History IAmNotShazam / ComicBooks

** The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is not referred to as ComicBook/SpiderGwen in-universe, but "Spider-Woman". It's just that we already ''have'' a ComicBook/SpiderWoman with her own title and the Spider-Gwen name was such a popular FanNickname that it became AscendedFanon. After a few years, Marvel began to transition her to the codename "Ghost Spider", though this new name currently serves as a subtitle for her book rather than a new name altogether. [[spoiler:A bit of a zig-zagged trope, as she is referred to as Spider-Gwen by the public towards the end of volume 2, after she publicly reveals her identity. She isn't fond of it, pushing her other aliases instead, though she does use it when introducing herself to a civilian at the end of that run.]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' was the name of the book, ''not'' the name of the team. The kids do not have a name for themselves, just like [[NotWearingTights they do not have costumes or code names]]. This is made more confusing because most fans do refer to them as "The Runaways", mostly because it is easier than saying, "those teenagers that star in the comic series that is called Runaways." The problem is exacerbated because Nico (The sort-of [[TeamMom team leader]]) does at one time address the group as "Runaways" (With the statement "Runaways, ''run away''!"); she is using the term as a description of the people on the team (Who are all teenage runaways), rather than as an identifying name.

** Captain Marvel had his name changed to Shazam in the ComicBook/{{New 52}}, where he was reimagined as a [[DarkerAndEdgier grittier]], more relatable character. He starred in the ''Curse of Shazam!'' miniseries presented as a back-up feature in the main ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]'' book, and subsequently appeared in the ''Justice League'' books. As he now needs to specifically channel his willpower (his "intent") while saying "Shazam" for the spell to work, he doesn't have to worry about summoning lightning bolts every time he introduces himself.

* In a weird story arc example, the famous ComicBook/IronMan story arc "Armor Wars" is actually called "Stark Wars" inside the comics. (It was intended as a ''Franchise/StarWars'' pun.) However, Marvel promoted it as the "Armor War" (singular) in their splash ad for the first issue of the arc, and the trade paperback was released as "Armor Wars", even though the individual chapters retained the original "Stark Wars" name in their titles. In any case, by the time "Armor Wars II" appeared in the comic, the "Armor Wars" name had stuck.

* Alison from ComicBook/UltimateXMen gets called "Dazzler" by other X-Men, even though she stresses that Dazzler is the name of her band and not her superhero name.

* In [[Creator/AlanMoore Alan Moore's]] ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen. [[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen", however, it still counts, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fought crime as a team.

*** Shortly after this it was announced that [[ComicBook/MsMarvel Carol Danvers]] would start headlining a new ''[[ComicBook/CaptainMarVell Captain Marvel]]'' series for Marvel, with a live-action film in the works as well. WordOfGod claims the timing was a complete coincidence though.....

* Alison from ComcBook/UltimateXMen gets called "Dazzler" by other X-Men, even though she stresses that Dazzler is the name of her band and not her superhero name.

** The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is not referred to as ComicBook/SpiderGwen in-universe, but "Spider-Woman". It's just that we already ''have'' a ComicBook/SpiderWoman with her own title and the Spider-Gwen name was such a popular FanNickname that it became AscendedFanon. After a few years, Marvel began to transition her to the codename "Ghost Spider", though this new name currently serves as a subtitle for her book rather than a new name altogether. [[spoiler:She is referred to as Spider-Gwen by the public towards the end of volume 2, after she publicly reveals her identity. She isn't fond of it, though she does use it when introducing herself to a civilian at the end of that run.]]

** It was a running joke for the character Araña to be mistakenly referred to as "Spider-Girl" by numerous characters. Even in the face of her impending execution, she angrily tells her captors "The name's Araña," after they take the gag off her mouth in order to let her give her last words to the camera. By late 2010, she [[AscendedFanon decided to just embrace the name]].

* It has become a running joke for the character Araña, who as of late has been mistakenly referred to as "Spider-Girl" by numerous characters. Even in the face of her impending execution, she angrily tells her captors "The name's Araña," after they take the gag off her mouth in order to let her give her last words to the camera. By late 2010, she [[AscendedFanon goes by the name of Spider-Girl]].

* The villain protagonists of ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan'' don't call themselves the Superior Foes-they are the Sinister Six ([[RunningGag even though there are only five of them]]). The title has [[DoubleMeaningTitle multiple meanings]]: In part it is a reference to the ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'', to which this series is vaguely connected, as well as a sarcastic reference to the protagonists being [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain anything but superior]]. Additionally, it references the SpiritualPredecessor villain-based miniseries, ''The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man'' (who didn't call themselves that either- they were the Sinister Syndicate).

* The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is not referred to as ComicBook/SpiderGwen in-universe, but "Spider-Woman". It's just that we already ''have'' a ComicBook/SpiderWoman with her own title and the Spider-Gwen name was such a popular FanNickname that it became AscendedFanon. After a few years, Marvel began to transition her to the codename "Ghost Spider", though this new name currently serves as a subtitle for her book rather than a new name altogether. [[spoiler:She is referred to as Spider-Gwen by the public towards the end of volume 2, after she publicly reveals her identity. She isn't fond of it at first, though she does use it when introducing herself to a civilian at the end of that run.]]

* In Creator/ValiantComics' ''ComicBook/{{Faith}}'', the title is a reference to the first name of the main character, Faith Herbert. Her actual codename is Zephyr.

* The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is not referred to as ComicBook/SpiderGwen, but "Spider-Woman". It's just that we already ''have'' a ComicBook/SpiderWoman with her own title and the Spider-Gwen name was such a popular FanNickname that it became AscendedFanon. Recently, Marvel has tried to transition her to the codename "Ghost Spider".

* The Gwen Stacy of Earth-65 is not referred to as ComicBook/SpiderGwen, but "Spider-Woman". It's just that we already ''have'' a ComicBook/SpiderWoman with her own title and the Spider-Gwen name was such a popular FanNickname that it became AscendedFanon.

* ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey is not the team's official name, and was not even spoken in dialogue until issue #86 of the series, wherein [[Comicbook/{{Blackhawk}} Lady Blackhawk]] suggested it as a potential name. In later issues the characters ''specifically said'' that it was not their team name when Zinda Blake continues to use it, and it has never been used on "official" business (i.e. the induction of new members or cooperations with other superteams). However, the writers themselves often seem to forget this point, as numerous characters (Both on and off the team) refer to them as 'the birds' on a semi-regular basis, and the full "Birds of Prey" title itself makes an occasional appearance.

* Technically, the official name of the city is ''Basin City''. ComicBook/SinCity is simply the nickname everyone including the inhabitants of said city call it, so, yeah, this one's OK.

* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' is the name of the book, ''not'' the name of the team. The kids do not have a name for themselves, just like [[NotWearingTights they do not have costumes or code names]]. This is made more confusing because most fans do refer to them as "The Runaways", mostly because it is easier than saying, "those teenagers that star in the comic series that is called Runaways." The problem is exacerbated because Nico (The sort-of [[TeamMom team leader]]) does at one time address the group as "Runaways" (With the statement "Runaways, ''run away''!"); she is using the term as a description of the people on the team (Who are all teenage runaways), rather than as an identifying name.

* ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey is not the team's official name, and was not even spoken in dialogue until issue #86 of the series, wherein [[Comicbook/{{Blackhawk}} Lady Blackhawk]] sugested it as a potential name. In later issues the characters ''specifically said'' that it was not their team name when Zinda Blake continues to use it, and it has never been used on "official" business (i.e. the induction of new members or cooperations with other superteams). However, the writers themselves often seem to forget this point, as numerous characters (Both on and off the team) refer to them as 'the birds' on a semi-regular basis, and the full "Birds of Prey" title itself makes an occasional appearance.

** ''WesternAnimation/{{Mad}}'', produced by Warner Brothers (which owns DC) averts this trope, but in a couple of sketches they refer to Cap as "Shazam" for the sake of a joke; for example, in the "Superfriends" song, they use it because it fit the song better than "Captain Marvel".

* Played with in an issue of ''[[ComicBook/TheAvengers A]] + [[ComicBook/XMen X]]'', where {{Deadpool}} teams up with Hawkeye. At one point, Deadpool is about to call Hawkeye [[Literature/LordOfTheRings "Legolas"]] before he shoots that down. Then he calls him [[Literature/TheHungerGames "Hunger Games"]] [[note]]most likely trying to reference Katniss[[/note]], which gets shot down, too, and [[WesternAnimation/{{Brave}} "Brave! The girl from Brave!"]] Yep. Shot down.

* The lead character of Creator/NeilGaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' goes by many names, but "the Sandman" is never one of them. The closest he comes to acknowledging this name occurs when he is moved to laughter -- for the first and only time in the series, and even then, with a mask covering his face -- by the presumption of a human superhero calling himself "the Sandman". There's a certain irony in this, as the superhero Sandman comes from an older, defunct DC series; although in the continuity of ''Sandman'' Morpheus is of course much, much older than Wesley Dodds, in real chronology Dodds had the title first.

* In [[Creator/AlanMoore Alan Moore's]] ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen. [[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen". however it still applies, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* In [[Creator/AlanMoore Alan Moore's]] ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen.
[[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen". however it still applies, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* Im Alan Moore's ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen.
[[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen". however it still applies, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* Im Alan Moore's ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen.[[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen". however it still applies, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* The lead character of Creator/NeilGaiman's ''ComicBook/TheSandman'' goes by many names, but "the Sandman" is never one of them. The closest he comes to acknowledging this name occurs when he is moved to laughter -- for the first and only time in the series, and even then, with a mask covering his face -- by the presumption of a human superhero calling himself "the Sandman". There's a certain irony in this, as the superhero Sandman comes from an older, defunct DC series; although in the continuity of ''Sandman'' Morpheus is of course much, much older than Hector Hall, in real chronology Hall had the title first.

* In a weird story arc example, the famous ComicBook/IronMan story arc "Armor Wars" is actually called "Stark Wars", despite what the trade says. (It was intended as a ''Franchise/StarWars'' pun.) Even Marvel got this wrong, or at least Retconned it--they commissioned and advertised an "Armor Wars Part II" storyline, and the readers knew exactly what they meant.
** Also, the two different "Stark becomes an alcoholic" stories often get conflated as one arc, "Demon In A Bottle". That story is only the early one from 1980, in which he kills the Carnelian ambassador and sobers up rather quickly. The multi-year arc in the mid-80s where Obadiah Stane is the villain and Rhodey becomes Iron Man for the first time has no real name, although some fans call it "Demon In A Bottle II".

* Alan Moore's ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'':
** The title is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen.
** [[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen". However it still applies, since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team. For the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* The title of Alan Moore's ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' is thematic and [[LiteraryAllusionTitle poetic]], not literal; there is a team of heroes called the Minutemen and a later, failed attempt to form one called the Crimebusters, but there is no team called the Watchmen.
** [[Film/{{Watchmen}} The movie]] actually does rename the Crimebusters "the Watchmen", thereby both averting ''and'' exemplifying this trope.
** Though even in the movie, the title is something of a misnomer since the Crimebusters/Watchmen were a proposed team that never actually formed. The five main characters never make up an organized superhero team -- for the most part, they're just independent vigilantes who form some close personal relationships. Nite Owl and Rorschach are the only characters who regularly fight crime as a team.

* A popular example (and the TropeNamer) is ''{{ComicBook/Shazam}}'', the title used for most works involving Creator/DCComics' Captain Marvel ([[IAmNotShazam pictured on the main page]]). Due to a trademark agreement with Creator/MarvelComics, DC cannot use the character's name for the series title but can for inside the comic itself, so they use his [[ByThePowerOfGreyskull transformation phrase]] instead; this leads to people mistaking the phrase ''for'' his name. This is especially strange, considering he himself has to be careful about using the phrase--"Shazam!" ''always'' summons a bolt of magical lightning whether Billy means to transform or not (or that's the case pre-New 52, anyway).