The Fantastic Four's fifth member H.E.R.B.I.E. might not get as big of a spotlight as the core four team members. However, the robot has been a big part of their adventures since it debuted back in 1978. In a great piece of fan art from the talented Rachael Stott, H.E.R.B.I.E. gets a modern redesign that makes them more adorable than ever.
H.E.R.B.I.E., which stands for Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-Type, Integrated Electronics was a robotic companion originally created by San Lee and Jack Kirby who was first introduced in the Fantastic Four animated series. There have been a few versions of the lovable robot over the years, but in general, H.E.R.B.I.E. has been a helpful companion to Sue, Ben, Reed, and Johnny, as he's helped them with plenty of technical problems over the years. Despite his connection to the team, he's never made an official appearance in any of the Fantastic Four films, except a small cameo in the extended cut of the 2005 film. There was also ridiculous concept art of H.E.R.B.I.E. made for Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot.
Stott (Doctor Who, Supergirl) decided to share her take on H.E.R.B.I.E., redesigning the character into something even cuter than it already was. Stott's design takes H.E.R.B.I.E. and transforms them into a cat-like robot. Stott's art show H.E.R.B.I.E. getting some cuddles from Valeria and also the robot's new defense protocol mechanism, which turns them into a very big boi.
Stott has worked with Marvel and continues to draw comics for them, but after seeing these designs, the publisher needs to get her on a Fantastic Four book ASAP. The new H.E.R.B.I.E. is cute, sleek, and appeals to a modern audience. It's a rare redesign that not only looks fantastic but reinvents the character in a way that keeps its core characteristics but does something fresh. Put the cat version of H.E.R.B.I.E. in a comic, now.
H.E.R.B.I.E. is sadly often an afterthought in Fantastic Four stories, especially with the Richards' family expanding on multiple occasions. Stott's design would allow Marvel to reintroduce H.E.R.B.I.E. as a powerful pet. That would be an absolute win. You can check out Stott's work on her Twitter and Instagram page. She's done a number of Fantastic Four designs that would be so fun to see transition from the realm of (very professional) fan art to the comic page. Hopefully, someone at Marvel sees her work and gives her a consistent chance to draw the FF.
Source: Twitter