DC Comics

Look! Up at that building in New York City! It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's comic empire DC Entertainment! The world's #2 comic book publisher (behind longtime nemesis Marvel) controls 30% of the market and owns the rights to what is arguably the best-known roster of superheroes, including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. DC publishes about 95 monthly comics and licenses the rights to its characters for use in movies, TV, video games, and other products. Other holdings include film and TV operations, comic imprint Vertigo, and the iconic "MAD" magazine. Owned by movie studio Warner Bros., DC was created in 1934 as National Allied Publications. Its first title was "Detective Comics" (thus the initials DC).