The Men in Black is a
comic book created and written by
Lowell Cunningham, illustrated by
Sandy Carruthers, and originally published by
Aircel Comics. 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. It was adapted into the film
Men in Black, which was a commercial success, leading to two sequels and various
spin-offs, 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.