Men In Black!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the origins of “Men In Black”! I was even lucky enough to ask it’s creator; Lowell Cunningham, a few questions!

Long before neuralyzers and catchy theme songs, “Men in Black” began with Lowell Cunningham, a Tennessee native with a fascination for UFO conspiracy lore. In 1990, he turned that interest into a six-issue comic series published by Aircel Comics, which was an imprint of Malibu Comics, and illustrated by Sandy Carruthers. The comics followed a shadowy agency tracking paranormal threats; aliens included; with a far darker and more ruthless tone than the movies would later take.

In the comics, the agents handled demons, mutants, and supernatural chaos alongside extraterrestrials, and their “neurolyser” was a flashlight-like hypnosis device rather than the sleek memory-wipe gadget from the films. Hollywood discovered the property when producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald brought it to Amblin Entertainment, and Barry Sonnenfeld was tapped to direct. The adaptation shifted the tone toward witty, fast-paced sci-fi comedy, with a focus on aliens over the broader supernatural elements.

Will Smith initially hesitated to sign on, wary of starring in another alien film right after “Independence Day”. Executive producer Steven Spielberg personally stepped in, famously sending a helicopter to pick Smith up and offering him sparkling lemonade while making his pitch. Smith later joked that Spielberg had him convinced almost immediately. Tommy Lee Jones joined as Agent K after being reassured by Spielberg that the script would continue to improve during production.

Released in July 1997, “Men in Black” became a runaway hit, earning about $250.7 million domestically and $338.7 million overseas for a worldwide total of $589.4 million. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup, with additional nominations for Art Direction and Original Score, and swept up other honors like the Empire Award for Best Film. Critics praised its smart writing, sharp visual effects, and the odd-couple chemistry between Smith and Jones, and audiences embraced it so fully that it spawned two sequels, an animated series, and a spin-off.

Today, it’s remembered as one of the most successful blends of comedy and sci-fi ever to hit the screen; all born from Cunningham’s imagination and love of science fiction!

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: How did you come up with the idea for “Men in Black”?

Lowell Cunningham: Years ago, I was in the Fort Sanders neighborhood of Knoxville, TN when a black sedan drove by. My friend Dennis Matheson commented that it was the type of car the “Men in Black” would drive, then he shared the urban legends of these secretive agents. I was immediately fascinated and began developing the concept which became my comic book and later the movie series.

Giancarlo: How does it feel to have created such beloved characters that people have been enjoying for decades now?

Lowell Cunningham: It’s very edifying. I have had multiple people thank me for contributing to their childhood.

Giancarlo: Do you personally like the movie adaptions of your characters?

Lowell Cunningham: Yes, with the proviso that the characters have to be presented differently in different media. What works in the comics won't necessarily translate to the screen. Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and all the other actors did an amazing job of turning the “Men in Black” into relatable characters in a way that a comic book never could.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Lowell Cunningham: Probably the recommendation from my friend Greg Lane to submit “Men In Black” to Malibu. He'd been working as an artist with them and knew they were looking for writers. Malibu wasn't even on my radar, so his advice was instrumental in me finding a publisher.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo