Herbie Popnecker

Herbie Popnecker
Examples of Recurring Themes

(Welcome to HerbiePopnecker.com)

Page Header, with Links to Examples and a Catalog of Stories

Herbie Comic Covers
Follow @HerbiePopnecker on Twitter, or I'll bop you
Herbie, disguised as a fairy

Herbie Popnecker Examples:
Herbie in Disguise/Costume

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
Themes Cover Scan
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
Themes Cover Scan
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
Themes
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
Themes Cover Scan
Herbie wears disguises to blend in.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.4 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover Scan
Forbidden Worlds #1164
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.4 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover Scan
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
Themes Cover Scan
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
Themes Cover Scan
Forbidden Worlds #1167
But can he dance?
Source: Herbie #1a p.3 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Remove the hat and cape and Herbie is immediately recognized.
Source: Herbie #1a p.11 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #1a11
Source: Herbie #1b p.5 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #1b5
Herbie as Fidel Castro in #1b.
Source: Herbie #1b p.8 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie as Fidel Castro in #1b .
Source: Herbie #1b p.10 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
In #3b , Herbie fools the milkman by dressing as a baby .
Source: Herbie #3b p.6 (1964-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #3b6
Source: Herbie #3b p.7 (1964-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #3b7
Source: Herbie #4a p.7 (1964-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Herbie #5a5
Source: Herbie #5a p.6 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #5a6
Source: Herbie #5a p.7 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #5a7
Source: Herbie #5b p.4 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #5b4
Source: Herbie #5b p.6 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #5b6
Source: Herbie #5b p.7 (1964-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #5b7
In #6a, Herbie gets into disguise to blend in.
Source: Herbie #6a p.6 (1964-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
In #7a , Herbie goes to Dad's Alma mater: Peepwhistle Prep.
Source: Herbie #7a p.8 (1965-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #7a8
In #7b, Herbie refers to his need to get into costume.
Source: Herbie #7b p.11 (1965-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
...but on the bottom of page 9, we see the final costume.
Source: Herbie #8b p.6 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #8b6
Source: Herbie #8b p.9 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Herbie #11a7
Herbie in drag.
Source: Herbie #11a p.8 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Later in #11a , we see the hair and hat gag again.
Source: Herbie #11a p.10 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Herbie is playing all the parts in a circus...
...all of 'em.
Source: Herbie #12a p.12 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
...all of 'em.
In #12b, Herbie is the bait for a fat thief.
Source: Herbie #12b p.6 (1965-09)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
In #13a , a parrot is a wise guy as Herbie gets into character.
Source: Herbie #13b p.6 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #13b6
Herbie as Fat Fury along with other costume heroes.
Source: Herbie #14a p.10 (1965-12)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
In #14b , Herbie helps out Santa.
Source: Herbie #15a p.6 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #15a6
In #15a, Herbie is disguised so Dad will not recognize him.
Source: Herbie #15a p.10 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
There goes Dad, but doesn't that lizard look familiar?
Not to Dad.
Source: Herbie #15a p.16 (1966-02)
Updated: 2008-10-18
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Herbie disguises himself as a Hissian so that a Pigturtle will bite him (and he'll return to his fat self).
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
...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
Themes Cover
...and the goal posts.
Source: Herbie #21b p.7 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
Herbie #21b7
Herbie removes his Fat Fury disguise for the last time.
Source: Herbie #22a p.15 (1966-12)
Updated: 2008-11-20
Themes Cover
Herbie removes his Fat Fury disguise for the last time.
Source: Herbie #22b p.10 (1966-12)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
Now he's Goldilocks.
To fight Goliath, Herbie needs proper clothes.
Source: Herbie #23a p.12 (1967-02)
Updated: 2004-11-09
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
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
Themes Cover
In "Beautiful Mom", Herbie appears as the Fat Fury, not really in character, but wearing the right costume.