Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 20, 2026 | 1 comment

The boy with 1,000 lollipops…

John Byrne’s cover to Dark Horse’s Herbie #1 (Oct. 1992), a reprint series but this issue also included a new tale by Byrne.

By PETER BOSCH

Being that this is National Lollipop Day, celebrated each year on July 20, there is no other great comic hero (with both meanings of “comic” intended) that we should celebrate more than the co-creation of writer Richard E. Hughes (often using the pseudonym of “Shane O’Shea”) and artist Ogden Whitney — Herbie Popnecker.

In 2025, 13th Dimension published a feature by Scott Shaw! on the Herbie character, along with many excellent covers from the series. What I would like to do is add more interior pages from the various comics Herbie appeared in.

Publisher American Comics Group’s promo ad from Adventures Into the Unknown #155 (Mar. 1965, ACG)

(Oh, in case you are wondering about lollipops, if that is the reason you actually came here for, the history of putting candy on a stick goes back to the days of ancient Egypt. In more modern times, though, George Smith created the standard-looking lollipop in 1908 and then trademarked the term in 1931.)

George Smith

Now, back to Herbie. His initial appearance was in Forbidden Worlds #73 (Dec. 1958) and he returned in issues #94 (Mar.-Apr. 1961), #110 (Mar.-Apr. 1963), and #116 (Nov.-Dec. 1963). Herbie also made a guest appearance in Unknown Worlds #20 (Dec. 1962-Jan. 1963).

Herbie’s guest appearance in Unknown Worlds #20 (Dec. 1962-Jan. 1963).

He carried on to his own series, running from Herbie #1 (Apr-May 1964) through #23 (Feb. 1967). During that time, he entertained many a comic reader, including one youth who entered a contest for writing captions for a Herbie story but placed second – Marvin Wolfman. Herbie’s popularity extended up north to Canada with fans like John Byrne and across the pond to Great Britain where he became one of Alan Moore’s favorite characters.

(Unless otherwise noted, all scripts below are by Richard Hughes and the art is by Ogden Whitney.)

Herbie Popnecker was American Comic Group’s (aka ACG) greatest creation. He was a teenage boy… though, sometimes, the “boy” part is hard to tell since he was often just displayed wearing a business-type pair of blue pants and a white shirt with a short tie. But a boy he was, in his young teens. Unlike other kids, though, he would often appear to be doing nothing… just nothing. Sitting still. Nothing. As a matter of fact, his father referred to him as his “little fat nothing.”

Herbie’s first appearance was in Forbidden Worlds #73 (Dec. 1958).

What his father and mother didn’t know, the “little fat nothing” was actually the most powerful being on the planet Earth and the doer of many heroic deeds for which he was very respected.

Ogden Whitney drew exceptional likenesses of famous folk. Herbie #18 (June-July 1966).

He was justly feared by all manner of human, non-human, and animal life, a foil against invading alien forces, and the master of the stare – more like a sleepy gaze – that made enemies tremble.

Top, Herbie #13 (Oct.-Nov. 1965). Bottom, Forbidden Worlds #116 (Nov.-Dec. 1963).

Forbidden Worlds #110 (Mar.-Apr. 1963). Including his famous “You want I should bop you with this lollipop?”

Herbie #1 (Apr.-May 1964).

Oh, and women everywhere swooned before him.

Forbidden Worlds #116 (Nov.-Dec. 1963)

Herbie #6 (Dec. 1964-Jan. 1965).

Much of his power came from lollipops. Not just ordinary lollipops, mind you, but ones that Herbie had gotten by subscription from a factory just beyond the Unknown, a place that was neither Heaven nor Hell… just a business establishment in the Infinite that manufactured special lollipops.

Herbie #15 (Feb. 1966)

Herbie had hundreds of lollipops in a cabinet in his room, with each drawer a particular flavor. But he also had a mysterious locked section containing lollipops that were specially powered and others that were for time-travelling, the latter of which he used to visit different eras by riding the grandfather clock from the living room (always getting it back before his parents missed it).

Herbie #1 (Apr.-May 1964).

Herbie was a completely off-the-wall comic that featured stories of the absurd… and it is guaranteed the character would have continued but for the cancellation of the American Comic Group line in 1967.

However, the love for Herbie Popnecker has continued over the decades. In 1990-91, publisher A-Plus Comics produced six Herbie issues containing reprints of ACG stories. In 1992, Dark Horse published a two-issue Herbie reprint title (with a new John Byrne written-and-drawn story in the first issue).

Splash page of a new Herbie story written and drawn by John Byrne. Herbie #1 (Oct. 1992, Dark Horse).

In Flaming Carrot Comics #31 (Oct. 1994), also published by Dark Horse, Herbie was featured on the cover and the inside story by Bob Burden.

Flaming Carrot Comics #31 (Oct, 1994). Written and drawn by Bob Burden.

From 1996 to 1999, Canadian publisher Avalon produced six different single-issue titles of Herbie. And, between 2008-2009, Dark Horse released a three-volume archive reprint series.

It’s been awhile. Somewhere, though, the adventures of Herbie will again be seen by a new generation, and old fans alike.

Just in case Herbie is not the sweetness you were hoping to find here, we can still celebrate this day with The Lollipop Song:

And because I know someone will say, “Yes, The Lollipop Song is great but what about…?” — here’s the “what about”: Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows. (Look at when singer Lesley Gore is near the front… that’s Yvonne Craig, on the far left of the screen in 1965’s Ski Party, next to Deborah Walley. And the guy Gore is mostly holding hands with on the other side of the aisle is Dwayne Hickman, whose next seat over is occupied by Frankie Avalon. So we have Batgirl sitting with Tammy, across from Dobie Gillis and Teen Angel.)

And let’s not forget that Lesley Gore was “Pussycat” to Julie Newmar’s Catwoman on TV’s Batman.

Happy National Lollipop Day, everyone!

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— It’s FERRIS WHEEL DAY! Dig These 13 COVERS — RANKED. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. (You can buy it here.) A sequel, American Movie Comic Books: 1930s-1970s — From the Silver Screen to the Printed Page, is out now. (Buy it here.) Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.