For a long time I thought it was called "Comic" because of the hilarious faces font snobs pull when you show it to them, but apparently it's because it was inspired by the text in comic books.
I think it's sort of transcended all that, though. It's now the legendary Comic Sans from the land beyond taste, more meme than font.
So you're trying to convince us you legitimately though it was named, before anyone saw it, based on a presumed reaction people would have when they did?
Pardon me, I think my bullshit meter just exploded.
Originally designed for Microsoft Bob, missed that deadline, came out in the Win95 Plus Pack.
The working name was "Comic Book". Probably because it is based on multiple comic books, primarily The Dark Knight Returns. I've also seen Watchmen mentioned in other interviews as a primary source for the shapes though he doesn't mention it in his page on the font.
I think it's sort of transcended all that, though. It's now the legendary Comic Sans from the land beyond taste, more meme than font.