What does the DC in DC Comics stand for?

Ah, the eternal battle of capes and cowls! Whether you're Team Marvel or Team DC, there's no denying the impact these comic book titans have had on pop culture. But today, let's shine the Bat-Signal on DC Comics, shall we?

Picture this: it's 1934, and the Great Depression is in full swing. Along comes Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, a pulp writer with a dream and a handful of comic scripts. He launches National Allied Publications, and boom! The seeds of a comic book empire are planted.

Fast forward a few years, and Wheeler-Nicholson partners with Harry Donenfeld and Jack Liebowitz. Little did they know they were about to change the face of entertainment forever. I mean, can you imagine a world without Batman? No brooding billionaires in bat costumes? Perish the thought!

From Superman's debut in Action Comics #1 (which, by the way, if you have a copy, I'll trade you my left kidney for it) to the groundbreaking storylines of Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns, DC has been pushing boundaries for decades. They've given us iconic characters faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive. Not to mention, they've sparked endless debates about whether Batman or Superman would win in a fight. (The correct answer is Alfred with prep time, obviously.)

Now, here's where it gets interesting. In 1977, the company officially became DC Comics Inc. But hold your horses, Trivia buffs! That's not where the "DC" originally came from. Oh no, there's more to this story than meets the eye.

These two little letters have been around much longer, hiding in plain sight like Clark Kent's true identity behind those glasses. Before it became the DC we know and love today, those initials stood for something specific - a crucial piece of comic book history that set the stage for decades of superhero adventures.

So, put on your thinking caps and tell me: What does the DC in DC Comics originally stand for? And no using the Lasso of Truth or the Cosmic Treadmill to find out!

Click START below to answer.