The "DC" in DC Comics stands for Detective Comics. The company originally started as National Allied Publications in 1934, but it gained prominence with the launch of the comic book series Detective Comics in 1937. This series introduced Batman in issue #27 and became very popular. Over time, the publisher began using the abbreviation "DC" on comic book covers, such as "A DC Publication," which referred to Detective Comics, Inc., the company behind the series. By the early 1940s, readers started referring to the publisher simply as "DC Comics," and the name stuck. Although this technically makes "DC Comics" mean "Detective Comics Comics," the brand became iconic and was officially adopted as the company name in 1977
. In summary:
- "DC" = Detective Comics, the original and flagship comic series.
- The company evolved from National Allied Publications to Detective Comics, Inc.
- The abbreviation "DC" became the company's informal and then official name due to the popularity of the Detective Comics series
