The Men in Black: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
[[File:maninblack_6448.jpg|link=Alpha Protocol|frame|''ZAP!'']]
[[File:maninblack 6448.jpg|link=Alpha Protocol|frame|''ZAP!'']]


{{quote|''"[[Shrouded in Myth|You are a rumor,]] [[Weirdness Censor|recognizable only as déjà vu]] [[I Was Never Here|and dismissed just as quickly.]] [[The Spook|You don't exist.]] [[Unperson|You were never even born.]] [[No Name Given|Anonymity is your name,]] [[The Stoic|silence your native tongue.]] [[Cowboy Cop|You're no longer part of the System.]] [[Screw the Rules, I Make Them|You're above the System. Over it. Beyond it.]] [[The Man|We're 'them'. We're 'they'.]] [[Title Drop|We are the Men in Black]]."''|[[One-Letter Name|'''Zed''' to '''Agent J''']], ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]''}}
{{quote|''"[[Shrouded in Myth|You are a rumor,]] [[Weirdness Censor|recognizable only as déjà vu]] [[I Was Never Here|and dismissed just as quickly.]] [[The Spook|You don't exist.]] [[Unperson|You were never even born.]] [[No Name Given|Anonymity is your name,]] [[The Stoic|silence your native tongue.]] [[Cowboy Cop|You're no longer part of the System.]] [[Screw the Rules, I Make Them|You're above the System. Over it. Beyond it.]] [[The Man|We're 'them'. We're 'they'.]] [[Title Drop|We are the Men in Black]]."''|[[One-Letter Name|'''Zed''' to '''Agent J''']], ''[[Men in Black (film)|Men in Black]]''}}
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[[Conspiracy Theorist]]s live in fear of the Men In Black. [[He Knows Too Much|They know too much]].
[[Conspiracy Theorist]]s live in fear of the Men In Black. [[He Knows Too Much|They know too much]].


Despite being the symbolic presence of The Oppression Of [[The Man]], [[The Men in Black]] have the mystique of being [[Badass]] and [[Rule of Cool|Cool]], so heroes can be associated with them. In those cases they are merely protecting [[Dying Like Animals|panicky people]] by [[I Did What I Had to Do|doing what's ultimately best]]. Watch out for [[Conspiracy Redemption]] if they go too far, though.
Despite being the symbolic presence of The Oppression Of [[The Man]], '''The Men in Black''' have the mystique of being [[Badass]] and [[Rule of Cool|Cool]], so heroes can be associated with them. In those cases they are merely protecting [[Dying Like Animals|panicky people]] by [[I Did What I Had to Do|doing what's ultimately best]]. Watch out for [[Conspiracy Redemption]] if they go too far, though.


The Men In Black tend to have access to vast material resources through their inclusion in budgets that never appear on the public books. They often have new super-secret weapons and devices. If [[The Men in Black]] are hunting a character, he should look over his shoulder for the [[Van in Black]] and scan the skies for the [[Black Helicopter]]s.
The Men In Black tend to have access to vast material resources through their inclusion in budgets that never appear on the public books. They often have new super-secret weapons and devices. If '''The Men in Black''' are hunting a character, he should look over his shoulder for the [[Van in Black]] and scan the skies for the [[Black Helicopter]]s.


The term comes from fringe UFO research, where the Men In Black have become the primary boogeymen. The earliest citation comes from 1953: UFO researcher Albert Bender, who published a small newsletter called "Space Review", explained a missed issue (which he had promised would blow the lid off the secrecy about UFOs) by claiming that "three men wearing dark suits" had approached him and ordered him "emphatically" to stop publishing material about flying saucers. Years later, he would admit that he just didn't have the promised material and made up the the three men to explain why, but not before milking the story with a 1963 book called ''Flying Saucers and the Three Men In Black'', and spawning an entire mythology.
The term comes from fringe UFO research, where the Men In Black have become the primary boogeymen. The earliest citation comes from 1953: UFO researcher Albert Bender, who published a small newsletter called "Space Review", explained a missed issue (which he had promised would blow the lid off the secrecy about UFOs) by claiming that "three men wearing dark suits" had approached him and ordered him "emphatically" to stop publishing material about flying saucers. Years later, he would admit that he just didn't have the promised material and made up the the three men to explain why, but not before milking the story with a 1963 book called ''Flying Saucers and the Three Men In Black'', and spawning an entire mythology.
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[[Paranoia Fuel|Or maybe that's what they ''told'' him to say...]]
[[Paranoia Fuel|Or maybe that's what they ''told'' him to say...]]


Usually male; [[Distaff Counterpart|Distaff Counterparts]] tend to be a [[Hot Chick in a Badass Suit]].
Usually male; [[Distaff Counterpart]]s tend to be a [[Hot Chick in a Badass Suit]].


Compare to the [[Men in Black|media franchise]] named after and based upon this. Not to be confused with [[The Princess Bride|any other]] [[Johnny Cash|Man in Black]].
Compare to the [[Men in Black|media franchise]] named after and based upon this. Not to be confused with [[The Princess Bride|any other]] [[Johnny Cash|Man in Black]].
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== Anime & Manga ==
== Anime & Manga ==


* ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'': [[The Rival|Shutaro Mendo]] has an army of [[The Men in Black|Men in Black]] bodyguards, usually calling them "Men in Black Glasses" due to their signature shades. In a subversion, they're all incompetent idiots who frequently misunderstand his commands and are easily fooled -- in one chapter of the manga, [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|Lum]], [[Cute Bruiser|Shinobu]] and [[Bifauxnen|Ryuunosuke]] easily infiltrated them by [[Wig, Dress, Accent|putting on black suits and glasses]].
* ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'': [[The Rival|Shutaro Mendo]] has an army of Men in Black bodyguards, usually calling them "Men in Black Glasses" due to their signature shades. In a subversion, they're all incompetent idiots who frequently misunderstand his commands and are easily fooled—in one chapter of the manga, [[Green-Skinned Space Babe|Lum]], [[Cute Bruiser|Shinobu]] and [[Bifauxnen|Ryuunosuke]] easily infiltrated them by [[Wig, Dress, Accent|putting on black suits and glasses]].
** His sister, [[Royal Brat|Ryoko Mendo]], is served by a team of kuroko, kabuki stagehands that officially aren't there and fulfill her every order, including playing her horse when she's feeling particularly dramatic. They pop up from the strangest places and are much more organized than her brother's minions. Of course, that does not stop the two groups having tea together when their masters are not throwing grenades at each other and complaining about their difficult life.
** His sister, [[Royal Brat|Ryoko Mendo]], is served by a team of kuroko, kabuki stagehands that officially aren't there and fulfill her every order, including playing her horse when she's feeling particularly dramatic. They pop up from the strangest places and are much more organized than her brother's minions. Of course, that does not stop the two groups having tea together when their masters are not throwing grenades at each other and complaining about their difficult life.
* [[media:1121134714739.jpg|Click here]] to see several of the girls from ''[[Pani Poni Dash!]]'' do the MIB thing.
* [[media:1121134714739.jpg|Click here]] to see several of the girls from ''[[Pani Poni Dash!]]'' do the MIB thing.
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* In ''[[Noir]]'', the "Knights" deployed by the [[Ancient Conspiracy]].
* In ''[[Noir]]'', the "Knights" deployed by the [[Ancient Conspiracy]].
* NERV agents in ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''. Unusual in its depiction, as the agents ''act like real agents''. They're only in a couple scenes throughout the whole thing, but their influence and subtlety is implied to be enormous. They don't go [[Cowboy Cop]]. They don't need to.
* NERV agents in ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''. Unusual in its depiction, as the agents ''act like real agents''. They're only in a couple scenes throughout the whole thing, but their influence and subtlety is implied to be enormous. They don't go [[Cowboy Cop]]. They don't need to.
* ''[[Higurashi]]'' has the "Men In Gray". They look more like janitors, but it's the thought that counts -- and, perhaps, moving men and meter readers are what the agents of a [[Government Conspiracy]] should look like.
* ''[[Higurashi]]'' has the "Men In Gray". They look more like janitors, but it's the thought that counts—and, perhaps, moving men and meter readers are what the agents of a [[Government Conspiracy]] should look like.
* The GOP in ''[[Kurau Phantom Memory]]'' is populated by Men in Black, with the one in charge being a female version, complete with cool sunglasses and bad-ass attitude, inspired by her hatred for the two protagonists and their kind.
* The GOP in ''[[Kurau Phantom Memory]]'' is populated by Men in Black, with the one in charge being a female version, complete with cool sunglasses and bad-ass attitude, inspired by her hatred for the two protagonists and their kind.
* The main characters of ''[[Ga-Rei Zero]]'' are essentially MIB working to protect the ignorant masses from supernatural threats.
* The main characters of ''[[Ga-Rei Zero]]'' are essentially MIB working to protect the ignorant masses from supernatural threats.
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* In Katekyo Hitman Reborn, since it centers on the mafia world, practically everything is all about black suits and ties. The younger tenth generation kept it generic by wearing white shirts, but their older versions go with colored shirts depending on their flames and TYL Tsuna wears a pinstripped suit.
* In Katekyo Hitman Reborn, since it centers on the mafia world, practically everything is all about black suits and ties. The younger tenth generation kept it generic by wearing white shirts, but their older versions go with colored shirts depending on their flames and TYL Tsuna wears a pinstripped suit.
* Saruwatari (best known as the Hair Guy) and other Industrial Illusions and Kaiba Corp employees from [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]] have this theme going on.
* Saruwatari (best known as the Hair Guy) and other Industrial Illusions and Kaiba Corp employees from [[Yu-Gi-Oh!]] have this theme going on.
* [[CP 9]] in [[One Piece]] qualifies, given that everyone thought that the Cipher Pol divisions only went up to 8 (similar to how [[MI 6]] exists as the super-secret extra number in the [[James Bond]] continuities), but it's different in that [[CP 9]] has a number of very colorful characters who operate under what are presumably their real names. A number of literal "men in black" work for them as [[Mook|mooks]], however. Another alternative would be Baroque Works, whose upper membership operated in a more conventional cloak-and-dagger scenario, with people like Mr. 2 a.k.a. Bon Clay a.k.a. Bentham.
* [[CP 9]] in [[One Piece]] qualifies, given that everyone thought that the Cipher Pol divisions only went up to 8 (similar to how [[MI 6]] exists as the super-secret extra number in the [[James Bond]] continuities), but it's different in that [[CP 9]] has a number of very colorful characters who operate under what are presumably their real names. A number of literal "men in black" work for them as [[mook]]s, however. Another alternative would be Baroque Works, whose upper membership operated in a more conventional cloak-and-dagger scenario, with people like Mr. 2 a.k.a. Bon Clay a.k.a. Bentham.
* Roger Smith from ''[[The Big O]]'', emphasis on the "B": everything he wears (apart from his white shirts) has to be black, as does anything worn by his butler and android companion. Subverted, though, in that he's not a shady government agent, rather a freelance negotiator, but he is in the business of keeping secrets, like his [[Humongous Mecha]]-based vigilantism.
* Roger Smith from ''[[The Big O]]'', emphasis on the "B": everything he wears (apart from his white shirts) has to be black, as does anything worn by his butler and android companion. Subverted, though, in that he's not a shady government agent, rather a freelance negotiator, but he is in the business of keeping secrets, like his [[Humongous Mecha]]-based vigilantism.
* Mr. K from [[Shin Chan]] is a parody of this trope, but he's more of a [[Badly-Battered Babysitter]] to a spoiled rich kid than actual agent.
* Mr. K from [[Shin Chan]] is a parody of this trope, but he's more of a [[Badly-Battered Babysitter]] to a spoiled rich kid than actual agent.
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{{quote|'''Man In Green''': There are ranks and there are orders. There are faces at every window. Just be glad they didn't send the Men In Mauve}}
{{quote|'''Man In Green''': There are ranks and there are orders. There are faces at every window. Just be glad they didn't send the Men In Mauve}}
* [[Aliens and Monsters|''The Big Book of the Unexplained'']] has a chapter on Men in Black, of which there are several varieties:
* [[Aliens and Monsters|''The Big Book of the Unexplained'']] has a chapter on Men in Black, of which there are several varieties:
** Human MIB -- Typical mysterious gov't agent. May or may not be a [[Badass Normal]], and implied to be the narrator of [[Conspiracy Theory|"The Big Book of Conspiracies".]]
** Human MIB—Typical mysterious gov't agent. May or may not be a [[Badass Normal]], and implied to be the narrator of [[Conspiracy Theory|"The Big Book of Conspiracies".]]
** Inhuman MIB -- A humanoid agent from the [[Uncanny Valley]], who have strange features like [[Eye Scream|bulging eyes,]] [[Evil Hand|unusually long fingers,]] or [[Evil Albino|completely colorless skin that is clumsily covered up with thick makeup and lipstick.]]
** Inhuman MIB—A humanoid agent from the [[Uncanny Valley]], who have strange features like [[Eye Scream|bulging eyes,]] [[Evil Hand|unusually long fingers,]] or [[Evil Albino|completely colorless skin that is clumsily covered up with thick makeup and lipstick.]]
** Chasing Agent -- An agent who eagerly chases after UFO information.
** Chasing Agent—An agent who eagerly chases after UFO information.
** Oppressing Agent -- An agent who aggressively seeks to quash UFO information.
** Oppressing Agent—An agent who aggressively seeks to quash UFO information.
::All have access to various suits and uniforms and unusually well-taken-care-of older model cars.
::All have access to various suits and uniforms and unusually well-taken-care-of older model cars.
* R-Complex from ''[[Scare Tactics (comics)|Scare Tactics]]''.
* R-Complex from ''[[Scare Tactics (comics)|Scare Tactics]]''.
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* ''[[Gold Digger (Comic Book)|Gold Digger]]'' has Agency Zero, which was a traditional [[Super Team]] that switched over to this trope to avoid the downsides of traditional superheroism (supervillains going after them or their loved ones, etc.)
* ''[[Gold Digger (Comic Book)|Gold Digger]]'' has Agency Zero, which was a traditional [[Super Team]] that switched over to this trope to avoid the downsides of traditional superheroism (supervillains going after them or their loved ones, etc.)
* In the universe of [[Little Victory]], England, and several of the Commonwealth nations, employ the O.D.A., who go with a Men in Black look utilizing trench coats and bowler caps.
* In the universe of [[Little Victory]], England, and several of the Commonwealth nations, employ the O.D.A., who go with a Men in Black look utilizing trench coats and bowler caps.
* Parodied in some European [[Disney Ducks Comic Universe|Donald Duck comics]] with the secret bureau T.N.T. (Tamers of Non-human Threats), of which Donald and his cousin Fethry are freelance agents. Their job is to take care of supernatural or alien threats against humanity, while keeping such things hidden from the general public -- though there's an almost complete lack of [[Laser-Guided Amnesia]] (they resort to making up stories about special effects or humans in disguise), no code names, and the uniform resembles a janitor's outfit more than the usual stylish suits and shades. All this, combined with the fact that they're always in a protagonist role (and their boss being a [[Reasonable Authority Figure]]) makes them much less sinister than many of the example of this trope.
* Parodied in some European [[Disney Ducks Comic Universe|Donald Duck comics]] with the secret bureau T.N.T. (Tamers of Non-human Threats), of which Donald and his cousin Fethry are freelance agents. Their job is to take care of supernatural or alien threats against humanity, while keeping such things hidden from the general public—though there's an almost complete lack of [[Laser-Guided Amnesia]] (they resort to making up stories about special effects or humans in disguise), no code names, and the uniform resembles a janitor's outfit more than the usual stylish suits and shades. All this, combined with the fact that they're always in a protagonist role (and their boss being a [[Reasonable Authority Figure]]) makes them much less sinister than many of the example of this trope.
* ''[[The Maxx]]'' featured something of a parody of [[MI Bs]], a squad of quasi-informed, dark-suited supernatural investigators who are led by psychic messages delivered from the ashes of their dead founder, which they carry around in an urn.
* ''[[The Maxx]]'' featured something of a parody of [[MI Bs]], a squad of quasi-informed, dark-suited supernatural investigators who are led by psychic messages delivered from the ashes of their dead founder, which they carry around in an urn.
* The [[Men in Black (comics)|6-issue comic]] that ''[[Men in Black]]'' was originally based upon. There's a number of differences: one, threats both explicitly supernatural and mundane are also investigated; two, Kay is a lot nastier, acting more like a walking branch of the [[SCP Foundation]]; three, we don't see any other MIBs apart from Jay and Kay.
* The [[Men in Black (comics)|6-issue comic]] that ''[[Men in Black]]'' was originally based upon. There's a number of differences: one, threats both explicitly supernatural and mundane are also investigated; two, Kay is a lot nastier, acting more like a walking branch of the [[SCP Foundation]]; three, we don't see any other MIBs apart from Jay and Kay.
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* The "Low Men" from ''Hearts In Atlantis''.
* The "Low Men" from ''Hearts In Atlantis''.
* ''[[The Blues Brothers]]'': Jake and Elwood are dressed in black suits, white shirts, and shades. When they relentlessly question a woman while trying to get their band together, she says "Are you the police?" and Dan Aykroyd replies, in perfect police deadpan "No, ma'am. We're musicians." Jake and Elwood's costumes were left over from SNL skits in which they played Secret Service agents guarding Chevy Chase.
* ''[[The Blues Brothers]]'': Jake and Elwood are dressed in black suits, white shirts, and shades. When they relentlessly question a woman while trying to get their band together, she says "Are you the police?" and Dan Aykroyd replies, in perfect police deadpan "No, ma'am. We're musicians." Jake and Elwood's costumes were left over from SNL skits in which they played Secret Service agents guarding Chevy Chase.
* The Agents of ''[[The Matrix]]'' are portrayed as [[The Men in Black]], even though they wear dark green. Police officers and other people in [[The Matrix]] naturally regard them as authority figures, though their true nature and purpose is much more sinister. The three Agents in the first movie are named "Agent Smith," "Agent Brown," and "Agent Jones," the "upgraded" ones in the sequels are called Jackson, Johnson and Thompson.
* The Agents of ''[[The Matrix]]'' are portrayed as The Men in Black, even though they wear dark green. Police officers and other people in [[The Matrix]] naturally regard them as authority figures, though their true nature and purpose is much more sinister. The three Agents in the first movie are named "Agent Smith," "Agent Brown," and "Agent Jones," the "upgraded" ones in the sequels are called Jackson, Johnson and Thompson.
** Additionally, there are Agents [[Black and Gray Morality|Black and Gray]] from the MMORPG ''[[The Matrix]] Online''. Agent Gray is the only Agent to have prolonged contact with humans (both humans and machines are working against the Merovingian's rogue programs), and this distinction almost makes him feel... "proud".
** Additionally, there are Agents [[Black and Gray Morality|Black and Gray]] from the MMORPG ''[[The Matrix]] Online''. Agent Gray is the only Agent to have prolonged contact with humans (both humans and machines are working against the Merovingian's rogue programs), and this distinction almost makes him feel... "proud".
** When Smith is reformatted in the sequels, he does start wearing a black suit.
** When Smith is reformatted in the sequels, he does start wearing a black suit.
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** The fact that they are, collectively, the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]](s) of conspiracy theories takes them to the point of being a [[Deconstruction]]: when we get a POV from one of them, it notes that he is unsure whether he works for the government or went into the private sector, [[Multiple Choice Past|recalling it different ways on different days]] (and rationalizes this to himself by saying that "only suckers still think there's a difference"), speaks almost entirely in cliched one-liners, and has no real identity as himself. And because ''all'' the Spookshow agents are just MIB tropes without any dea what they're really doing (since none of the theories agree on that), it's easy for [[Big Bad|Mr. World]] to come in and take over, just by acting like the sort of person who would be running a huge conspiracy.
** The fact that they are, collectively, the [[Anthropomorphic Personification]](s) of conspiracy theories takes them to the point of being a [[Deconstruction]]: when we get a POV from one of them, it notes that he is unsure whether he works for the government or went into the private sector, [[Multiple Choice Past|recalling it different ways on different days]] (and rationalizes this to himself by saying that "only suckers still think there's a difference"), speaks almost entirely in cliched one-liners, and has no real identity as himself. And because ''all'' the Spookshow agents are just MIB tropes without any dea what they're really doing (since none of the theories agree on that), it's easy for [[Big Bad|Mr. World]] to come in and take over, just by acting like the sort of person who would be running a huge conspiracy.
* [[Sharpe]] features a subversion: Lord Pumphrey is as far from inconspicuous as it is possible to get - he wears flamboyant outfits, is a ''very'' [[Camp Gay]], incredibly effeminate...which just makes people underestimate him. He acts as a one-man M.I.B for the British government. [[Memetic Badass|He can start a war with three watermelons, twenty slaves and a copy of Ovid. And end one with just the Ovid.]]
* [[Sharpe]] features a subversion: Lord Pumphrey is as far from inconspicuous as it is possible to get - he wears flamboyant outfits, is a ''very'' [[Camp Gay]], incredibly effeminate...which just makes people underestimate him. He acts as a one-man M.I.B for the British government. [[Memetic Badass|He can start a war with three watermelons, twenty slaves and a copy of Ovid. And end one with just the Ovid.]]
* [[Kim Newman]]'s ''[[Diogenes Club]]'' stories include "The Undertaking", an Edwardian British group of Men in Black, who are a rival organisation to the heroes (the Diogenes is, essentially, [[Doctor Who|UNIT to the Undertaking's Torchwood]]). They have [[Code Name|Code Names]] like Mr. Hay, Mr. Bee and Mr. Sea, which is probably a [[Shout-Out]] to the names in ''Men In Black''.
* [[Kim Newman]]'s ''[[Diogenes Club]]'' stories include "The Undertaking", an Edwardian British group of Men in Black, who are a rival organisation to the heroes (the Diogenes is, essentially, [[Doctor Who|UNIT to the Undertaking's Torchwood]]). They have [[Code Name]]s like Mr. Hay, Mr. Bee and Mr. Sea, which is probably a [[Shout-Out]] to the names in ''Men In Black''.
* The mysterious men in the ''[[Wayside School]]'' books are there mainly for surrealistic flavor. There are three of them: a bald man, a man with a black mustache, and another man with a black mustache who also carries an attaché case. Their appearance is random, but usually has a connection to a character making life decisions. In one instance, they offer an emotionally fragile boy a choice between safety or freedom. When he chooses the latter, they hand him a contract, which he signs, and then leave. No explanation is given as to what that contract means, although it's shown that that character no longer has to do anything he doesn't want to, like take tests or do homework.
* The mysterious men in the ''[[Wayside School]]'' books are there mainly for surrealistic flavor. There are three of them: a bald man, a man with a black mustache, and another man with a black mustache who also carries an attaché case. Their appearance is random, but usually has a connection to a character making life decisions. In one instance, they offer an emotionally fragile boy a choice between safety or freedom. When he chooses the latter, they hand him a contract, which he signs, and then leave. No explanation is given as to what that contract means, although it's shown that that character no longer has to do anything he doesn't want to, like take tests or do homework.
* The Ackerberg Institute in Michael Dahl's ''[[Finnegan Zwake]]'' books are these, down to the sunglasses and obvious pseudonyms.
* The Ackerberg Institute in Michael Dahl's ''[[Finnegan Zwake]]'' books are these, down to the sunglasses and obvious pseudonyms.
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** Apparently, the MIB aesthetic was selected for its similarity to the stern, black-clad male cheerleaders used in the Japanese game ''[[Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan]]'' (of which ''Elite Beat Agents'' is an Americanized adaptation of), as well as the lead developer's love of ''The Blues Brothers''.
** Apparently, the MIB aesthetic was selected for its similarity to the stern, black-clad male cheerleaders used in the Japanese game ''[[Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan]]'' (of which ''Elite Beat Agents'' is an Americanized adaptation of), as well as the lead developer's love of ''The Blues Brothers''.
* ''[[City of Heroes]]'' gives your character a "Man In Black" or "Woman In Black" badge for defeating 200 Shivans, enemies that are a combination of alien goo and human corpses that spawned from meteors. There is also the Crey faction (a mega-corporation), which has people in the same familiar attire and are assumed to have the roles of infiltrating and bullying other companies. And while the actual attire isn't in the MIB style, the Malta group has mostly the same role of silencing and subverting the general populace.
* ''[[City of Heroes]]'' gives your character a "Man In Black" or "Woman In Black" badge for defeating 200 Shivans, enemies that are a combination of alien goo and human corpses that spawned from meteors. There is also the Crey faction (a mega-corporation), which has people in the same familiar attire and are assumed to have the roles of infiltrating and bullying other companies. And while the actual attire isn't in the MIB style, the Malta group has mostly the same role of silencing and subverting the general populace.
* Men in Black and Women in Black are semi-common enemies in the video game ''[[Deus Ex]]''. These individuals were Series P augmented agents (Physiopharmaceutical?) whose modifications had rendered them albino. To quote the game, "so far the simple addition of sunglasses and dark clothing appear to have resolved the matter in a practical fashion." Deus Ex was very fond of using tropes and memes to enforce Genre Blindness on the population in the game -- it's remarkably easy to scoff at the idea of an MIB, whereas a towering albino with an automatic shotgun is so far off the conspiracy radar that people might actually start ''listening''.
* Men in Black and Women in Black are semi-common enemies in the video game ''[[Deus Ex]]''. These individuals were Series P augmented agents (Physiopharmaceutical?) whose modifications had rendered them albino. To quote the game, "so far the simple addition of sunglasses and dark clothing appear to have resolved the matter in a practical fashion." Deus Ex was very fond of using tropes and memes to enforce Genre Blindness on the population in the game—it's remarkably easy to scoff at the idea of an MIB, whereas a towering albino with an automatic shotgun is so far off the conspiracy radar that people might actually start ''listening''.
** The game also used the conspiracy insistence than Men in Black had "electronic sounding voices".
** The game also used the conspiracy insistence than Men in Black had "electronic sounding voices".
** [[Deus Ex: Human Revolution|Deus Ex Human Revolution]] has more "conventional" Men in Black seen mostly in sidequests: agents of the conspiracy dressed in black suits with common sounding names as aliases (one of them slips up and almost says {{spoiler|Hugh Darrow's}} real name before switching back to "Mr. Grey").
** [[Deus Ex: Human Revolution|Deus Ex Human Revolution]] has more "conventional" Men in Black seen mostly in sidequests: agents of the conspiracy dressed in black suits with common sounding names as aliases (one of them slips up and almost says {{spoiler|Hugh Darrow's}} real name before switching back to "Mr. Grey").
* One level of ''[[Psychonauts]]'', "The [[Milkman Conspiracy]]", is infested with shady-looking "G-Men" wearing [[Paper-Thin Disguise|flimsy disguises]] consisting of a single prop and [[Most Definitely Not a Villain|unconvincing acting]] (Raz can use this to his advantage: "I am on the road crew. This is my stop sign.") If they catch Raz trespassing in their territory, they drag him off to a dark room and ask him prying questions like "Who are you working for?", "[[Goggles Do Nothing|What is the purpose of the goggles]]?", and "Who is the Milkman?" before unceremoniously dumping him back where he started.
* One level of ''[[Psychonauts]]'', "The [[Milkman Conspiracy]]", is infested with shady-looking "G-Men" wearing [[Paper-Thin Disguise|flimsy disguises]] consisting of a single prop and [[Most Definitely Not a Villain|unconvincing acting]] (Raz can use this to his advantage: "I am on the road crew. This is my stop sign.") If they catch Raz trespassing in their territory, they drag him off to a dark room and ask him prying questions like "Who are you working for?", "[[Goggles Do Nothing|What is the purpose of the goggles]]?", and "Who is the Milkman?" before unceremoniously dumping him back where he started.
* In ''[[Max Payne (series)|Max Payne]]'', the [[Big Bad|Big Bad's]] mooks all dress in fashionable business suits and shades, and are referred to by title only in the game's credits, which name them the 'Killer Suits'.
* In ''[[Max Payne (series)|Max Payne]]'', the [[Big Bad|Big Bad's]] mooks all dress in fashionable business suits and shades, and are referred to by title only in the game's credits, which name them the 'Killer Suits'.
* ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' has the Turks. Well, most of them fit the bill, except they use dark blue suits with zippers, and only Rude is obsessed with the [[Sinister Shades|sunglasses]]. Tseng, Elena and Cissnei doesn't use any and Reno settles for [[Goggles Do Nothing|goggles]]. Reno and Rude are popular for being [[Punch Clock Villain|Punch Clock Villains]], and it is implied that the others are mostly the same.
* ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' has the Turks. Well, most of them fit the bill, except they use dark blue suits with zippers, and only Rude is obsessed with the [[Sinister Shades|sunglasses]]. Tseng, Elena and Cissnei doesn't use any and Reno settles for [[Goggles Do Nothing|goggles]]. Reno and Rude are popular for being [[Punch Clock Villain]]s, and it is implied that the others are mostly the same.
* The online Flash RPG ''[[Adventure Quest]]'' has N.O.V.A. (The Network of Vesparian Agents) that work for the Devourer Uncreator The'Galin.
* The online Flash RPG ''[[Adventure Quest]]'' has N.O.V.A. (The Network of Vesparian Agents) that work for the Devourer Uncreator The'Galin.
* The ''[[Destroy All Humans!]]'' series of games about an alien invasion of Earth naturally feature these as enemies. In the first game, they belong to a secret US government organization known as Project MAJESTIC.
* The ''[[Destroy All Humans!]]'' series of games about an alien invasion of Earth naturally feature these as enemies. In the first game, they belong to a secret US government organization known as Project MAJESTIC.
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* ''[[Johnny Test]]'' spoofs this: a pair of bumbling Men in Black are recurring characters who constantly fail to save the day.
* ''[[Johnny Test]]'' spoofs this: a pair of bumbling Men in Black are recurring characters who constantly fail to save the day.
* The ''[[Kim Possible]]'' episode "Rufus vs. Commodore Puddles" centers around Area 51. Kim's ride for the mission are a pair of Men in Black named "Agent Smith" and "Agent Smith". Kim's usual formulaic response to their "don't mention it" line, to humbly recount how simple it was to help them in the past, is interrupted by, "No, really! Don't mention it."
* The ''[[Kim Possible]]'' episode "Rufus vs. Commodore Puddles" centers around Area 51. Kim's ride for the mission are a pair of Men in Black named "Agent Smith" and "Agent Smith". Kim's usual formulaic response to their "don't mention it" line, to humbly recount how simple it was to help them in the past, is interrupted by, "No, really! Don't mention it."
* ''[[Ben 10]]'' has the Plumbers, a secret organization to which the hero's grandfather used to belong--"used to" because in the series, we're told that the agency was shut down years ago. The sequel series [[Retcon|Retconned]] that they're a still-active [[Space Police|intergalactic police force]].
* ''[[Ben 10]]'' has the Plumbers, a secret organization to which the hero's grandfather used to belong--"used to" because in the series, we're told that the agency was shut down years ago. The sequel series [[Retcon]]ned that they're a still-active [[Space Police|intergalactic police force]].
* ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' has the [[Palette Swap|Guys in White]], top-secret ghost hunters who work for the government.
* ''[[Danny Phantom]]'' has the [[Palette Swap|Guys in White]], top-secret ghost hunters who work for the government.
** What do you mean, ''top secret''? Everyone knows about them because they won't shut up about it!
** What do you mean, ''top secret''? Everyone knows about them because they won't shut up about it!
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== Real Life ==
== Real Life ==
* Based on the secretive government agents of the Cold War era, following the President's every footstep and whispering coded security updates at every turn.
* Based on the secretive government agents of the Cold War era, following the President's every footstep and whispering coded security updates at every turn.
* J. Edgar Hoover revamped the popular image of law enforcement from a corrupt, overweight, bumbling brute wielding a blood-spattered nightstick to a handsome, tommy gun-toting, college-educated nemesis of America's Public Enemy No. 1. This public relations campaign gave rise to the "G-man" as a forerunning to the MIB -- see the [[Film]] section above.
* J. Edgar Hoover revamped the popular image of law enforcement from a corrupt, overweight, bumbling brute wielding a blood-spattered nightstick to a handsome, tommy gun-toting, college-educated nemesis of America's Public Enemy No. 1. This public relations campaign gave rise to the "G-man" as a forerunning to the MIB—see the [[Film]] section above.
* Apparently, the standard MIB get-up has become something of an [[Ascended Meme]] where the Secret Service and similar government agents are concerned.
* Apparently, the standard MIB get-up has become something of an [[Ascended Meme]] where the Secret Service and similar government agents are concerned.
* In the British civil service they have been known as "Migs", Men in Grey Suits, for at least 40 years. Also known as "boxers" as according to the mythology the only address they give for their department is always a PO box. [[wikipedia:MI5|Box 500]] and [[wikipedia:Box 850|Box 850]] are the most well known.
* In the British civil service they have been known as "Migs", Men in Grey Suits, for at least 40 years. Also known as "boxers" as according to the mythology the only address they give for their department is always a PO box. [[wikipedia:MI5|Box 500]] and [[wikipedia:Box 850|Box 850]] are the most well known.
* Part of the culture of 'Geek Squad' is a parody on this. Employees refer to themselves as 'Agent [last name or sometimes first name]', wear a uniform designed to be a nerdy version of a secret service agent's uniform, and are often portrayed as being 'super cereal' about what they're doing in both commercials and training videos. Of course, many tech illiterate people find some agents to be overbearing, dressed to kill, speaking an incomprehensible code language to mask the simplicity of their operations, and specially trained by experts to deal in matters too arcane for the normal mind to comprehend, so the parody practically writes itself.
* Part of the culture of 'Geek Squad' is a parody on this. Employees refer to themselves as 'Agent [last name or sometimes first name]', wear a uniform designed to be a nerdy version of a secret service agent's uniform, and are often portrayed as being 'super cereal' about what they're doing in both commercials and training videos. Of course, many tech illiterate people find some agents to be overbearing, dressed to kill, speaking an incomprehensible code language to mask the simplicity of their operations, and specially trained by experts to deal in matters too arcane for the normal mind to comprehend, so the parody practically writes itself.
* The Securitate was Romania's attempt at [[The Men in Black]] during the communist era. This is more of a subversion though, since most of them were nothing more that common street muscle and bar thugs, dressed in black suits.
* The Securitate was Romania's attempt at The Men in Black during the communist era. This is more of a subversion though, since most of them were nothing more that common street muscle and bar thugs, dressed in black suits.
* The term is also used tongue-in-cheek to refer to "Revenue Protection Officers" on UK railways, the people who check tickets and issue fines for evasion. They are almost universally seen in pairs, wearing long black coats (more following the "bouncer" image than a [[The Men in Black|Man in Black]] proper) and [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|acting like the High Lords of the Universe]].
* The term is also used tongue-in-cheek to refer to "Revenue Protection Officers" on UK railways, the people who check tickets and issue fines for evasion. They are almost universally seen in pairs, wearing long black coats (more following the "bouncer" image than a Man in Black proper) and [[Obstructive Bureaucrat|acting like the High Lords of the Universe]].
* Actually used by the modern Secret Service because of this trope. Although some suspect the [[Overt Operative|Highly Visible Secret Service Agent]] is just a decoy for plainclothes agents.
* Actually used by the modern Secret Service because of this trope. Although some suspect the [[Overt Operative|Highly Visible Secret Service Agent]] is just a decoy for plainclothes agents.
* In [[World War II|1943]] an American ship in a harbor was hit. The local hospital was flooded with casualties with symptoms no one recognized. While the hospital staff was working a couple of [[The Men in Black|men in black]] walked in, swore the staff to secrecy, and told them that the ship that had been hit had contained a large supply of Mustard Gas that had been shipped to the front, [[Crazy Prepared|"just in case"]]. Then [[The Men in Black]] walked out.
* In [[World War II|1943]] an American ship in a harbor was hit. The local hospital was flooded with casualties with symptoms no one recognized. While the hospital staff was working a couple of men in black walked in, swore the staff to secrecy, and told them that the ship that had been hit had contained a large supply of Mustard Gas that had been shipped to the front, [[Crazy Prepared|"just in case"]]. Then The Men in Black walked out.


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