Major Spoilers
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Twitch Discord RSS
    Major Spoilers
    • Home
    • Reviews
      • Random Access Memory
      • Retro Review
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Podcasts
      • Critical Hit
        • Critical Hit House Rules
        • Critical Hit World Building
      • Dueling Review
      • Finally Friday
      • Geek History Lesson
      • The Legion Clubhouse
      • Major Spoilers Podcast
        • MSP TPB for 2019
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2013
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2012
        • On the Next Major Spoilers Podcast – 2011
      • Munchkin Land
      • Top Five
      • Wayne’s Comics
      • Zach on Film
    • Features
      • Casual 60
      • Comic Casting Couch
      • Comics Portal
      • Did You Hear?
      • Editorials
      • Features
      • Gamer’s Corner
      • Hero Histories
      • Let’s Get Nerdy
      • Major Spoilers Adventures
      • Random Access Memory
      • So You Want to Read Comics
    • Movies
      • Did You Hear
      • Movies
      • Television
    • Comic Previews
    • Patreon
      • Patreon
      • Store
    Major Spoilers
    Herbie #8 Retro Review
    Retro Review

    Retro Review: Herbie #8 (March 1965)

    Matthew PetersonBy Matthew PetersonAugust 9, 2020Updated:August 16, 20203 Mins Read

    He’s famously Alan Moore’s favorite superhero…  but who is The Fat Fury and how did he come to be?  Your Major Spoilers (Retro) Review of Herbie #8 awaits!

    HERBIE #8

    Writer: Richard Hughes
    Penciler: Ogden Whitney
    Inker: Ogden Whitney
    Colorist: Uncredited
    Letterer: Ed Hamilton
    Editor: Richard Hughes
    Publisher: American Comics Group (ACG)
    Cover Price: 12 Cents
    Current Near-Mint Pricing: $120.00

    Previously in Herbie:  After his pacifier was stolen as a child, Herbie Popnecker was given a lollipop instead.  Becoming fond of the treats, Herbie grew into a slow-moving, terse young man who was mocked not only by his peers but by his cruel, judgmental father.  The lollipops, however, were a gift from a mysterious being called The Unknown, and gave him incredible superhuman abilities that he used in secret.  By the time of this issue, he had already thwarted ghosts, criminals, alien invasions and an actual ancient deity, all without seeking any kind of glory.  Then, a criminal called Mr. Horrible robs Herbie’s home…

    Herbie #8 Retro Review

    That final panel is the first of several cameo appearances by the Golden Age Skyman, a long-lost hero created by Ogden Whitney twenty years earlier, by the way.  The superhuman prowess of Mr. Horrible allows him to rampage across the city, stealing parked cars with his bare hands and slapping away police interceptors, but the direct question of then-President Johnson convinces our “Little Fat Nothing” that he’s the man to take down the monster.  Thus, he enrolls in The American Hero School to learn how to use his existing lollipop powers to the maximum!

    Herbie #8 Retro Review

    Herbie’s lack of traditional hero skills is profound, leading to himi washing out of Hero School, but when his former classmates graduate and STILL get slapped down by Mr. Horrible, he realizes that, license or no license, he has to act and act fast.  First, a costume!

    Herbie #8 Retro Review

    There’s a joyful cartoonish nonsense to Whitney’s sixties work that I love, especially during this montage of costume changes, but it’s the toilet plunger on the head that makes the whole thing really sing.  Leaping out the window, The Fat Fury flies to New York to protect the Statue of Liberty from Mr. Horrible’s giant-strength.

    He is immediately slapped away with a single swat, which doesn’t sit well with our hero.

    The inventive goofiness of the back-and-forth battle fills me with joy, as it feels like a perfect parody of every Silver Age super-fight, with the back-and-forths being balances with Herbie’s Bugs-Bunny-like body of putty.  Finally tiring of the battle, The Fat Fury borrows the Liberty’s torch for the ol’ one-two!

    Having had his power bested by a tween, Mr. Horrible surrenders to police, leaving a very dizzy Herbie to head for home, where his father once again unknowingly disrespects the boy who is humanity’s savior.  For my money, Herbie #8 is the point where the abject silliness of Herbie really hits its peak, with the later formation of the Three Musketeers (a super-team featuring ACG’s other supers, all of whom have nigh-unlimited mystical powers) as a cherry on top of the sundae, with a script that celebrates and lampoons everything we love about comics in equal parts, and inventive art coming together for an amazing 4.5 out of 5 stars overall.  If you’ve ever wondered why I love this guy so much, this issue should serve as your gateway to the wonder of The Fat Fury.


    Dear Spoilerite,

    At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

    HERBIE #8

    90%
    90%
    Absurdly<p> Awesome

    Hughes and Whitney somehow manage to encapsulate, parody and perfect the superhero genre all at once, and it's well-worth the trouble you'll have tracking down this issue.

    • Writing
      9
    • Art
      9
    • Coloring
      9
    • User Ratings (0 Votes)
      0
    American Comics Group Herbie Ogden Whitney Retro Review Review Richard Hughes The Fat Fury
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous Article[First Look] Slaughter House-Five
    Next Article The King in Black is coming!
    Matthew Peterson
    • Website
    • Twitter

    Once upon a time, there was a young nerd from the Midwest, who loved Matter-Eater Lad and the McKenzie Brothers... If pop culture were a maze, Matthew would be the Minotaur at its center. Were it a mall, he'd be the Food Court. Were it a parking lot, he’d be the distant Cart Corral where the weird kids gather to smoke, but that’s not important right now... Matthew enjoys body surfing (so long as the bodies are fresh), writing in the third person, and dark-eyed women. Amongst his weaponry are such diverse elements as: Fear! Surprise! Ruthless efficiency! An almost fanatical devotion to pop culture! And a nice red uniform.

    Related Posts

    Geek History Lesson – Superman is Better than Batman

    Read More

    COMICS PORTAL: Magazines Promoting the Movies!

    Read More

    Unchosen #1 Review

    Read More

    Comments are closed.

    AMAZON AFFILIATE

    Support this site by making a purchase through our Amazon affiliate links

    Reviews
    6.0
    July 13, 2025

    Unchosen #1 Review

    6.3
    July 13, 2025

    Retro Review: Marvel Team-Up #95

    8.7
    July 11, 2025

    Fantastic Four #1 Review

    6.0
    July 8, 2025

    JSA #9 Review

    7.0
    July 7, 2025

    X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 Review

    Patreon Support
    Sponsor

    ComiXology Home Page

    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitch
    Major Spoilers Patreon
    • About
      • Major Spoilers Terms of Use
      • Major Spoilers Frequently Asked Questions
      • Major Spoilers Privacy Policy Statement
      • Major Spoilers Podcast Gear
    • Contact
    • Cookie Policy (EU)
    Major Spoilers is copyright 2006-2025 by Major Spoilers Entertainment, LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    SAVE & ACCEPT