum, in "2000 AD" #1080, 1998)
** "Case Four: Einstein's Monsters" (with Gordon Rennie and Cyril Julien, in "2000 AD" #1081, 1998)
** "Case Five: Seal of Solomon" (with Gordon Rennie and Alex Ronald, in "2000 AD" #1082, 1998)
** "Case Six: Godhead Revisited" (with Dan Abnett and Allan Bednar, in "2000 AD" #1083, 1998)

*A stand alone episode:
** "Divine Fury" (with Lee Marks and Cliff Robinson, in "2000 AD" #1117, 1998)

*Specials:
** "Case 459: Sheep's Clothing" (with Dan Abnett and Lee Sullivan, in "2000AD Winter Special 1995")
** "Case 667: Suburban Hell" (with Igor Goldkind, Dix and Nick Abadzis, in "2000AD Sci-Fi Special 1996")

ee also

*Bureau 13
*Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense
*MIB

External links

* [http://www.2000adonline.com/?zone=thrill&page=profiles&choice=VECTOR13 2000 AD page]