Movies

Marvel Unveils Adorable HERBIE Toy—Is This the Next Baby Groot?

BBG News

In the upcoming Marvel Studios film titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, the newly introduced members of the Fantastic Four (FF) are all set to appear. These include Reed Richards, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, who possesses an extraordinary ability to stretch his body and mind beyond human limits. Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, whose powers enable her to make herself and objects around her invisible and create powerful shields. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Ben Grimm, a strong and compassionate character with rocky skin. Lastly, Johnny Storm, played by an unspecified actor, can encase his body in flames and use the heat to fly. However, it remains unknown who will look after the Baxter Building while the team is off on their adventures.

Other than the faithful Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics, often referred to as Herb by Ben (or affectionately as Herbie), was one of the initial glimpses of HERBIE in the adaptation of Fantastic Four: First Steps. At New York Comic-Con in 2024, fans got their first good look at this character. Since then, Marvel has incorporated Herbie into its promotional efforts for the movie.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say in the film, Herbie plays multiple crucial roles. He whips up delicious dinners for the family, takes care of little Franklin, Sue and Reed’s son, and probably aids Reed with his intricate scientific projects. Just like George Martin or Billy Preston were referred to as the “fifth Beatle,” Herbie is essentially the fifth member of the Fantastic Four.

Title “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is hurtling towards its July premiere, and the MCU’s most endearing robot (Apologies to DUM-E) is set to leap into the role of fan favorite among general audiences. Given that people seem to adore small, cute, and somewhat verbally limited characters as evidenced by Grogu and Baby Groot, it’s no surprise that HERBIE could capture hearts. To cash in on HERBIE’s growing popularity, Hasbro has revealed the first ever toy modeled after him.

In August, the HERBIE 4-Inch action figure (as reported by Marvelous News) will comfortably rest in the hand of collectors due to its dimensions.

The HERBIE replica doesn’t exactly match the movie prop, as his head appears larger than it should, and several of its futuristic details aren’t as noticeable. Instead, the toy seems to emulate the Japanese Chibi art style in its overall design. According to Hasbro, this product features “moving eyes” and more than ten sound effects. You can find a detailed description of these elements from Hasbro below:

Children can now own a miniature version of H.E.R.B.I.E., the loyal sidekick to the Fantastic Four, with this 4-inch (10 cm) action figure from Hasbro! By pressing down on its head, kids can activate moving eyes and over ten different sound effects from this Marvel toy. Designed to resemble vintage reel-to-reel tape machines, H.E.R.B.I.E.’s eyes are shaped like spools that actually spin. Additionally, the figure comes with wheels that roll smoothly, enabling kids aged 4 and up to speed the little robot along for more interactive playtime fun. This H.E.R.B.I.E. figurine is inspired by Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, allowing children to reenact beloved scenes or create their own thrilling stories.

It’s clear that HERBIE is on its way to being a profitable asset for Marvel, as fans are eagerly anticipating the HERBIE concession stand, an AMC Theaters-exclusive item designed to conveniently hold popcorn, candy, and a drink all at once.

As “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” approaches its July 25 premiere, it has been confirmed that Matthew Wood, a five-time Academy Award-winning sound editor, will lend his voice to the character HERBIE. Throughout his extensive career at Lucasfilm, Wood played a significant role in shaping many of the captivating soundscapes found in the “Star Wars” prequel and sequel series.

Apart from that, he’s also utilized his exceptional voice acting skills for various iconic characters, including General Grievous and every Battle Droid in The Clone Wars. Notably, the cast of First Steps features talents like Natasha Lyonne, John Malkovich, Ralph Ineson, and Julia Garner as well.

A Brief HERBIE History

During the 1970s, Marvel Comics was dominating the comic book market and expanding into various other forms of media. Although it would be several more decades before blockbuster movies starring their characters became a reality, Marvel began focusing on television instead.

The live-action TV show “The Incredible Hulk,” featuring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno (who has criticized the MCU’s portrayal of the character), was an immediate success and aired for five seasons from 1978 to 1982. Marvel’s ventures into the profitable Saturday morning cartoon genre had mixed results.

A show centered on Spider-Woman was innovative for its time, as it featured a female protagonist and drew from some elements of the widely recognized 1967 Spider-Man animated series.

1978 saw the debut of Marvel Comics Animation’s “The New Fantastic Four” a year prior to the introduction of “Spider-Woman”. Notably, the lineup in this show was missing the Human Torch, as Johnny Storm’s rights were secured for a film project at that moment.

Instead, Marvel introduced HERBIE to take over from the Torch. This character, a product of the creative duo Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, found his voice in the hands of experienced voice actor Frank Welker.

In no time, the small robot made its way into comic books, as Marv Wolfman and John Byrne introduced HERBIE in Fantastic Four issue 209, dated 1979.

Within the fictional narrative, HERBIE was crafted by genius Reed Richards on his quest to find Galactus. Over time, several iterations of HERBIE have been built. At one stage, this robot ended up under the care of young prodigy Lunella Lafayette, also known as Moon Girl.

Prior to the film “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, HERBIE hadn’t played a significant role in the family’s major movie appearances. However, he almost did. In an unseen scene from Fox’s 2005 “Fantastic Four” movie, an idle HERBIE was seen resting on a shelf filled with Reed’s unsuccessful inventions.

In a change from the usual, He adopted a distinctly unusual appearance compared to his character’s norm. Catching a brief, curious gaze from Jessica Alba’s Sue, the robot was swiftly ignored and her focus shifted elsewhere, as though the neglected bot didn’t even exist for her.

Josh Trank, who directed the critically panned 2015 Fantastic Four film, aimed to incorporate HERBIE in his production. However, according to reports, this proposal was allegedly dismissed by Fox executive Emma Watts as being too “nerdy” (as reported by ComicBookMovie).

When examining the unnecessarily harsh and confrontational mood of the completed movie, Watts’ comment certainly makes sense.

Including HERBIE as a regular at the Baxter Building is one of several enhancements in Marvel Studios’ take on Fantastic Four compared to 20th Century Fox’s previous attempts. The vintage, retro-futuristic aesthetic of First Steps seamlessly fits HERBIE, much like how Rosie the Robot from The Jetsons did before.

As a movie enthusiast, I eagerly anticipate that our lovable car companion, Herbie, will make a delightful appearance in the upcoming film, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Hopefully, he’ll be along for the ride as the team seemingly flees their home universe. This is suggested by the tantalizing post-credits stinger of “Thunderbolts,” hinting at his possible survival in another dimension.

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2025-06-18 00:35

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