HERBIE: The Robot Sidekick of Fantastic Four Revealed

There are rumors that the MCU’s Fantastic Four could include the debut of H.E.R.B.I.E., a notorious character tied to a popular urban legend in the FF lore. With speculation about the cast of the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, it's not surprising that something unexpected would be announced. Early rumors suggest that the film may include the live-action debut of the FF’s most precocious robot.

H.E.R.B.I.E. has a unique place in Marvel history, particularly with the Fantastic Four, making appearances in modern comics. However, it has a questionable reputation among comic fans from the ‘90s and is also linked to a notorious urban legend about a Marvel cartoon. Despite this, modern fans may be unaware of H.E.R.B.I.E.’s origins dating back nearly 50 years, revealing that the lovable robot is a reflection of real life.

Who is H.E.R.B.I.E.?

Making its first appearance in 1979's Fantastic Four #209, H.E.R.B.I.E., or Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-Type, Integrated Electronics, is introduced. In the storyline, Reed creates H.E.R.B.I.E. to assist him in the field, functioning as a remote alternative for the Baxter Building's supercomputer.

In Marvel Comics, H.E.R.B.I.E. is an invention of Reed Richards designed to function as a remote replacement for the Baxter Building's computers.

Early stories suggest that there may be more to H.E.R.B.I.E. than initially apparent. It is later revealed that H.E.R.B.I.E. has a connection to the Living Mind Computer of Xandar, which has been compromised, allowing the scientist Doctor Sun to escape his imprisonment in the Xandar computers through the robot.

Why did H.E.R.B.I.E. join the Fantastic Four?

Following the revelation of Sun's escape and the defeat of the villain, newer iterations of H.E.R.B.I.E. have continued to make appearances in Fantastic Four comics. Despite being the target of many jokes, the character has gained some notability in recent years due to the power of nostalgia.

H.E.R.B.I.E. is widely considered a joke due to his association with children's programming, both within and outside of the show's universe. The character's origins are also linked to an urban myth about a popular Marvel cartoon, adding to the comedic nature of the situation. In a meta sense, H.E.R.B.I.E. originated from the 1978 animated series The New Fantastic Four. During the show's development, producers were unable to include The Human Torch. A well-known myth suggests that TV networks vetoed the character's appearance due to concerns about children attempting to imitate Torch's powers and setting themselves on fire. However, the truth is that The Human Torch was popular enough for Marvel to be considering solo projects, which led to his rights being held elsewhere.

In 1978, Marvel Studios included H.E.R.B.I.E. as part of the Fantastic Four cartoon series. Stan Lee introduced the kid-friendly character as a replacement, drawing inspiration from H.E.R.B.I.E.'s origins in the comics. In the series, H.E.R.B.I.E. was originally designed to fill the role of the Human Torch in the in-universe Fantastic Four cartoon. Interestingly, in the storyline, Torch's absence was explained by the character Johnny missing the deadline to sign his contract, adding a touch of real-life drama to the cartoon.

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Editor's P/S

As a lifelong fan of the Fantastic Four, I am thrilled at the prospect of H.E.R.B.I.E. making his MCU debut. H.E.R.B.I.E. is a beloved character with a rich history, and I believe he would be a great addition to the MCU. I am particularly excited to see how H.E.R.B.I.E. interacts with the other members of the Fantastic Four and how he helps them in their adventures.

However, I am also aware of the controversy surrounding H.E.R.B.I.E. Some fans consider him to be a joke character, and I understand why they feel that way. H.E.R.B.I.E. is often portrayed as a bumbling, incompetent robot, and he can be quite annoying at times. However, I believe that H.E.R.B.I.E. is more than just a joke character. He is a loyal friend to the Fantastic Four, and he is always willing to help them, even if it means putting himself in danger. I hope that the MCU will portray H.E.R.B.I.E. as a complex and well-rounded character, and I believe that he could become a fan favorite.