Herbie Popnecker

Herbie Popnecker
Examples of Recurring Themes

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Herbie, disguised as a fairy

Herbie Popnecker Examples:
Indestructible

Related:

We don't know why, but Herbie can't be hurt (unless it's funny). Bullets bounce off him, punches have no effect, he can't be executed, and he's not affected by fire. In many cases, Herbie is unaware he has been attacked, and even when he is aware, you could not tell by his expression.

Index terms: invulnerable, indestructible, impervious, immortal, fireproof, shatterproof, bulletproof, Richard E. Hughes, Ogden Whitney

Bullets Bounce Off

In Forbidden Worlds #110, some bullets veer away from Herbie, whom they recognize. They know. GANGWAY!
Source: Forbidden Worlds #110 p.5 (1963-03)
Updated: 2004-11-02
Themes Cover Scan
In Forbidden Worlds #110 , some bullets veer away from Herbie, whom they recognize .
In #2a, crooks shoot at Herbie, but he just uses the bullet stream to walk on, at least until the shooting stops. Then Herbie lands on his butt.
Source: Herbie #2a p.10 (1964-06)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #2a , crooks shoot at Herbie, but he just uses the bullet stream to walk on, at least until the shooting stops.
In #4a, Herbie catches a bullet in his teeth, but he doesn't care for the flavor. Then, a stream of bullets bounce off Herbie and hit others. YOW-EEEE!
Source: Herbie #4a p.6 (1964-09)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #4a , Herbie catches a bullet in his teeth, but he doesn't care for the flavor.
In #8b, another ricochet, this one into the shooter's butt. YEEE-OWWW!
Source: Herbie #8b p.6 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #8b , another ricochet, this one into the shooter's butt .
In #9a, Herbie is annoyed by bullets as they bounce off him harmlessly...
Source: Herbie #9a p.10 (1965-04)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #9a , Herbie is annoyed by bullets as they bounce off him harmlessly...
...but they do not bounce harmlessly off his duplicates.
Source: Herbie #9a p.12 (1965-04)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
...but they do not bounce harmlessly off his duplicates.
Source: Herbie #11a p.13 (1965-08)
Updated: 2004-11-08
Themes Cover
Herbie #11a13
Herbie barely notices a cannonball.
Source: Herbie #11b p.6 (1965-08)
Updated: 2008-11-21
Themes Cover
Herbie barely notices a cannonball.
In #16a, Herbie again uses a stream of bullets to walk on.
Source: Herbie #16a p.12 (1966-03)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #16a , Herbie again uses a stream of bullets to walk on.
In #19a, Herbie deflects some shells.
Source: Herbie #19a p.8 (1966-08)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #19a , Herbie deflects some shells.
In #22b, Herbie tires of gunfire. "Sigh... Tell me when finished."
Source: Herbie #22b p.6 (1966-12)
Updated: 2004-11-17
Themes Cover
In #22b , Herbie tires of gunfire.

Can Take a Punch

In #1b, Herbie can take a punch, but the puncher can't take Herbie. OW-WOW-WOW-WOW-WOW!
Source: Herbie #1b p.6 (1964-04)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #1b , Herbie can take a punch, but the puncher can't take Herbie.
In #4a, Herbie barely notices a charging buffalo.
Source: Herbie #4a p.7 (1964-09)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #4a , Herbie barely notices a charging buffalo.
In #6a, Herbie carries on a conversation almost oblivious that a cave man is breaking a club over his head. As the club shatters with a BLONK!, Herbie wonders "Say, are you trying to hit me?"
Source: Herbie #6a p.6 (1964-12)
Updated: 2004-11-07
Themes Cover
In #6a , Herbie carries on a conversation almost oblivious that a cave man is breaking a club over his head.
In #10b, a bulldozer is destroyed running into Herbie.
Source: Herbie #10b p.5 (1965-06)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #10b , a bulldozer is destroyed running into Herbie.
In #14a, real costume heroes can't make a dent.
Source: Herbie #14a p.8 (1965-12)
Updated: 2004-11-18
Themes Cover
In #14a , real costume heroes can't make a dent.
In #16a, a tank is destroyed running into Herbie.
Source: Herbie #16a p.11 (1966-03)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #16a , a tank is destroyed running into Herbie.
In #2b, an attempted execution by guillotine fails. Rubbing his neck, Herbie comments that "they could hurt a person that way!" with an unusual exclamation.
Source: Herbie #2b p.10 (1964-06)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #2b , an attempted execution by guillotine fails.
In #9b, an attempted beheading by axe fails. Herbie thanks his executioners for getting rid of a kink in his neck.
Source: Herbie #9b p.7 (1965-04)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #9b , an attempted beheading by axe fails.
In #15b, Napoleon orders the death penalty for Herbie. The guillotine gets Herbie's attention -- "Something...?" -- and again, rubbing his neck, he comments "Fella could get hurt that way".
Source: Herbie #15b p.5 (1966-02)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #15b , Napoleon orders the death penalty for Herbie.
In #17a, there's not an attempt to chop off Herbie's head, but the hatchets are in the chopping theme, and like everything else, have no adverse effect on Herbie.
Source: Herbie #17a p.7 (1966-04)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #17a , there's not an attempt to chop off Herbie's head, but the hatchets are in the chopping theme, and like everything else, have no adverse effect on Herbie.
In #21b, we are back to the execution theme, this time with swords.
Source: Herbie #21b p.6 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-10-21
Themes Cover
In #21b , we are back to the execution theme, this time with swords.

Fireproof

Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.11 (1963-11)
Updated: 2008-12-02
Themes Cover Scan
Forbidden Worlds #11611
Source: Herbie #16a p.14 (1966-03)
Updated: 2008-12-02
Themes Cover
Herbie #16a14

That Smarts (if it's funny)

Herbie can feel pain, but only momentarily, and only as a gag. In Forbidden Worlds #116, the Devil chooses a victim by throwing a dart at a map. YEE-OWWW! An early butt joke.
Source: Forbidden Worlds #116 p.3 (1963-11)
Updated: 2004-11-04
Themes Cover Scan
Herbie can feel pain, but only momentarily, and only as a gag.
In #8b, Herbie is smarting after apparently being spanked for his answer to a question. Butt joke.
Source: Herbie #8b p.9 (1965-03)
Updated: 2004-11-04
Themes Cover
In #8b , Herbie is smarting after apparently being spanked for his answer to a question.
In #13b, Herbie is repeatedly left unconscious and robbed by a club to his head. First -- BONK! -- he loses a coat for Mom...
Source: Herbie #13b p.5 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-07
Themes Cover
In #13b , Herbie is repeatedly left unconscious and robbed by a club to his head.
...then -- BONK! -- he loses his sled....
Source: Herbie #13b p.6 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-07
Themes Cover
...then -- BONK!
...and -- BONK! -- he loses his uniform leading to a boxer shorts sight gag.
Source: Herbie #13b p.7 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-07
Themes Cover
...and -- BONK!
At the end of the sequence, Herbie experiences cold, but this seems set up just so that Herbie can retaliate for some taunting from Jack Frost, not because he can't take the cold. He seems chill-free for the next two pages.
Source: Herbie #13b p.8 (1965-10)
Updated: 2004-11-07
Themes Cover
At the end of the sequence, Herbie experiences cold, but this seems set up just so that Herbie can retaliate for some taunting from Jack Frost, not because he can't take the cold.
In #16a, Herbie -- disguised as the Fat Fury -- is disguised as a turkey and gets poked by Mao Tse Tung. EEE-YOWWWW! A butt joke, missed.
Source: Herbie #16a p.6 (1966-03)
Updated: 2004-11-04
Themes Cover
In #16a , Herbie -- disguised as the Fat Fury -- is disguised as a turkey and gets poked by Mao Tse Tung.
But wait! What's this? Herbie hurt in #21b? He had to bop himself with that there lollipop. That's gotta hurt!
Source: Herbie #21b p.11 (1966-10)
Updated: 2004-11-17
Themes Cover
But wait!