H.E.R.B.I.E.
Real Name
Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics
Current Alias
H.E.R.B.I.E.
Aliases
Herbie, HERBIE, H.E.R.B.
Identity
Alignment
Affiliation
Universe
Characteristics
Height
Weight
Eyes
Hair
Status
Occupation
Assistant to Reed Richards, Fantastic Four's sidekick
Origin
Origin
H.E.R.B.I.E. (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics) is a robot and an ally of the Fantastic Four.
Place of Birth
Baxter Building, New York City, NY
Creators
Jack Kirby
History
H.E.R.B.I.E. was created by Mister Fantastic and has been the Fantastic Four's sidekick since then.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Robot: Cybernetic interface that can connect to any computer system, electricity generators, lasers, various hidden tools and features.
- Flight: H.E.R.B.I.E. is able to fly.
Abilities
None known.
Strength level
Unknown.
Weaknesses
None known.
Paraphernalia
Equipment: None known.
Transportation: None known.
Weapons: None known.
Notes
- When the Fantastic Four was made into an animated series in 1978, the character of the Human Torch was unable to be used, as at the time the character had been optioned separately for use in a solo movie (which never in fact materialized). A popular urban myth contends that the Torch was replaced due to fears that children might attempt to emulate him by setting themselves on fire, but this is not true.
- Needing a fourth member to round out the team, Stan Lee pitched the idea for a cute robot sidekick, and artist Dave Cockrum was commissioned to design it. However, Cockrum disliked the character so much he was eventually replaced by Jack Kirby, who first designed and illustrated the Fantastic Four a decade previous.
Trivia
- Shortly after the Fantastic Four cartoon premiered in the 1970's, the little robot was introduced to the comics continuity by writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Byrne. As within the Marvel Universe the Fantastic Four have marketed their likenesses for a successful in-universe comic series, H.E.R.B.I.E.'s physical appearance was likewise explained as being based on the animated series based on that comic.
- H.E.R.B.I.E. has been largely disliked by many Earth-616 Fantastic Four fans, not only because he replaced a major character, but because he was designed to be "cute" (and many consider him more annoying than cute). This is often considered an incidence of "jumping the shark".
See Also
- Appearances of Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics (Earth-1010)
- Character Gallery: Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics (Earth-1010)
- Quotations by Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics (Earth-1010)
Discover and Discuss
- Search News for: H.E.R.B.I.E. · Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics · Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics (Earth-1010)
Links and References
- None.