The Microsoft typeface designed by Vincent Connare and released in 1994 to imitate comic-book lettering is Comic Sans.
Connare began developing the typeface after seeing Microsoft Bob, a children-oriented program whose cartoon speech bubbles used the formal-looking Times New Roman. He wanted lettering that better matched comic characters and speech balloons. He drew the letters with a mouse and cursor, deliberately giving them an informal, uneven appearance.
Comic Sans was inspired by comic books including The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen. It was completed too late for Microsoft Bob, but programmers used it in 3D Movie Maker, another Microsoft product featuring cartoon guides and speech bubbles. The typeface later shipped with Windows 95, which made it widely available.
The font is often confused with a generic category of comic lettering, but Comic Sans is a specific Microsoft typeface. Its friendly appearance made it popular with casual users, while professional designers frequently criticize it for being used in formal or unsuitable contexts.