Herbie Popnecker is a fictional comic book character who first appeared in Forbidden Worlds #73 in December 1958, published by American Comics Group. He was created by Richard E. Hughes (using the pseudonym "Shane O'Shea") and Ogden Whitney.

Description

Herbie is an atypical hero – a short, obese, unemotional, terse, unstylish boy who is nonetheless nearly omnipotent. Deriving some of his powers from genetics and some from magical lollipops he obtains from a salesman from a mysterious realm called "the Unknown", Herbie can carry on detailed conversations with animals and sometimes even inanimate objects (who all know him by name), quickly reach any location (including other galaxies) by walking through the sky, become invisible, cast spells, summon spirits from other dimensions, quickly dispatch all enemies with ease, and travel through time. Despite his age, appearance and terse personality, he is irresistible to women.

Publication history

Herbie made several appearances in Forbidden Worlds, in issues #73, #94, #110, #114, and #116—the final two issues with Herbie featured on the cover. Herbie also made a cameo appearance—albeit very much out of character—in Unknown Worlds #20, published in 1961.

Herbie received his own title, Herbie, in April 1964. He is bare-footed. Herbie's obtuse father then begins to wish that his "little fat nothing" son could be more like the Fat Fury.

As the Fat Fury, Herbie does not have any powers beyond the many he had before donning the costume. Although Herbie travels back in time, the Fat Fury never does. The Fat Fury was featured in even-numbered Herbie comics from #8 to #22.

Critical analysis

In a review of the Dark Horse Comics collections Herbie: Volume One and Herbie: Volume Two, The New York Times described Hughes' Herbie Popnecker as,

Alan Moore has declared Herbie his favorite comic book.

Collections and revivals

In the 1990s, there were some attempts to revive Herbie. A-Plus Comics (which had purchased the American Comics Group reprint rights) published six black-and-white issues of reprints in 1991. Dark Horse Comics published two issues of a planned twelve in 1992, the first with a new story by John Byrne. Flaming Carrot Comics #31 (1994) featured an appearance by Herbie (words and pictures by Bob Burden). America's Comic Group (a publisher affiliated with A+ Comics) published a new story written by Roger Broughton with artwork by Dan Day.

In 2008, Dark Horse Comics announced that they would reprint the original Herbie stories in a series of hardcover archive volumes. The first Herbie Archives came out in August 2008 () and collects Herbie stories from Forbidden Worlds #73, 94, 110, 114, 116, Unknown Worlds #20, and Herbie #1–5. The second came out in December 2008 (), and collects issues #6–14. The third and final volume came out in April 2009 (), and collects issues #15–23.

In Antarctic Press’ Exciting Comics #31 (Released Mar 1, 2023), Herbie (The Fat Fury) Popnecker and Fatman the Human Flying Saucer team up to rescue a stolen recipe belonging to Miss Horatio Huffnagel. On the way, they fight old foes, battle new foes and meet a couple of nostalgic characters. written by John Holland, with art by Larry Guidry.

In November 2024, Herbie guest-starred in issue #9 of Tomorrow Girl, a title published by Antarctic Press written by John Holland, with art by Ben Dunn and Larry Guidry, alongside Fatman the Human Flying Saucer and Atomic Mouse.

Tomorrow Girl #9 also features an unpublished, 9-page Herbie story entitled "Herbie & The Humperdink Ray" written by Richard Hughes and art by Larry Guidry.

Tomorrow Girl #10, released in January 2025, includes several short back-up strips featuring Herbie.

Awards

Herbie comics received the Alley Award for Best Humor Comic Book 1964 and 1965.

The Herbie Archives received the Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication in 2009.

References

  • First appearance of Herbie in Forbidden Worlds #73
  • Herbie Popnecker at the Internet Archive
  • Herbie Popnecker at the Grand Comics Database
  • DarkMark Summaries
  • International Catalogue of Superheroes: Fat Fury
  • HerbiePopnecker.com (fan site)