H.E.R.B.I.E.

H.E.R.B.I.E. is a fictional robot appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was initially conceived for '' The New Fantastic Four'' and integrated into the comics continuity shortly afterwards. The character is usually depicted as an ally of the Fantastic Four.

H.E.R.B.I.E. will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film '' The Fantastic Four: First Steps'' (2025), voiced by Matthew Wood.

Creation and conception

When the Fantastic Four property 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 film (which never materialized). A popular but false urban myth contends that the character was replaced due to fears that children might attempt to emulate him by setting themselves on fire.

Needing a fourth member to round out the team, Stan Lee pitched the idea for a cute robot sidekick and artist Jack Kirby, who had been hired as a storyboard artist for DePatie–Freleng Enterprises, designed it. This was Kirby's last work for Marvel.

In the series, H.E.R.B.I.E. was voiced by Frank Welker. Shortly after its premiere, the character was introduced to the comics continuity by writer Marv Wolfman and artist John Byrne.

Publication history

H.E.R.B.I.E. first appeared in comics in ''Fantastic Four'' #209 (August 1979), adapted from the cartoon character by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne.

The character subsequently appears in ''Fantastic Four'' #210-213 (September–December 1979), #215-217 (February–April 1980), #242 (May 1982), #244 (July 1982), ''Fantastic Four'' #3 (March 1998), ''Marvel Holiday Special'' (2004), ''Exiles'' #72 (January 2006), ''Fantastic Four'' #534 (March 2006), ''X-Men'' #181 (March 2006), ''Franklin Richards One Shot'' (April 2006), ''X-Men/Runaways'' #1 (May 2006), ''The Sensational Spider-Man'' #25 (June 2006), ''Fantastic Four: A Death in the Family'' (July 2006), ''Franklin Richards: Super Summer Spectacular'' (September 2006), ''Franklin Richards: Happy Franksgiving!'' (January 2007), ''Franklin Richards: Monster Mash'' (November 2007), ''Franklin Richards: Fall Football Fiasco!'' (January 2008).

H.E.R.B.I.E. received an entry in the ''All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z'' #5 (2006).

He also appeared in ''All-New, All-Different Black Knight'' #1 in 2015. He appears as a part of the Black Knight’s sanctuary.

Fictional character biography

H.E.R.B.I.E. was created by Mister Fantastic and Master Xar of the Xandarians, who hoped that the robot could aid their search for Galactus, whom they sought for aid in defeating the villain known as the Sphinx. It is also revealed that in the comic book continuity, Johnny Storm did not show up to a meeting with a cartoon company, therefore H.E.R.B.I.E. replaced him in a cartoon series based on the Fantastic Four.

What neither of the creators realized, however, was that Doctor Sun, an enemy of Master Xar who had his consciousness trapped within Xandarian computers, was able to escape by jumping from the computer to H.E.R.B.I.E.'s body. The little robot was his sleeper agent, whom he could control whenever he wished. Although an alien pirate mysteriously died in H.E.R.B.I.E.'s presence, and the villain Blastaar suddenly escaped from the Negative Zone, nobody suspects that H.E.R.B.I.E. was responsible.

After Sun's attempt to assassinate the Fantastic Four with Blastaar failed, Dr. Sun reveals himself at last, trapping the Invisible Woman and the Human Torch within the Baxter Building's security system and besting Mister Fantastic and Thing with H.E.R.B.I.E.'s weapons. He then abandons H.E.R.B.I.E.'s body and transfers his consciousness into the Baxter Building's main computer, which would allow him to control the entire building, and all of the weaponry within. Mister Fantastic locks Sun from the computer system, but H.E.R.B.I.E. realizes that Sun could simply return to his body. Not wanting the villain to cause any more trouble, H.E.R.B.I.E. heroically throws himself into the computer, destroying it, Sun, and himself.

Later, Franklin is shown with another H.E.R.B.I.E robot, that Ben refers to as a 'flying frog'. It is explained that this one had been built partly to keep an eye on Franklin's developing powers. Said powers fluctuate due to Franklin's failure to solve a Rubik's Cube and a nearby TV show urging someone to 'grow up'. The resulting power surge destroys H.E.R.B.I.E.

Other H.E.R.B.I.E. robots are eventually built throughout the years, serving general duties around the Baxter Building. In '' Marvel Knights Fantastic Four'', H.E.R.B.I.E. has served as the guardian and companion for Franklin Richards and his sister Valeria.

A mistake leaves the Fantastic Four lost in time and other heroes running the Baxter Building. The H.E.R.B.I.E. robots take on the costumes of Doctor Doom and demand respect. Otherwise they are peaceful. They later reject this clothing and go back to normal duties. Several of the robots take to watching interesting videos online in their downtime.

The design of H.E.R.B.I.E. is displayed in the Smithsonian, near the Spider-Mobile.

After Reed Richards and his wife vanish following the "Secret Wars" storyline, much of Reed's belongings are transferred over to the heroine known as Moon Girl. H.E.R.B.I.E. activates when Galactus shows up. H.E.R.B.I.E. declares he has been a Galactus sensing device all this time.

H.E.R.B.I.E. is among the former Fantastic Four members who were summoned to Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman when they were threatened by the Griever at the End of All Things.

In the one-shot '' Incoming!'', Valeria Von Doom removes H.E.R.B.I.E.'s inhibitor chip, allowing him to express to Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman how much he hates them.

During the " Iron Man 2020" event, H.E.R.B.I.E. appears as a member of the A.I. Army.

Related robots

H.U.B.E.R.T.

Short for Hyper-Ultronic Brain Employing Randomized Tracings, H.U.B.E.R.T. was created by Mister Fantastic to be Franklin's babysitter. Franklin later destroys H.U.B.E.R.T. before Reed builds a replacement.

S.H.E.R.B.I.E.

Short for S.H.I.E.L.D. Heuristic Experimental Robot, B-Type, Integrated Electronics, S.H.E.R.B.I.E. is a robot who is S.H.I.E.L.D.'s version of H.E.R.B.I.E.

Other versions

''Deadpool: Killustrated''

Modified H.E.R.B.I.E. units from an alternate universe devoid of heroes appear in '' Deadpool: Killustrated'' as servants of Deadpool.

''Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius''

An alternate universe variant of H.E.R.B.I.E. from Earth-6513 appears in '' Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius''. This version is Franklin Richards's nanny.

''Marvel Adventures''

An alternate universe variant of H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in '' Marvel Adventures Power Pack''. This version is the Power Pack's nanny.

Marvel Mangaverse

An alternate universe variant of H.E.R.B.I.E. from Earth-2301 appears in '' Marvel Mangaverse''. This version is the Baxter Building's security system.

Marvel Zombies

Several H.E.R.B.I.E. units from Earth-2149 appear in '' Marvel Zombies''. These versions serve as security for the abandoned Baxter Building.

Old Man Quill

A possible future variant of H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in '' Old Man Quill''. This version survived in the Baxter Building's wreckage for 55 years.

Ultimate Marvel

Several H.E.R.B.I.E. units from Earth-1610 appear in ''Ultimate Fantastic Four''. These versions come in small, hovering models and large mechs that serve as guards.

In other media

Television

* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in '' The New Fantastic Four'', voiced by Frank Welker.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in '' Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes'', voiced by Sam Vincent. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a supercomputer who monitors Mister Fantastic's lab.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in ''The Super Hero Squad Show'', voiced by Tara Strong.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in '' The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes'' episode "The Kang Dynasty".
* H.E.R.B.I.E. makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' episode "Venom".
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in ''Spidey and His Amazing Friends'', voiced by Tim Dadabo.

Film

* A deactivated H.E.R.B.I.E. makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the extended cut of ''Fantastic Four'' (2005).
* H.E.R.B.I.E. will appear in '' The Fantastic Four: First Steps'' voiced by Matthew Wood.

Video games

* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in '' Marvel Heroes''.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears in ''Pinball FX 2''.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears as a playable character in ''Lego Marvel Super Heroes'', voiced again by Tara Strong.
* H.E.R.B.I.E. appears as an NPC in '' Marvel Rivals'', voiced by Suzie Yeung.

Notes

References

External links

H.E.R.B.I.E.
at Marvel.

{{Jack Kirby

Comics characters introduced in 1979
Characters created by Jack Kirby
Characters created by Stan Lee
Fantastic Four
Fictional artificial intelligences
Fictional robots
Marvel Comics robots