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Herbie Archives #1
Herbie Archives Volume 1
Make way for the Fat Fury The unlikeliest superhero of all time makes his mark in this new Dark Horse archival series. Coming from the strange, wry imaginations of classic comics scribe Richard Hughes and artist Ogden Whitney, Herbie Popnecker looks like a plump lump, but with his collection of supernatural lollipops, there is pretty much nothing that he can't do. Herbie Archives Volume 1 collects the earliest appearances of Herbie, as he battles monsters, bends time and space, and gets the better of Fidel Castro Herbie is a delightfully weird, all-ages barrel of laughs
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 27, 2008
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April 9, 2019I loved this. Alan Moore’s favorite superhero, Herbie Popnecker is one of the strangest characters in comics - a pudgy young man with a deadpan demeanor who acquires seemingly limitless powers from his magical lollipops. His dad thinks he’s a lazy good-for-nothing; little does he know that Herbie is famous throughout the universe, traversing through time and space with lollipops in hand to save the day.
This volume collects Herbie’s first appearances from 1958 to 1964, all written and drawn by Richard E. Hughes (alias Shane O’Shea) and Ogden Whitney respectively. Across the 16 stories here, Herbie encounters Frankenstein’s monster, Satan, JFK, LBJ, Fidel Castro, King Arthur, Cinderella, Winston Churchill, and more. It’s all difficult to describe. I just know I liked it, and will definitely be back for more.
Surreal, hilarious, and a wonderfully unique read.
This volume collects Herbie’s first appearances from 1958 to 1964, all written and drawn by Richard E. Hughes (alias Shane O’Shea) and Ogden Whitney respectively. Across the 16 stories here, Herbie encounters Frankenstein’s monster, Satan, JFK, LBJ, Fidel Castro, King Arthur, Cinderella, Winston Churchill, and more. It’s all difficult to describe. I just know I liked it, and will definitely be back for more.
Surreal, hilarious, and a wonderfully unique read.
September 7, 2025
Yet another comic series about a young round boy who barely communicates using super-powered lollipops to grudgingly go on surreal adventures through time and space. This time that shopworn trope is treated for laughs and the results are charming.
Apparently no one is sure if Herbie is public domain or not so it seems unlikely we’ll get an omnibus, sadly
Apparently no one is sure if Herbie is public domain or not so it seems unlikely we’ll get an omnibus, sadly
January 10, 2013
Just go to HerbiePopnecker.com and you'll know I am an overly-devoted fan of Herbie. Given that, I recommend that people read Volume 1 last, not first. Volume 1 begins with five Herbie stories that appeared in Forbidden Worlds comics from 1958 to 1963. During that period, and even within the first issue of Herbie comics, Herbie was evolving in appearance, speech, powers, and humor. The first two Forbidden Worlds stories were reprinted with commentary in Herbie #17 and #23, commentary like "Look... would you believe it? This is Herbie? Volume 1 also contains a story from Unknown Worlds in which Herbie appears completely out of character. So in my view, the first 6 of 16 stories are of historical interest, but not the best of Herbie. If you do start with Volume 1, I suggest starting on page 45 with "Herbie and the Sneddiger's Salad Oil" or even jumping ahead to Herbie #1 on page 89. After the Herbie comics, going back to the Forbidden Worlds stories may be enjoyable, or at least interesting. I can't think of a good reason to read the Unknown Worlds story, only reasons to avoid it; it's not a Herbie story.
My honest recommendation is for people to starts with Volume 2, in which Herbie is fully developed, and which has four stories with the Fat Fury, Herbie's costume superhero persona. Then, go on to Volume 3. Lastly, come back to Volume 1. Or, do you want I should bop you with this here lollipop?
My honest recommendation is for people to starts with Volume 2, in which Herbie is fully developed, and which has four stories with the Fat Fury, Herbie's costume superhero persona. Then, go on to Volume 3. Lastly, come back to Volume 1. Or, do you want I should bop you with this here lollipop?
June 19, 2020
I wouldn't be surprised if there were a Daoist and or Buddhist reading of Herbie. Despite having almost not interests or desires outside sleep and lollypops the only things Herbie definitely does do - are to help people, usually strange old men he randomly encounters, and on one occasion, his dad. Helping with his magical saint powers.
Invulnerable, undefeatable in battle, but can be thrown out of rooms he is not meant to be in. All he wants to do is avoid work but adventure keeps summoning him, by chance, but also via a jimmy-olsen signal watch. (and I wonder how much this is like Kirbys Jimmy Olsen book?)
HERBIE simply walks into the air, his slowness accounted for by panels.
Ogdens cartooning and design are beautiful. Because Herbies body doesn’t bend or twist like an artists frame, he creates this impression of buddha like stillness, of slowness, just slowly ambling everywhere.
The 'magical man who can do anything' here as a protagonist, the only way they can be a protagonist - in an absurdist comedy. Or in myth and fairy story.
It’s fascinating how much Moore took from this.
Rorscharchs voice patterns. I think there is a scene in Tom Strong where a character jumps between planets. That curious, slightly cubist effect you get with some of Moores pages where the POV remains almost static, the grid is a stable six panels, the background is highly detailed and well delineated and each image shows some slight regular progression in time, either characters moving, or a long slow zoom in and out. In this way the page becomes a little holographic with the core of most panels being repeated in the panels both before and after it, and sometimes across the whole page, but no panel being exactly the same at the others, so the whole creates this impression of the stable flow of time. The page is like a crystal of time for you see the same elements repeated and so it seems that you are both taking part in the flow of time and also slightly outside it.
Other things - the weird Gaiman/Moore/Morrison parcosmlike literalisation of states. One scene, where Herbie needs to find out about a monster, says that monsters come from The Unknown, so simply sky-walks to 'The Unknown' an actual place.
Similarities with the first Justice League adventures, Gardner Fox, and especially Otto Binder. Strong fairy tale influence. Feels slavic? Animals will talk to Herbie. When the devil orders him into a fire the fire leaps out and runs away, which feels like something pulled from Irish or German mythology.
The animist nature of the world implied by the writing is massively deepened by the constant marginalia-type improvisations which Whitney noodles all over the page. Suns blink in astonishment, turtles wear turtlenecks. The embroidery of life and animation.
Invulnerable, undefeatable in battle, but can be thrown out of rooms he is not meant to be in. All he wants to do is avoid work but adventure keeps summoning him, by chance, but also via a jimmy-olsen signal watch. (and I wonder how much this is like Kirbys Jimmy Olsen book?)
HERBIE simply walks into the air, his slowness accounted for by panels.
Ogdens cartooning and design are beautiful. Because Herbies body doesn’t bend or twist like an artists frame, he creates this impression of buddha like stillness, of slowness, just slowly ambling everywhere.
The 'magical man who can do anything' here as a protagonist, the only way they can be a protagonist - in an absurdist comedy. Or in myth and fairy story.
It’s fascinating how much Moore took from this.
Rorscharchs voice patterns. I think there is a scene in Tom Strong where a character jumps between planets. That curious, slightly cubist effect you get with some of Moores pages where the POV remains almost static, the grid is a stable six panels, the background is highly detailed and well delineated and each image shows some slight regular progression in time, either characters moving, or a long slow zoom in and out. In this way the page becomes a little holographic with the core of most panels being repeated in the panels both before and after it, and sometimes across the whole page, but no panel being exactly the same at the others, so the whole creates this impression of the stable flow of time. The page is like a crystal of time for you see the same elements repeated and so it seems that you are both taking part in the flow of time and also slightly outside it.
Other things - the weird Gaiman/Moore/Morrison parcosmlike literalisation of states. One scene, where Herbie needs to find out about a monster, says that monsters come from The Unknown, so simply sky-walks to 'The Unknown' an actual place.
Similarities with the first Justice League adventures, Gardner Fox, and especially Otto Binder. Strong fairy tale influence. Feels slavic? Animals will talk to Herbie. When the devil orders him into a fire the fire leaps out and runs away, which feels like something pulled from Irish or German mythology.
The animist nature of the world implied by the writing is massively deepened by the constant marginalia-type improvisations which Whitney noodles all over the page. Suns blink in astonishment, turtles wear turtlenecks. The embroidery of life and animation.
February 16, 2021
Herbie is the most jaw-dropping comic I've read in ages. I heard about this series through reading Jerusalem by Alan Moore, and was so intrigued that I bought this volume right away. Herbie is so ahead of its time, the complete subversion of all superhero expectations and flippant refusal to explain any of Herbie's unparalleled powers are so funny and entertaining. I think my favorite thing about Herbie is the fact that everyone and everything throughout time and space from kings to dictators to dinosaurs to comets to BULLETS FROM A GUN know who he is, but his own father remains completely ignorant of his "little fat nothing of a son's" exploits and prowess. I can't recommend this comic enough, I can't wait to read the rest.
May 10, 2017
Fat Fury Herbie Popnecker saves the day in unlikely scenarios, with cameos from political, motion-picture and pop music stars of the day (1962-1965), upending comic book and science fiction conventions.
February 7, 2026
Ah, Herbie! The Greatest Adventure Hero of All Time!
October 20, 2017
Herbie Popnecker is the human equivalent to Droopy, a corpulent, sleepy-eyed sludge who seems to appear wherever you go to escape him. He has invisible powers, animals speak to him and even demonic figures from history call him by name.
Just to raise the demented factor Herbie ingratiates his way to various Cold War era celebrities, like President Kennedy (watch First Lady Jackie swoon over Herbie!), likewise LBJ, Fidel Castro, Elizabeth Taylor straight off the set of Cleopatra, Winston Churchill and many, many more. It's as if Captain Beefheart directed The Love Boat.
Alas, by the time Herbie swings into the Beatlemania era the stories start getting stale and things kind of drag a bit, but for the most part this is a pretty funny series.
Just to raise the demented factor Herbie ingratiates his way to various Cold War era celebrities, like President Kennedy (watch First Lady Jackie swoon over Herbie!), likewise LBJ, Fidel Castro, Elizabeth Taylor straight off the set of Cleopatra, Winston Churchill and many, many more. It's as if Captain Beefheart directed The Love Boat.
Alas, by the time Herbie swings into the Beatlemania era the stories start getting stale and things kind of drag a bit, but for the most part this is a pretty funny series.
September 1, 2008
Created and written by American Comics Group editor Richard Hughes under one of his many pseudonyms, Herbie chronicled the adventures of the most unlikely of heroes, the rotund, everyman Herbie Popnecker. This most memorable title from ACG relied on sharp witted scripts and Ogden Whitney's understated art. Energized by his arsenal of magical lollipops, Herbie exhibited a wide range of powers in a variety of genres against an odd assortment of villains. Fifty years after its initial publication, this handsome collection of the first sixteen Herbie stories demonstrates that these tales still supply a simple, near perfect parody of superhero comics and its fandom while remaining uniquely its own entity.
(Sample Story)
(Sample Story)
October 5, 2015
Herbie was one of the first real parody comic books, and even today it's one of the standards to which proper comic book satire is held. Shane O'Shea and Ogden Whitney produced a wonderfully surreal and fun comic book - something today's writers wouldn't recognize if it bite them on the ass.
Whitney's artwork is low-key, and rather draftsman-like, which makes the absurd goings-on he illustrate even more absurd. Herbie and his lollipops save the day every time, even if his dad thinks he's just a "big, fat nothing". Think of a 50s version of an 80s comic book, without all the murder and bloody deconstruction...
This book should be required reading for any comic fan or professional.
Whitney's artwork is low-key, and rather draftsman-like, which makes the absurd goings-on he illustrate even more absurd. Herbie and his lollipops save the day every time, even if his dad thinks he's just a "big, fat nothing". Think of a 50s version of an 80s comic book, without all the murder and bloody deconstruction...
This book should be required reading for any comic fan or professional.
April 10, 2011
Herbie is unique in comic history. He is a superhero whose super powers come from his lollipops. Everyone recognizes him except his family and town, where he is considered a do-nothing blob. He is lethargic and laconic, yet people react to him as if he were the most fascinating person in the world.
This is the first of a 3 volume set about the Fat Fury. Gary Perlman has put together an homage web site Compilation and Observations of Herbie Popnecker (the Fat Fury)
This is the first of a 3 volume set about the Fat Fury. Gary Perlman has put together an homage web site Compilation and Observations of Herbie Popnecker (the Fat Fury)
December 18, 2010
Herbie is one of the strangest characters in comics - an unlikely hero with no defined powers, motivation, or goal. This certainly makes him unique and interesting.
However, it also makes this collection too long by half. Once you get the premise of Herbie, the "stories" don't really go anywhere. It's quirky Scooby-Doo with a Bugs Bunny sensitivity, but not nearly as memorable.
This is totally a comic you should be familiar with, but you don't need to read more than about 5 issues.
However, it also makes this collection too long by half. Once you get the premise of Herbie, the "stories" don't really go anywhere. It's quirky Scooby-Doo with a Bugs Bunny sensitivity, but not nearly as memorable.
This is totally a comic you should be familiar with, but you don't need to read more than about 5 issues.
September 6, 2014
Yay! Herbie!
The plump Lump- The Fat Fury
A real life comic book hero, not the costume cursaders.
Herbie is the anti-hero hero who meets with political leaders, sports figutes, and movie stars to save his dopy dad or even the Earth.
The plump Lump- The Fat Fury
A real life comic book hero, not the costume cursaders.
Herbie is the anti-hero hero who meets with political leaders, sports figutes, and movie stars to save his dopy dad or even the Earth.
March 28, 2009
This is, as any number of the comics blogs have pointed out over the last couple years, beautifully surreal and strange. Very entertaining.
May 5, 2012
Apparently Alan Moore's favorite comic...
April 24, 2015
Having read some of Herbie's adventures when I was a kid I was looking quite forward to this. It has NOT disappointed thus far.
May 22, 2015
There's essentially just one joke, and it's a bad one at that.
Want to read
February 12, 2009I adore Herbie, the "fat fury."
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews