Herbie Popnecker

Herbie Popnecker
Examples of Recurring Themes

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The Fat Fury

Herbie Popnecker Examples:
Recurring Gags:
Herbie in Disguise/Costume

Created: 2004-11-09     Updated: 2014-11-01  
Stories: 43     Examples: 83     Links: 14  

Related:

Despite having a unique physique, Herbie is able to use disguises to avoid recognition. It does not take much to fool all of the people all of the time. Herbie finds many of his disguises in a chest of costumes labeled "DISGUISES". Herbie's most famous disguise, the Fat Fury, was created in Herbie #8a.

It helped that people were unobservant, much like Rocky & Bullwinkle not being able to see through Boris Badenov's disguises from his Master Disguise Kit.

Index terms: costume, deceive, mislead, deception, incognito, avoid detection, avoid recognition, under-cover, costume, secret identity, Richard E. Hughes, Ogden Whitney

Herbie's normal attire included a long-sleeved white shirt, short black tie, blue trousers, black belt, and brown or purple/gray shoes.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #73 p.3 (1958-12)
Updated: 2005-03-21
Herbie's normal attire included a long-sleeved white shirt, short black tie, blue trousers, black belt, and brown or purple/gray shoes.
In Forbidden Worlds #94, Herbie wore non-blue slacks for the first and only time. Maybe that's why he is shrugging. When the story was reprinted in Herbie #17b, they were normal blue.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #94 p.4 (1961-03)
Updated: 2005-03-21
In Forbidden Worlds #94 , Herbie wore non-blue slacks for the first and only time.
The first appearance of Herbie in a costume is in a filler appearance in Unknown Worlds #20 (December 1961) and he is not really in character.
Source: Unknown Worlds #20 p.12 (1962-12)
Updated: 2004-11-30
The first appearance of Herbie in a costume is in a filler appearance in Unknown Worlds #20 (December 1961) and he is not really in character.
Herbie wears disguises to blend in.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #114 p.9 (1963-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie wears disguises to blend in.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.4 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Forbidden Worlds #1164
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.4 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Forbidden Worlds #1164
Sometimes, Herbie's disguises were not intended to deceive but just to celebrate, lollipops that is.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.7 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Sometimes, Herbie's disguises were not intended to deceive but just to celebrate, lollipops that is.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.7 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Forbidden Worlds #1167
But can he dance?
Source: Herbie #1a p.3 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
But can he dance?
Remove the hat and cape and Herbie is immediately recognized.
Source: Herbie #1a p.4 (1964-04)
Updated: 2008-11-21
Remove the hat and cape and Herbie is immediately recognized.
Source: Herbie #1a p.11 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #1a11
Source: Herbie #1b p.5 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #1b5
Herbie as Fidel Castro in #1b.
Source: Herbie #1b p.8 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie as Fidel Castro in #1b .
Source: Herbie #1b p.10 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #1b10
In #2a, Herbie is a detective with a Sherlock Holmes hat and a magnifying glass. Herbie tried to look the parts he played.
Source: Herbie #2a p.3 (1964-06)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #2a , Herbie is a detective with a Sherlock Holmes hat and a magnifying glass.
Later in #2a, Herbie gets into trouble by trying on a crook's cape.
Source: Herbie #2a p.5 (1964-06)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Later in #2a , Herbie gets into trouble by trying on a crook's cape.
Finally in #2a, a celebration of lollipops.
Source: Herbie #2a p.12 (1964-06)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Finally in #2a , a celebration of lollipops .
Not really in disguise, but trying to fool Marie Antoinette in a take-off of a skit with Lucille Ball and Harpo Marx.
Source: Herbie #2b p.9 (1964-06)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Not really in disguise, but trying to fool Marie Antoinette in a take-off of a skit with Lucille Ball and Harpo Marx.
In #3b, Herbie fools the milkman by dressing as a baby. That's got to be a big carriage.
Source: Herbie #3b p.5 (1964-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #3b , Herbie fools the milkman by dressing as a baby .
Source: Herbie #3b p.6 (1964-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #3b6
Source: Herbie #3b p.7 (1964-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #3b7
Source: Herbie #4a p.7 (1964-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #4a7
In #4a, we can see it might be hard for Herbie to get clothes that fit.
Source: Herbie #4a p.8 (1964-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #4a , we can see it might be hard for Herbie to get clothes that fit.
Source: Herbie #5a p.5 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5a5
Source: Herbie #5a p.6 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5a6
Source: Herbie #5a p.7 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5a7
Source: Herbie #5b p.4 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5b4
Source: Herbie #5b p.6 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5b6
Source: Herbie #5b p.7 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #5b7
In #6a, Herbie gets into disguise to blend in.
Source: Herbie #6a p.6 (1964-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #6a , Herbie gets into disguise to blend in.
In #6b, Herbie is too young, no, too old, no, just right.
Source: Herbie #6b p.2 (1964-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #6b , Herbie is too young, no, too old, no, just right.
In #7a, Herbie goes to Dad's Alma mater: Peepwhistle Prep.
Source: Herbie #7a p.4 (1965-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #7a , Herbie goes to Dad's Alma mater: Peepwhistle Prep.
Source: Herbie #7a p.8 (1965-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #7a8
In #7b, Herbie refers to his need to get into costume.
Source: Herbie #7b p.11 (1965-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #7b , Herbie refers to his need to get into costume.
In #8a, we see the motivation for Herbie's creation of the Fat Fury. Costume heroes can "meet the challenge".
Source: Herbie #8a p.4 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #8a , we see the motivation for Herbie's creation of the Fat Fury.
When Dad gets the idea to become a costume hero himself, Herbie thinks "anything but that!" and goes into a chest of costumes.
Source: Herbie #8a p.8 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
When Dad gets the idea to become a costume hero himself, Herbie thinks "anything but that!" and goes into a chest of costumes.
Some costumes didn't have the effect Herbie was looking for...
Source: Herbie #8a p.9 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Some costumes didn't have the effect Herbie was looking for...
...but on the bottom of page 9, we see the final costume. "Not a licensed, graduate hero ... but it'll do." Herbie appeared as the Fat Fury in subsequent even numbered issues.
Source: Herbie #8a p.9 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
...but on the bottom of page 9, we see the final costume.
Source: Herbie #8b p.6 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #8b6
Source: Herbie #8b p.9 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #8b9
In #9a, it's not really Herbie, but his doubles who are in football uniforms.
Source: Herbie #9a p.8 (1965-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #9a , it's not really Herbie, but his doubles who are in football uniforms.
In #9a, the title panel shows Herbie in costume, but he did not appear in disguise in that story.
Source: Herbie #9b p.1 (1965-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #9a , the title panel shows Herbie in costume, but he did not appear in disguise in that story.
Herbie uses his disguise as Fat Fury to avoid suspicion of a conflict of interest.
Source: Herbie #10a p.16 (1965-06)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Herbie uses his disguise as Fat Fury to avoid suspicion of a conflict of interest.
In #10b, Herbie is not in disguise but just dressed up for a wedding.
Source: Herbie #10b p.9 (1965-06)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #10b , Herbie is not in disguise but just dressed up for a wedding.
In #11a, Herbie is in his detective outfit. Note the hair and hat gag.
Source: Herbie #11a p.5 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #11a , Herbie is in his detective outfit.
In #11a, we gain insight into how futile Herbie's disguises would actually be. From across the White House lawn, Johnson and Stevenson recognize the famous Herbie from his silhouette because "There's only one shape like that in the world!"
Source: Herbie #11a p.4 (1965-08)
Updated: 2008-11-10
In #11a , we gain insight into how futile Herbie's disguises would actually be.
Source: Herbie #11a p.7 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #11a7
Herbie in drag.
Source: Herbie #11a p.8 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie in drag.
Later in #11a, we see the hair and hat gag again.
Source: Herbie #11a p.10 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Later in #11a , we see the hair and hat gag again.
Source: Herbie #11a p.10 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #11a10
In #12a, Herbie's disguise as the Fat Fury works against him. Some animals do not recognize him and squish him in "flat fury" (it's on his costume).
Source: Herbie #12a p.7 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #12a , Herbie's disguise as the Fat Fury works against him.
Herbie is playing all the parts in a circus...
Source: Herbie #12a p.11 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie is playing all the parts in a circus...
...all of 'em.
Source: Herbie #12a p.12 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
...all of 'em.
In #12b, Herbie is the bait for a fat thief.
Source: Herbie #12b p.6 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #12b , Herbie is the bait for a fat thief.
In #13a, a parrot is a wise guy as Herbie gets into character.
Source: Herbie #13a p.10 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #13a , a parrot is a wise guy as Herbie gets into character.
Source: Herbie #13b p.6 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #13b6
Herbie as Fat Fury along with other costume heroes.
Source: Herbie #14a p.10 (1965-12)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Herbie as Fat Fury along with other costume heroes.
In #14b, Herbie helps out Santa.
Source: Herbie #14b p.8 (1965-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #14b , Herbie helps out Santa.
Source: Herbie #15a p.6 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #15a6
In #15a, Herbie is disguised so Dad will not recognize him.
Source: Herbie #15a p.10 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #15a , Herbie is disguised so Dad will not recognize him.
Not sure if this is a disguise or some other deception.
Source: Herbie #15a p.11 (1966-02)
Updated: 2008-11-21
Not sure if this is a disguise or some other deception .
There goes Dad, but doesn't that lizard look familiar?
Source: Herbie #15a p.14 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
There goes Dad, but doesn't that lizard look familiar?
Not to Dad.
Source: Herbie #15a p.16 (1966-02)
Updated: 2008-10-18
Not to Dad.
In #16a, Herbie is disguised as Fat Fury, who is disguised as a turkey, to eavesdrop on Mao. A double-disguise!
Source: Herbie #16a p.6 (1966-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #16a , Herbie is disguised as Fat Fury, who is disguised as a turkey, to eavesdrop on Mao.
Trying to appear repulsive to Hepzibah Higgins, Herbie fools no one.
Source: Herbie #16b p.6 (1966-03)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Trying to appear repulsive to Hepzibah Higgins, Herbie fools no one.
In #17a, Herbie goes to the costume chest, which now has a label. (Maybe "disguises" is not the most discreet name.) Then he goes to his lollipop chest to get a time lollipop, and as he goes back in time, he is shown in period costume.
Source: Herbie #17a p.2 (1966-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #17a , Herbie goes to the costume chest, which now has a label.
Not really a costume, just a coincidence that the feathers would fall off the turkey and land on Herbie.
Source: Herbie #17a p.6 (1966-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Not really a costume, just a coincidence that the feathers would fall off the turkey and land on Herbie.
Visiting HHH and LBJ, it's not Herbie. It's Fat Fury.
Source: Herbie #18a p.10 (1966-06)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Visiting HHH and LBJ, it's not Herbie.
Herbie disguises himself as a Hissian so that a Pigturtle will bite him (and he'll return to his fat self).
Source: Herbie #18b p.10 (1966-06)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Herbie disguises himself as a Hissian so that a Pigturtle will bite him (and he'll return to his fat self).
Prime Example: In #20a, Herbie needs to fool someone who saw him as the Fat Fury. He searches his chest of disguises. It looks like he's going past his Robin Hood outfit from #9b.
Source: Herbie #20a p.10 (1966-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Prime Example : In #20a , Herbie needs to fool someone who saw him as the Fat Fury.
Again, Herbie needs a costume so he poses as a horse pulling a cart. Note the enticing instructions on the cart.
Source: Herbie #20a p.11 (1966-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Again, Herbie needs a costume so he poses as a horse pulling a cart.
In #21a, Herbie goes out for the team...
Source: Herbie #21a p.3 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #21a , Herbie goes out for the team...
...but ends up helping out by posing as the football...
Source: Herbie #21a p.11 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
...but ends up helping out by posing as the football...
...and the goal posts.
Source: Herbie #21a p.12 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
...and the goal posts.
Source: Herbie #21b p.7 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #21b7
Herbie removes his Fat Fury disguise for the last time.
Source: Herbie #22a p.15 (1966-12)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Herbie removes his Fat Fury disguise for the last time.
Source: Herbie #22b p.10 (1966-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie #22b10
In #23a, Herbie is dressed as a baby again, just like in #3b, although against his will this time. That's got to be a big cradle.
Source: Herbie #23a p.6 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
In #23a , Herbie is dressed as a baby again, just like in #3b , although against his will this time.
Now he's Goldilocks.
Source: Herbie #23a p.10 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Now he's Goldilocks.
To fight Goliath, Herbie needs proper clothes.
Source: Herbie #23a p.12 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
To fight Goliath, Herbie needs proper clothes.
A special "Herbie-bear" lollipop has the desired effect.
Source: Herbie #23a p.13 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
A special "Herbie-bear" lollipop has the desired effect.
Herbie addresses the reader while he poses for the camera.
Source: Herbie #23a p.14 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Herbie addresses the reader while he poses for the camera.
In "Beautiful Mom", Herbie appears as the Fat Fury, not really in character, but wearing the right costume.
Source: Dark Horse Herbie #1 (1992)
Updated: 2008-11-22
In "Beautiful Mom", Herbie appears as the Fat Fury, not really in character, but wearing the right costume.