Herbie Archives Volume One!

There's no doubt about it. Herbie is weird. This oddest of comic books was the product of ACG Comics, a small outfit that specialized in genre comics such as mystery, horror, and romance. And editor and main writer Richard Hughes concocted a "Little Fat Nothing" and brilliantly conspired with artist Ogden Whitney to bring this lollipop-loving "hero" to the comic book page. It all started  on a quiet Saturday afternoon. 

It all started in a little yarn inserted into Forbidden Worlds #73 from 1958. It's titled "Herbie's Quiet Saturday Afternoon" and in the story we meet Herbie Popnecker (his hair a bit more unkempt than it will become in future) and frustrated Father and put-upon Mother who only want a son they can be proud of and not the "fat little nothing" that fate seems to have thrust upon them. The order Herbie to get out of the house and shove him into the world, but we soon learn that Herbie is a  chap with vast powers and an immense imagination as he glides around town dealing with problems of the day. 

It's two years later until the world is treated to Herbie's return in Forbidden Worlds #94 in 1961. This time the "Little Fat Nothing" has to contend with a gang of spooks who travel into the world and decides a grand idea to start scaring folks as much as they desire in a story called simply "Herbie and the Spirits". While Herbie doesn't rate a cover image as yet, he does get a mention at the bottom touting his return. 

Two years later in Unknown Worlds #20 when Herbie returns in a cameo of sorts in a wild and weird science fiction yarn titled "1000 Years Ago in 1962" about a ruthless chap from the far future who wants to kill off all of the people in the modern world of 1962 to make room for immigrants from the aforementioned overcrowded future. Herbie is a boy scout who pops up to assist the miscreant to bring an end to the threat when the reformed villain falls in love and regrets his plot. 

Then in his next adventure in Forbidden Worlds #110 Herbie seeks out the mysterious powers of salad dressing in "Herbie and Sneddiger's Salad Oil". When his Mother runs out it falls to Herbie to get more and his trip to market is like no other when he ends up on another planet to discover  why all the oil has been stolen. Turns out the aliens need it to fend off deadly "Lionosaurs" who run amok. Herbie saves the day and the oil and returns home, his Mom none the wiser. This one also has the ghost of Frankenstein and a sentient sun in it for good measure. 

At long last the feature Herbie gets the cover by Ogden Whitney it deserves on Forbidden Worlds #114 and the universe will shake and shiver as the lollipop-licking Popnecker takes on all comers. Whitney's artwork might well be described as utterly professional but a bit lackluster. Ironically that style of ho-hum realism proves ideal for the wacky misadventures of the teen called Herbie. In this story Herbie goes on a mission for JFK in Africa and also impresses Jackie with his charisma. 

In this issue #116 Herbie makes a deal with Satan himself who offers the "Little Fat Nothing" a endless supply of lollipops when his father is made rich. He is also presented with Liz Taylor/Cleopatra as a romantic offering but of course spurns her. Most folks who make a deal with the Devil come off losing but not Herbie. Satan is so overwrought with his feckless shenanigans that he tears up their contract and orders him out of Hell. 

And that brings us to the debut of Herbie #1. Finally Herbie has his own comic book and it only took six years. Herbie joins the space race and at the behest of LBJ goes back in time to get some "Dragon's Tears" which will fuel the winner of the race to the stars. Later he heads to Cuba where he "beards" Castro as the title of the story says. Herbie is a one-man as he rips through the tiny country's defenses. All of this and mermaids too. 

In the second issue Herbie becomes a sleuth to track down a man in a cloak who steals lollipops. He is later accused of the crime but uses his mighty nigh unlimited powers to prevail. Then using time lollipops Herbie travels back in time to look for a girl. He starts with Cinderella and lays low a giant in the land of fairy tales and later goes to the guillotine for Marie Antoinette. But he learns that girls are fickle and prefers his lollipops. 

In his third issue Herbie tackles the two-headed Loch Ness Monster on the behalf of Winston Churchill and defeats the mighty beast sending it into outer space. Later he is knighted by Queen Elizabeth, but later when he returns home his Dad thinks he is a "Fast Little Nothing" as always. In a second story Herbie tackles the concept of charity when his Dad is caught up in a scam making money for the poorhouse by traveling all across the land and even into outer space. He even gets Cary Grant to contribute from the silver screen. His Dad is saved from ruin and the poor have a palatial estate but as usual Herbie gets little love from his Pop. 

Issue four finds Herbie traveling back in time again to help out at the O.K. Corral. His mission is to see to it that Doc Holiday is on hand at the might gunfight despite that western hero's reluctance. As usual Herbie prevails. In the second story Herbie must deal with Professor Flipdome's shrinking machine which makes people (Herbie's Dad included) into tiny folk who must deal with tiny ants and other strange things. Herbie must even confront himself. Weird. 

In the final issue in this volume Herbie travels to the country  of "Hanki=Panki" at the request of the United Nations to attempt the Red Chinese from working their will. Even Mao Tse Tung is no match for Herbie who battles elephants and even the mythical Roc to win the day as usual. In the second story Herbie gets hooked up with The Beetles (fooling no one with that spelling) when he becomes a literal mop-top and drives the girls mad. Even Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra are no match for the power of Herbie. 

I've really only scratched the weirdness in these stories that relentlessly change the pace the scene and even the point on a whim. It's sheer lunacy but done in a manner that fascinates the reader. Grand stuff! 

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