Vector 13

Vector 13 is a comic strip published in the British magazine 2000 AD. It featured the eponymous agency set up to investigate anomalous phenomena and conspiracy theories. It was influenced by American TV drama The X-Files (which was at the height of its popularity at the time) and other events such as the 1995 release of the alien autopsy film; as 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 comics series dedicated to similar agencies, such as Caballistics, Inc.

The format was created by former 2000 AD editor and long-time contributor Alan McKenzie.

Synopsis
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 such as those surrounding Project MKULTRA.

In the middle of the series run (and as the interest in such subjects peaked) the MiB broke out of their own strip and took over the running of the magazine from #1014 (appearing as part of the logo from #1015), as editor Tharg was allegedly away dealing with a crisis. This first issue coinciding with a promotion of the X-Files series 2 trading cards.

Continuity
Cases were not always consistent:
 * Series 1 "Case Nine: Spear of Destiny", series 3, "Case Three: The Dream Factory" and "Divine Fury".
 * Case Nine revealed that the Spear Of Destiny was used as the flagpole in the 1969 Moon landing, whereas Case Three stated that the Moon landing had been faked in order to cover up a much more advanced space programme prevalent throughout the Solar System. "Divine Fury" intimated that the space programme was accurate, but had been based on alien technology first discovered and reverse-engineered by the Nazis in the latter stages of World War II.
 * Series 2 "Case Four: Operation Mordred", "Case Seven: Psi-Wars", series 3 "Case Zero: Oath of Office" and series 5 "Case Nine: JFKed!"
 * Case Four stated that John F. Kennedy was killed by a time-traveller to avert a dystopian future where Kennedy had instigated a nuclear holocaust after the American defeat in Vietnam. Case Four showed that he was assassinated by a Soviet agent assisted by psychic operatives, and Case Zero showed Kennedy as being assassinated by the Illuminati for not following their leadership.  Finally, Case Nine had Kennedy assassinated by time travelling hitmen hired by a future-cabal from "a post-nuclear shambles" where Kennedy's death was deemed more profound than his life.  In the last panel the hitmen were revealed to be Sinister and Dexter.