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1* Those who didn't like Creator/FrankMiller's job with '''''A'''ll-'''S'''tar'''s''' '''B'''atman '''A'''nd '''R'''obin'' often get a sick glee out of pointing out how the title spells '''[[ComicBook/AllStarBatmanAndRobinTheBoyWonder A.S.S.B.A.R.]]'''.
2** Similarly, fans of Creator/GrantMorrison's '''A'''ll-'''S'''tar '''S'''uperman enjoy mentioning how much they enjoy "Grant Morrison's [[ComicBook/AllStarSuperman ASS]]".
3** ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'', a DC super-teamup comic in the 1980s (taking place during World War II), had similar acronym issues.
4*** This was lampshaded by the Golden Age Superman in one of the first few issues, where he says that people should be careful how they abbreviate the group's name.
5* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibles''[='=] first comic book series has the '''H'''enchmen's '''A'''ssociation of '''T'''reachery and '''E'''vil.
6* '''ComicBook/{{MODOK}}''', the '''M'''ental '''O'''rganism '''D'''esigned '''O'''nly For '''K'''illing, a frequent foe of the Avengers and head of '''A.I.M.''', '''A'''dvanced '''I'''dea '''M'''echanics.
7** In one variant of M.O.D.O.K.'s origin story, he was originally named M.O.D.O.C., with the last initial standing for "Computation".
8** In the LighterAndSofter series ''ComicBook/MarvelAdventures: The Avengers'' he is known as M.O.D.O.C., with the last initial standing for "Conquest". (It's really more in-line with his personality anyway.)
9** A.I.M. has a splinter group called R.A.I.D. or Radically Advanced Ideas in Destruction.
10** After M.O.D.O.K.'s death (he got better later), A.I.M. created a more efficient [[DistaffCounterpart female version]] called M.O.D.A.M. ("Mental Organism Designed for Aggressive Maneuvers"); there also was M.O.D.O.G, who was 'designed for genocide', and M.O.D.O.T. who was originally conceived to talk A.I.M. command into raising the budget for his local branch of the organization.
11** The kid-friendly parody ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' was actually able to use its NeverSayDie policy to have some fun with this:
12--->'''Gray Hulk''': Ah, M.O.D.O.K. The Mental Organism Designed Only for Kick-ball.\
13'''M.O.D.O.K.''': Yes, it--''Hey''! That's not what it stands for!
14*** In another episode, however, he says the "K" stands for "Kick-butt."
15** And then there was the holiday special where he tries to sweet-talk a cute office temp by claiming his name is actually M.O.D.O.F., and as she storms off angrily he claims pathetically "FUN! It stands for FUN!"
16** In Captain America Vol 5 #8, M.O.D.O.C. stands for '''M'''ilitary '''O'''peratives '''D'''esigned '''O'''nly for '''C'''ombat.
17** ComicBook/WestCoastAvengers 2018 sees him pretending to be '''B'''io-'''R'''obotic '''O'''rganism '''D'''esigned '''O'''verwhelmingly for '''K'''issing
18** What A.I.M. stands for also changed several times for example '''A'''vengers '''I'''dea '''M'''echanics (when [[ComicBook/NewAvengers2015 Sunspot bought the organization]]), or '''A'''merican '''I'''ntelligence '''M'''echanics (when they got [[ComicBook/USAvengers government endorsement]]).
19** ''ComicBook/TheUnbelievableGwenpool'' has a mercenary organization with the same initials as M.O.D.O.K. (the character), but in the group's case, the letters stand for "'''M'''ercenary '''O'''rganization '''D'''edicated '''O'''nly to '''K'''illing".
20** ''ComicBook/NewAvengers2015'' has another A.I.M. splinter group called T.I.M.. They're not sure if they're going with '''T'''otal '''I'''dea '''M'''echanics or '''T'''ransatlantic '''I'''dea '''M'''echanics, a point that becomes moot when the White Tigers beat them all up.
21* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' has other foes like this:
22** One '70s-era story had him battling the '''C'''ommittee to '''R'''estore '''A'''merica's '''P'''rinciples, a [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed thinly-veiled]] version of the '''C'''ommittee to '''RE'''-'''E'''lect the '''P'''resident (see the [[FunWithAcronyms/RealLife Real Life section]]). Assemble the acronym yourself, and remember that "to" doesn't count...
23** He also fights [[BombThrowingAnarchist U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M.]], the '''U'''nderground '''L'''iberated '''T'''otally '''I'''ntegrated '''M'''obile '''A'''rmy '''T'''o '''U'''nite '''M'''ankind.
24* The Franchise/MarvelUniverse has '''S.H.I.E.L.D.''', Nick Fury's U.N.-backed paramilitary and intelligence organization. The acronym originally stood for '''S'''upreme '''H'''eadquarters, '''I'''nternational '''E'''spionage, '''L'''aw-enforcement '''D'''ivision but this was changed in the early nineties to stand for '''S'''trategic '''H'''azard '''I'''ntervention, '''E'''spionage and '''L'''ogistics '''D'''irectorate. Within the confines of the [[ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Ultimate Marvel Universe]], ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan has admitted that he has ''no clue'' what S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for, even though he has regular encounters with them and Nick Fury.
25** And in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse it stands for '''S'''trategic '''H'''omeland '''I'''ntervention, '''E'''nforcement and '''L'''ogistics '''D'''ivision. Ironically enough, they apparently went from World War II to the present day without referring to it by its acronym as standard, which led to a LampshadeHanging in ''Film/IronMan1'' from several characters who commented on how unwieldy the actual name was.
26*** ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' had a similar lampshading:
27--->'''Maria Hill:''' What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, Agent Ward?
28--->'''Agent Ward:''' Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
29--->'''Maria Hill:''' And what does that mean to you?
30--->'''Agent Ward:''' ...It means somebody really wanted our initials to spell "shield".[[note]]This might even be the truth, since in the MCU S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded by former colleagues of Captain America after his believed death.[[/note]]
31** In order to get even more mileage out of the acronym, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s extraterrestrial-focused counterpart was known as '''S.W.O.R.D.''', the '''S'''entient '''W'''orld '''O'''bservation and '''R'''esponse '''D'''epartment. Marvel UK had the British equivilent '''S.T.R.I.K.E.''', the '''S'''pecial '''T'''actical '''R'''eserve for '''I'''nternational '''K'''ey '''E'''mergencies, and in the 90's Marvel novels gave the UN-backed S.H.I.E.L.D. a US-backed counterpart: '''S.A.F.E.''', the '''S'''trategic '''A'''ction '''F'''or '''E'''mergencies. S.A.F.E. has apparently since been replaced by '''H.A.T.E.''', the '''H'''ighest '''A'''nti-'''T'''errorism '''E'''ffort.
32*** Hank [=McCoy=]'s [[LampshadeHanging lampshading]] of S.W.O.R.D. in AXM #6;
33--->'''Abigail Brand:''' I head the Sentient Worlds Observation and Reaction Department.
34--->'''Hank [=McCoy=]:''' The government and their acronyms. Honestly, it's adorable.
35*** Marvel UK later replaced S.T.R.I.K.E. with '''D.U.C.K.''', the '''D'''epartment of '''U'''nknown and '''C'''overt '''K'''nowledge. Who in turn were supplanted by '''W.H.O.''', the '''W'''eird '''H'''appenings '''O'''rganisation, whose name tied with their being [[Series/DoctorWho led by a Brigadier Stuart]]. Somewhere in the middle of all that there was also the Europe-wide '''S.T.O.R.M.'''; '''S'''pecial '''T'''askforce '''O'''mega '''R'''esponse '''M'''andate. (Marvel UK in the 90s was really a mess of agencies that replaced STRIKE, apparently created by different writers without much communication between them.)
36** There's also '''A.R.M.O.R.''', the '''A'''ltered-'''R'''eality '''M'''onitoring and '''O'''perational '''R'''esponse, which is like S.W.O.R.D. for other dimensions rather than space.
37** At least one spoof had '''S'''illy '''H'''umans '''I'''n '''E'''xtremely '''L'''ethal '''D'''anger
38** Spoofed with '''H.A.M.M.E.R.''' which after Osborn named it, hired someone to come up a meaning for it. It was never given an explanation in the short time it existed.
39*** Much more darkly spoofed in ''Dark Reign: Zodiac,'' in which Zodiac quizzes a H.A.M.M.E.R. Agent on what the acronym actually stands for... and when he doesn't answer, he kills him.
40---> "It's stitched on your colorful new uniform and you don't even know. Well, here's what blind faith will get you."
41*** Also spoofed in the first issue of Bendis's run on ComicBook/MightyAvengers. In Tony Stark's narration, he states what S.H.I.E.L.D. stands for, and mentions that there's going to be voting on a new meaning.
42** The 2010 ''ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}'' miniseries has the RetCon that "The Shield" is an AncientTradition dating back to AncientEgypt, which presumably implies the relatively recent S.H.I.E.L.D. incarnations were backronyms ''within the story''. This is also suggested by a story in ''Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man'', which is about untold tales from the character's early days, where a footnote explaining the acronym uses the original meaning and claims that's what it stood for "back then".
43** Averted with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s biggest enemy organization, ComicBook/{{Hydra}}. Though some erroneously write it with all-caps, making it look like it could be an acronym, it's actually named for the mythological creature - [[HydraProblem "Cut off one head, two more will take its place."]]
44** The 2015 anniversary issue has the S.H.I.E.L.D. operative who goes by the name of "The Man Called D.E.A.T.H." - '''D'''a Vinci '''E'''lavating '''A'''gents '''T'''o '''H'''elm. And yes, the fact that "Da" means "Of" gets a LampshadeHanging.
45--->'''Agent Coulson:''' "Da Vinci" is a place - "Of Vinci", a town in Florence, Italy - not a name.
46--->'''D.E.A.T.H.:''' Fury liked his shorthand. He meant Leonardo.
47** The opening splash of the above story is Creator/JackKirby's first, previously unused, image of Nick Fury as a spy, and originally "The Man Called D.E.A.T.H." would have been Fury himself, as '''D'''irector of '''E'''xternal '''A'''tomic '''T'''hreat '''H'''eadquarters, before they came up with S.H.I.E.L.D. instead.
48** Played straight ''and'' mocked in 2023's ''Fury'' one-shot with the new Z.O.D.I.A.C. ('''Z'''ero-'''O'''rder '''D'''istributed '''I'''nternational '''A'''narchist '''C'''oalition), apparently the newest form of the Zodiac group. Their front-person, S.C.O.R.P.I.O. ('''S'''pecial '''C'''ombat '''O'''perative '''R'''eserved for '''P'''rimary '''I'''ntelligence '''O'''bjectives) tries outlining the reasoning behind their name, but Nick Fury tells her to knock it off - he knows they just wanted a cool-sounding acronym.
49--->'''Nick Fury:''' Ya made up a word to fit the Z in there. We all do it.
50* Parodied in Jim Valentino's ''ComicBook/{{normalman}}'' which had a superspy organization dubbed '''S.C.H.M.U.C.K.''', but as the footnotes claim, the name "Stands for Nothing in Particular."
51* In ''ComicBook/MegaRoboBros'', Alex [[spoiler:and later Freddy]] end up working for R.A.I.D., which stands for '''R'''obotics '''A'''nalysis, '''I'''ntelligence, and '''D'''efense.
52* In ''ComicBook/{{Catstronauts}}'', the titular team works for a space organization known as '''C.A.T.S.U.P.:''' '''C'''enter for '''A'''eronautical '''T'''echnology and '''S'''pace '''U'''nderlying '''P'''rograms.
53** In "Race To Mars", three more programs are revealed.
54*** '''S.O.C.K.:''' '''S'''ociety '''O'''f '''C'''osmic '''K'''ittens.
55*** '''M.E.O.W.:''' '''M'''odern '''E'''xplorers of '''O'''ther '''W'''orlds.
56*** '''C.O.O.K.I.E.:''' '''C'''enter '''O'''f '''O'''bvious '''K'''nowledge and '''I'''nterstellar '''E'''xploration.
57* The ''ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen'' storyline saw the formation of the Phoenix Five - '''P'''yotr (Colossus), '''E'''mma Frost, '''N'''amor, '''I'''llyana (Magik) and '''S'''cott (Cyclops.) The first letters of each of their names smells out '''P.E.N.I.S.'''
58* In DC Comics' ''ComicBook/StarsAndSTRIPE'', the writer didn't bother to figure out what '''S.T.R.I.P.E.''' stood for. A fan suggested '''S'''pecial '''T'''actics '''R'''obotic '''I'''ntegrated '''P'''ower '''E'''nhancer, which DC adopted.
59** Possibly at least partially {{Justified|Trope}} by the creator of the S.T.R.I.P.E. suit being Pat Dugan, a.k.a. Stripesy, the former sidekick of the original Star-Spangled Kid. He may not have thought about what STRIPE meant either, it being a ShoutOut to his hero days.
60* S.T.A.R. Labs (Itself an acronym for '''S'''cientific and '''T'''echnological '''A'''dvanced '''R'''esearch) has a device called the '''A'''mbient '''N'''uclear '''U'''ltra '''S'''pectrograph. Lampshaded when Jimmy Olsen says that it's an overly long name and they should just use the acronym. The scientist operating it replies "You just think about that..."
61* The ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' character Wildfire was originally known as '''E'''nergy '''R'''elease '''G'''enerator 1, or E.R.G.-1.
62* In Creator/GrantMorrison's ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'' issues, they battled the Men from '''N.O.W.H.E.R.E.''', agents of "normalcy" who only spoke in acronyms that spelled out "nowhere". At least it wasn't incomprehensible, like those guys who spoke only in anagrams, e.g., yelling "THIS!" when surprised.
63* Similarly, in Matt Fraction's ''ComicBook/{{Casanova}}'', Casanova's father works for '''E.M.P.I.R.E.''' which battles '''W.A.S.T.E.''' (a reference to Pynchon's ''The Crying of Lot 49''). It's never revealed what they actually stand for, but it's said that '''W.A.S.T.E.''' has multiple meanings.
64* DC Comics also has the '''H.I.V.E.''' or '''H'''ierarchy for '''I'''nternational '''V'''engeance and '''E'''xtermination. In alternate universes where they are ''good' they are the Hierarchy for International Virtuous Empowerment.
65* A [[ComicBook/TheSimpsons Krusty the Clown]] comic involved the titular character in a spy spoof, with the A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. suit on the first page (entirely spelled out in footnotes) setting the tone for a RunningGag.
66* In DC Comics' spy genre parody ''Codename: Knockout'', the heroine's mother leads the espionage agency '''G'''lobal '''O'''rganization for the '''O'''bliteration of '''D'''astardliness and her father leads the criminal organization '''E'''xtralegal '''V'''endors of '''I'''niquity and '''L'''icentiousness, and during one adventure she runs into agents of '''H'''eroic '''E'''nglanders '''A'''gainst '''V'''illainy, '''E'''vildoing and '''N'''astiness.
67* ''ComicBook/MollyDanger'': The organization that houses and assists Molly in her heroics is known as D.A.R.T. (the '''D'''anger '''A'''ction '''R'''esponce '''T'''eam).
68* The sidekick of the revamped ''Fighting American'' was a cyborg named '''S.P.I.C.E.''' ('''S'''uper '''P'''rototype '''I'''ntelligent '''C'''yborg '''E'''ntity).
69* ''ComicBook/TopTen'' has the city where everyone is a superhero, and the super-disease plaguing it is called "STORMS": Sexually Transmitted Organic Rapid Mutation Syndrome. It's a metahuman venereal disease that spreads through the city's super-prostitute population.
70* An early issue of DC Comics' ''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' had Strata propose '''L.E.G.I.O.N.''' as the name for the team, then spend several pages trying to figure out what it might stand for. Eventually they settled on '''L'''icensed '''E'''xtra-'''G'''overnmental '''I'''nterstellar '''O'''peratives '''N'''etwork.
71** And when L.E.G.I.O.N. was taken over by Brainiac II's evil son, '''R'''evolutionary '''E'''lite '''B'''rigade to '''E'''liminate '''L.'''E.G.I.O.N. '''S'''upremacy was formed.
72* ''ComicBook/TheChucklingWhatsit'' features '''GASH''' or The '''G'''oul '''A'''ppreciation '''S'''ociety '''H'''eadquarters. Although, the main character later learns that the acronym stands for The '''G'''lobal '''A'''ssociation for '''S'''abotage '''A'''nd '''H'''omicide.
73* DC Comics' ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} used to fight CAW, the Criminal Alliance of the World.
74* ''ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse'': Several things relating to the Junior Woodchucks (specifcally, the ranking titles) are in the form of acronyms, including the title of the Creator/DonRosa story: '''W.H.A.D.A.L.O.T.T.A.J.A.R.G.O.N.''', or '''W'''hen '''H'''uey '''A'''nd '''D'''ewey '''A'''nd '''L'''ouie '''O'''riginally '''T'''hought '''T'''o '''A'''dapt '''J'''unior-Woodchuck '''A'''ttitudes, '''R'''egulations, and '''G'''randiose '''O'''rganizational '''N'''omenclature!
75** The Disney Comics database '''[[http://inducks.org/ I.N.D.U.C.K.S.]]''' was rendered as an acronym as a shout out to the ones used by the Junior Woodchucks. Eventually they settled on the expansion: '''I'''nternational '''N'''etwork of '''D'''isney '''U'''niverse '''C'''omic '''K'''nowers and '''S'''ources
76** And of course, Rosa's signature '''D.U.C.K.''' which he likes to hide in his various stories, and stands for '''D'''edicated to '''U'''nca '''C'''arl from '''K'''eno
77* Joe Carioca's recurring "villains" are '''ANACOZECA''': '''A'''ssociação '''NA'''cional dos '''CO'''bradores do '''ZE''' '''CA'''rioca, or in English, the National Association of Joe Carioca's Debt Collectors. It cheats a lot (and thus usually isn't written with dots), but at least you can pronounce the acronym as a word.
78** It should be noted that this particular acronym is meant to emulate the abbreviations used by many government institutions and programs in Brazil, where Joe comes from.
79* In ''ComicStrip/TwistedToyfareTheatre'', the government agency created to enforce internal security by Megoville mayor George W. Bush (elected in 2005, look it up) and led by the Green Goblin is designated '''B.A.D.I.D.E.A.''', the '''B'''ureau of '''A'''merican '''D'''efense, '''I'''ntervention, '''D'''eployment, '''E'''nforcement, and '''A'''nalysis. "I think Mayor Bush's B.A.D.I.D.E.A. is a ''great'' idea!"
80* One of the first and most famous acronyms in comics comes from the wizard ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'s name (also Captain Marvel's magic word), which indicates Captain Marvel has the wisdom of '''S'''olomon, the strength of '''H'''ercules, the stamina of '''A'''tlas, the power of '''Z'''eus, the courage of '''A'''chilles and the speed of '''M'''ercury.
81*** In one story, Atlas was killed and Apollo was brought in as a replacement.
82** In another story that happened in the wake of Darkseid's death Capt Marvel had to call on a new set of gods for his powers: S'ivaa (named after the Indian god Shiva) for strength, the Martian fire god H'ronmeer for fire, the Siberian reincarnation goddess Anapel for compassion, the Old God Zonuz for power, the Greek god of mischief Ate for courage, and the Australian lightning god Mamaragan for power. As seen [[https://dcmultiversehistorian.wordpress.com/2015/11/20/who-are-the-new-gods-that-power-shazam/ here]], it's pretty bizarre.
83** Captain Marvel's {{evil counterpart}}, ComicBook/BlackAdam, uses the same word to draw on the power of ancient Egyptian gods. He has the stamina of '''S'''hu, the swiftness of '''H'''eru (Horus), the strength of '''A'''mon (Amun), the wisdom of '''Z'''ehuti (another name for Thoth), the power of '''A'''ton (Aten), and the courage of '''M'''ehen.
84*** Some stories replace Horus with Hershef (for strength) and Aton with Anpu (Anubis, for speed) and Mehen with Montu (for courage).
85** Referenced after Creator/DCComics sued Captain Marvel's creators, Fawcett Comics, out of existence by DC itself. In the 1960s, ComicBook/{{Superman}} fought an antagonist named Zha-Vam, who was created by the gods '''Z'''eus, '''H'''ercules, '''A'''chilles, '''V'''ulcan, '''A'''pollo and '''M'''ercury. (Note he shares all but two of those with Shazam, but Vulcan and Apollo substituted for Solomon and Atlas. Suitably Superman defeated him with the help of Atlas.)
86** When Billy Batson's sister Mary became Mary Marvel, she had her own acronym; the grace of '''S'''elina, the strength of '''H'''ippolyta, the skills of '''A'''riadne, the speed and flight of '''Z'''ephyrus (a male god but let that pass), the beauty of '''A'''urora and the wisdom of '''M'''inerva.
87** Captain Thunder, a CaptainErsatz version of Captain Marvel who appeared in Superman #276, had the magic word "Thunder!", which was formed by the power of a '''T'''ornado, the speed of a '''H'''are, the bravery of the great Mohegan chief '''U'''ncas, the wisdom of '''N'''ature, the toughness of '''D'''iamond, the flight of an '''E'''agle, and the tenacity of a '''R'''am. He got his powers from a Native American shaman rather than an ancient wizard, understand.
88** In ''ComicBook/ScoobyDooTeamUp'', the wizard Shazam granted Shaggy and Velma Captain Marvel-like powers. Shaggy was granted the power of '''Z'''eus, the knowledge of '''O'''din, the flight of '''I'''carus, the depth of '''N'''eptune, the strength of '''K'''ronos and the persistence of '''S'''isiphus while Velma was granted the dominion of '''J'''uno, the magic of '''I'''sis, the justice of '''N'''emesis, the strength of '''K'''ali, the love of '''I'''shtar, the courage of '''E'''lectra, and the foresight of '''S'''ibyl. And, in case you're wondering? It's [[CatchPhrase "Zoinks!" and "Jinkies!"]]
89** In ''ComicBook/DCComicsBombshells'', Miriam, a young Jewish girl, became Miri Marvel, taking her powers from the stories of some of the great women of the Old Testament: '''S'''hiphrah, '''H'''uldah, '''A'''bigail, '''Z'''ipporah, '''A'''genath and her own namesake '''M'''iriam. When the ''Bombshells'' version of Black Adam is introduced (with the same powers), we're told any names of power work, as long as they form the "SHAZAM" acronym.
90** The villain Ibac has the terror of '''I'''van the Terrible, the cunning of Caesar '''B'''orgia, the fierceness of '''A'''ttila the Hun, and the cruelty of '''C'''aligula.
91** The villain Sabbac has the strength of '''S'''atan, the invulnerability of '''A'''ym, the wisdom of '''B'''elial, the flames of '''B'''eelzebub, the courage of '''A'''smodeus, and the flight of '''C'''raetis.
92* ''ComicBook/{{Grendel}}'', in the later arcs involving [[AxCrazy Eppy Thatcher]] and [[MagnificentBastard Orion Assante]], features the corrupt '''C'''onfederacy '''O'''f '''P'''olice. All of their equipment says "COP" on it, in case you didn't get it the first time around.
93* With S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., and A.R.M.O.R. temporarily out of the picture in Marvel comics after ComicBook/SecretInvasion, Mighty Avengers introduced a new secret acronym organization: The '''G'''lobal '''R'''eactionary '''A'''gency for '''M'''ysterious '''P'''aranormal '''A'''ctivity. Enter Hank Pym: Agent of '''G.R.A.M.P.A.'''
94** More likely Hank Pym, The Man From G.R.A.M.P.A.(riffing on Series/TheManFromUncle).
95* ''The Order'' faced the mysterious MIB The M.A.N. from S.H.A.D.O.W. He's eventually revealed to be working for the '''S'''uper '''H'''uman '''D'''evelopment and '''O'''peration organization, SHDO; apparently writing it as "SHADOW" is just an aesthetics thing. The "M.A.N." part doesn't mean or stand for anything, it's just to make him seem even more mysterious.
96* Wally Wood's ComicBook/THUNDERAgents: '''T'''he '''H'''igher '''U'''nited '''N'''ations '''D'''efence '''E'''nforcement '''R'''eserves.
97* ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'':
98** The two agents work for T.I.A. which when pronounced in Spanish sounds similar to tía (aunt), making it both an allegory to the CIA and a ShoutOut to ''Series/TheManFromUNCLE''. Its meaning is '''T'''écnicos '''I'''nvestigación '''A'''eroterráquea (Aero-ground investigation technicians); one of the older nemesis organizations was the A.B.U.E.L.A. ("grandmother")[[note]]'''A'''gentes '''B'''élicos '''U'''ltramarinos '''E'''specialistas en '''L'''íos '''A'''berrantes ("Overseas War Agents Specialized in Aberrant Trouble")[[/note]], and "La Vuelta" featured one-off villains T.I.O.[[note]]'''T'''rojans '''I'''nvictus '''O'''rbi[[/note]], which prompted some lampshading from Mortadelo:
99-->T.I.O.? Ha, ha! T.I.A. against T.I.O.? Hey, why don't you put the matter in hands of one of those "marriage counselors" and have them air their dirty laundry?
100** The story ''El Brujo'' ("The Warlock") introduces another villain organization, the F.E.A (Federación de Espías Asociados, "Federation of associated spies"). ''Fea'' means "ugly woman" in Spanish, and in general an ugly or bad thing of feminine gender.
101** Taken up to eleven in the story about the 2015 general election in Spain, when almost everyone in the T.I.A. staff is setting up their own parties to run for president. For example, Professor Bacterio reveals himself as the candidate for "Científicos Unidos Liberando el Orbe" (United Scientists Freeing the Orb), which results in the acronym C.U.L.O. ("culo" is Spanish for "butt"). Unsurprisingly, Mortadelo [[LampshadeHanging bursts out laughing]] when he notices. Also, Spanish socialist party PSOE gets renamed as PSAO (which in Spanish sounds similar to "pesado", that aside from meaning "heavy", is used to describe a really boring and/or annoying person.)
102** In a short story, the duo ask about the Súper's whereabouts, and another agent tells them he's at the bar. The duo start mocking the Súper, saying: "What could you expect from such a drunkard? Always at the bar!". Suddenly, a very sober Súper appears and explain: "Exactly: I was at the B.A.R. offices", B.A.R. standing for "Búsqueda de Agentes Raptados" ("Search for abducted agents").
103* A subversion happens in the Swedish comic ''James Hund'' with the supercomputer KENT (which, thanks to phone taps and a tendency to take everything serious, ends up killing hundreds by public demand). His inventor is interviewed on TV and the talk show host asks what K.E.N.T. stands for, but the inventor reveals that he actually named it "Kent" because it's a nice name and he used to have a budgie named Kent.
104* Classic ''ComicBook/StrontiumDog'' had an organisation called the '''C'''ommittee for '''U'''ltimate '''R'''etribution.
105* Marvel's super-man ComicBook/TheSentry had a super-computer which allowed him to decide which disasters to respond to in order to save as many lives as possible - '''CLOC''', the '''C'''entrally '''L'''ocated '''O'''rganic '''C'''omputer, which only received this illustrious name with the second volume of the series. In the same series, the Sentry's {{evil twin}} the Void was revealed to possess '''COLC''', the '''C'''omputer for '''O'''bliterating '''L'''ife '''C'''ompletely.
106* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': Once after Hal Jordan went crazy and Kyle Rayner became the only Green Lantern, the real life organization dedicated to undoing this development was called '''HEAT.''' '''H'''al's '''E'''merald '''A'''dvancement '''T'''eam.
107* ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'' has the {{pirate}}-themed group '''A'''dvanced '''R'''estraint '''R'''esearch.
108* And then there's DC Comics itself. When the company first began in 1937, it was called "Detective Comics, Inc." Fans quickly began calling it "DC Comics," and eventually the company took this name officially. This has the unfortunate side effect of the company's full name being "[[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Detective Comics Comics]]."
109* Played with in ''Webcomic/DorkTower'' with '''G'''amers '''F'''or '''P'''ersonal '''H'''ygiene -- explained [[http://www.dorktower.com/2006/07/12/comics-archive-807/ here]].
110* A spoof comic by Michael Kupperman has a boy encounter an old man who promises to give him powers whenever he says '''SKREWPA'''. The old man explains the word is an acronym and starts listing what it stands for, but after E, the boy points out, "[[ParallelPornTitles Those are all porn movie titles!]]" The old man admits he forgot the actual words.
111* In ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'', TeamPet Vincent Van Goat has the alias [[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/haedus HAEDUS]] — '''H'''eavily '''A'''rmored '''E'''spionage '''D'''eadly '''U'''ber-'''S'''heep.
112* '''A.C.R.O.S.T.I.C.''': '''A''' '''C'''abal '''R'''ecently '''O'''rganized '''S'''olely '''T'''o '''I'''nstigate '''C'''rimes, enemies of ''ComicBook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew''. Although what it stands for actually changes every time it's mentioned.
113* The ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' comic mentions the '''F'''amiliar '''U'''nderground '''C'''ommunity of the '''K'''ingdom. Jill lampshades it: "What a long name... weird how they never came up with a clever acronym."
114* ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' has '''F.A.C.T.''', the '''F'''ederal '''A'''dvisory '''C'''ommittee to '''T'''hunderbolts.
115* "ComicBook/TheFabulousFurryFreakBrothers" featured a group of rednecks known as '''A'''mericans '''S'''ecretly '''S'''erving '''H'''igher '''O'''rder '''L'''aw '''E'''nforcement '''S'''ubservience. Yeah, you can figure that one out.
116* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': After being vague as possible about just what happened on Peter and MJ's wedding day in the new timeline caused by the ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'' CosmicRetcon, Marvel announced that a new storyline and sequel of sorts to One More Day would be released. As One More Day was considered to be an absoulte train wreck with the whole Peter and MJ were now never married thing and served as a vehicle to do little more than break up the pairing, this was a bit of a hot button topic. The story in question was called '''O'''ne '''M'''oment '''I'''n '''T'''ime. WordOfGod said it was intentional. The fandom was not amused (especially not so when the story turned out to be, if possible, even crappier than One More Day).
117* In ''ComicBook/SpyBoy'', the heroic superspy organisation is called '''S.H.I.R.T.S.''', the '''S'''ecret '''H'''eadquarters '''I'''nternational '''R'''econnaisance, '''T'''actics, and '''S'''pies. Its rival is '''S.K.I.N.S.''', the '''S'''upreme '''K'''illing '''Ins'''titute. S.H.I.R.T.S.' Japanese counterpart was '''M.A.N.G.A.''', the '''M'''iddle '''A'''sian '''N'''etwork of '''G'''lobal '''A'''ctivities.
118* There has been no indication as to what [[ComicBook/New52 N.O.]][[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} W.H.]][[ComicBook/TeenTitans E.R.E.]] stands for.
119* Also from the New 52, A.R.G.U.S. -- which seems to replace Checkmate as DC's S.H.I.E.L.D. counterpart -- is the '''A'''dvanced '''R'''esearch '''G'''roup '''U'''niting '''S'''uperheroes ... currently. In the last issue of the ''A.R.G.U.S.'' miniseries, they turn out to have been around for longer than anyone suspected, being founded in UsefulNotes/TheAmericanRevolution as '''A'''rmed '''R'''evolutionaries '''G'''overning '''U'''nder '''S'''ecrecy, and changing their name in TheWildWest to '''A'''nonymous '''R'''anger '''G'''roup of the '''U'''nited '''S'''tates. Possibly they had another name in the 20th century, but if so it hasn't been revealed yet.
120* ComicBook/BuckyOHareAndTheToadWars regularly involves the '''S.P.A.C.E.''' organization: '''S'''entient '''P'''rotoplasm '''A'''gainst '''C'''olonial '''E'''ncroachment.
121* Averted in Richard Comely's ''ComicBook/CaptainCanuck'', where the title character was an agent of the '''C'''anadian '''I'''nternational '''S'''ecurity '''O'''rganization, or '''C.I.S.O.''', an almost-blasphemously realistic name for a comic book spy agency.
122** Ironically, the fictional C.I.S.O. predated the creation of Canada's ''real'' civilian counterintelligence agency with an eerily similar name, '''C.S.I.S.''', the '''C'''anadian '''S'''ecurity '''I'''ntelligence '''S'''ervice.
123* The good guy superspies in the later independent Canadian superhero series ''ComicBook/{{Northguard}}'' work for an idealistic private corporation, '''P'''rogressive '''A'''llied '''C'''anadian '''T'''echnologies, or '''PACT'''.
124** Northguard's enemies belong to an extreme right-wing terrorist group called '''[=ManDes=]''', an acronym composed out of the first syllables of the phrase "'''Man'''ifest '''Des'''tiny".
125* The '''S'''ociety '''o'''f '''S'''uper-Heroes, aka '''S.O.S''' from ''[[ComicBook/TheMultiversity Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1]]''.
126* Both factions in ''ComicBook/TankVixens'': The Pan-Vulpine Coalition[[note]]guess what their uniforms are [[LatexLeatherOrSpandex made from]][[/note]], and the Vole [=IMPerium=].
127* ''ComicBook/NewAvengers2015'' introduces a new villainous scientific organisation, '''W.H.I.S.P.E.R.''' – referred to in dialogue as "a '''w'''orld '''h'''eadquarters for '''i'''nternational '''s'''cientific/'''p'''hilosophical '''e'''xperimentation and '''r'''esearch". One issue has the narration reusing that acronym with a different meaning each as a running gag.
128** A time travel story in the same series introduces the A.V.E.N.G.E.R.S., full meaning undisclosed.
129* ''[[ComicBook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]]'': The ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' relaunch in 2015 introduced a villainous organization called '''H'''ope '''Y'''ards '''D'''evelopment and '''R'''elocation '''A'''ssociation. [[ComicBook/{{HYDRA}} Gee, sounds familiar]].
130* ''ComicBook/AlbedoErmaFelnaEDF'' has lots of them, due to the fact the author was a former USAF member.
131** '''E'''xtraplanetary '''D'''efense '''F'''orce (EDF, the organization the titular heroine belongs to)
132** '''I'''ndependent '''L'''epine '''R'''epublic ([[KillerRabbit ILR]])
133** '''Confed'''eration of Planets (TheFederation)
134** '''A'''utonomous '''C'''ombat '''V'''ehicle ([[AttackDrone ACV]])
135** In ''Exo-Genesis'', a short novel published in the ''Refractions'' fanzine, the military organization [[spoiler:the human creators belongs to is named '''U'''nited '''H'''umanspace '''C'''olonial '''S'''ervice (UHSC)]].
136** From the same novel, [[spoiler:the anthropomorphics are named AB (pronounced Aybee): '''A'''nthropomorphic '''B'''ioforms]].
137* In ''ComicBook/{{Prez|2015}}'', the United States' response to rising sea levels caused by global climate change is the Habitat Allowance for Lost Farmland And Sinking Shoreline: HALFASS.
138* ''ComicBook/{{Madballs}}''
139** Dr. Frankenbeans and his dim-witted assistant Snivelitch work at '''R.U.I.N.''' ('''R'''esearch '''U'''nlimited '''I'''n '''N'''ucleonics).
140** The ninth issue had Frankenbeans and Snivelitch team up with several other villains to form '''I.N.C.''', Inc. The "I.N.C." stood for '''I'''nternational '''N'''etwork of '''C'''reeps.
141* Another long-runner for Marvel is Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., short for: '''P'''otential '''E'''nergy '''G'''roup/'''A'''lternate '''S'''ources/'''U'''nited '''S'''tates.
142* ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures'': A fan letter published at Issue #16 has "'''B'''atman '''A'''dventures - '''T'''errific covers '''M'''agnificent '''A'''rtwork '''N'''ever '''A D'''ull moment '''V'''ery '''E'''xciting '''N'''ew stories '''T'''he '''U'''ltimate '''R'''endition of '''E'''veryone's favorite '''S'''uperhero. '''I S'''alute you!!! '''#1'''
143* ''ComicBook/MissileMouse'' has the '''R'''ogue '''I'''mperium of '''P'''lanets in "The Star Crusher".
144* The title of ''C.O.V.E.N.'', an Italian comic series, refers to a team of government employed superpowered people. In one issue, there is a RunningGag of the members brainstorming over what the name is an acronym for. In particular, Lissie keeps insisting it's not an acronym, just the word "coven," meaning a group of witches. [[spoiler:It's actually the initials of the team's founding members: '''C'''oco, '''O'''felia, '''V'''ictor, '''E'''rebus and '''N'''olan.]]
145* In the Italian translation of ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'', Obelix's CatchPhrase is translated as "Sono Pazzi Questi Romani" ("They are mad, these Romans") The letters SPQR, which originally stood for "'''S'''enatus '''P'''opulus'''q'''ue '''R'''omani", still appear on street furniture in modern Rome and it's long been a joke there that the letters stand for '''S'''ono '''P'''azzi '''Q'''uesti '''R'''omani. Since the original French words are "Il's sont fous, ces Romains", echoing the Italian closely, it seems reasonable to assume that this was in René Goscinny's mind all along.
146* In ''ComicBook/AVoiceInTheDark'', the radio station call sign is KILL. They lampshade it with their tagline "'''Kill'''er Campus Radio".
147* Too many to list in ''ComicBook/TheScrameustache'', but the most notable one is Scrameustache himself: '''S'''ujet '''C'''réé par '''R'''adiations '''A'''rtificielles et '''M'''anipulations '''E'''xtra-'''U'''térines '''S'''ans '''T'''oucher '''A'''ux '''C'''hromosomes '''H'''éréditaires '''E'''ndogènes. This roughly translate to: Subject created by artificial radiation and ectopic manipulation without affecting Hereditary Endogenous Chromosomes.
148* ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'' has B.A.T.s and B.A.A.T.s; B.A.T stands for "Battle Android Trooper", while B.A.A.T stands for "Battle Armored Android Trooper".
149* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
150** In the ''Series/Supergirl2015'' tie-in comic ''ComicBook/AdventuresOfSupergirl'', ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} is a hacker called Vril Dox who tries to deceive [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] by pretending to be a digital personal assistant named '''V'''irtual '''R'''emote '''I'''ntegration '''L'''ogistics.
151** In the ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/DeathAndTheFamily'', S.T.A.R. Labs builds a miniaturized termite-like spy robot. It is called a '''B'''atesian '''U'''niversal '''G'''round retcon unit.
152--->'''Dr. Light:''' In the thick of things, we released this. A Batesian Universal Ground recon unit. "B.U.G." for short.
153* ''ComicBook/AbsoluteCarnage'': Attempted by Dylan for the Maker's codex extraction machine; taking his explanation of its "'''s'''ymbiote '''c'''odex '''i'''solation and '''t'''hermo-'''h'''eated '''e'''xtraction process" and dubbing it "S.C.I.T.H.E.". The Maker shuts it down, deriding the practise as being "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall for children and comic books]]". (Even though he founded the aforementioned W.H.I.S.P.E.R.)
154* On August 19th, 2019, Creator/MarvelComics teased a new superhero team called "Doc Justice and the J-Team", with [[http://twitter.com/Marvel/status/1163465488749535234 an image]] citing them to be in the mold of ComicBook/TheAvengers, ComicBook/TheDefenders, and the ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1VblKY98VM A video]] was released later in the day showing an image of the team itself and the book's editor talking about them. Accompanying the video is the description, "'''R'''evolutionary! '''U'''nstoppable! '''N'''EW! '''A''' '''w'''ondrous '''a'''nd '''y'''outhful '''s'''quad! Look for Doc Justice and the J-Team in the pages of Marvel Comics coming soon!" Take the first letter of the first four sentences, and you'd get "ComicBook/{{Runaways}}". As it turns out, Doc Justice and the J-Team are part of ''ComicBook/RunawaysRainbowRowell'', with the Runaways themselves becoming the J-Team.
155* ''ComicBook/RedXmas'': [[TheProtagonist Ellie]] works with an organization called the American Santa Society ('''A.S.S''') to try and take down SantaClaus.
156* Western Publishing's Big Little Book series featured WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry in a story where Tom becomes a secret agent who calls himself F.E.L.I.N.E., or '''F'''earless '''E'''nforcer of the '''L'''aw with '''I'''nterminable and '''N'''ever-ending '''E'''nergy.
157-->'''Jerry:''' Huh. Then that'd be F.E.O.T.L.W.I.A.N.E.!
158* Brazilian comic ''ComicBook/MonicasGang'' has resident [[TheMadHatter crazy person]] Louco, known in English as Nutty Ned, who has given his full name as '''L'''icurgo '''O'''rival '''U'''mbelino '''C'''afiaspirino de '''O'''liveira.
159* In ''ComicBook/DeathstrokeInc'' T.R.U.S.T. stands for '''T'''ransparent '''R'''esearchers '''U'''nited for '''S'''trategy and '''T'''echnology.
160* In the comic series of ''ComicBook/SonicX'', there's an anti-Sonic group hanging about by the name of the '''S'''ociety for '''O'''bserving and '''N'''eutralizing '''I'''nterdimensional '''C'''reatures and '''X'''enomorphs. '''S.O.N.I.C.X'''. The blue blur himself finds this rather hilarious.
161* ''ComicBook/WildCATs'' originally stood for '''C'''overt '''A'''ction '''T'''eams. The ''ComicBook/InfiniteFrontier''-era DCU version are the '''[[CrisisCrossover C]]'''[[CrisisCrossover risis]] '''A'''version '''T'''actical '''S'''quad.
162* The prequel comic for ''Film/{{Bumblebee}}'', being a pastiche of 60s spy movies and TV shows runs hog wild with this one, giving us: P.R.O.G.R.A.M.M.E ('''P'''reemptive '''R'''esistance '''O'''perating '''G'''lobally '''R'''eacting '''A'''gainst '''M'''alevolent '''M'''ilitary '''E'''fforts), a subsidiary organization of B.A.S.E.S.T.A.T.I.O.N., with its tactical specialists the E.G.G.H.E.A.D.S.. They fight the fiendish E.I.D.O.L.O.N. ('''E'''spionage '''I'''ntelligence '''D'''irectorate: '''O'''ffensive '''L'''aw and '''O'''rder '''N'''eutralization).
163* In ''ComicBook/TheUnstoppableWasp'', Nadia decides to create a group of female geniuses after learning that there were so few out recognizable out there (The highest on SHIELD's list, barring #1 Lunella "Moon Girl" Lafayette, was #27) called G.I.R.L., or '''G'''enius '''I'''n action '''R'''esearch '''L'''abs.

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