It has been very widely reported that the character of H.E.R.B.I.E the robot was created because of concerns that The Human Torch might lead children to set themselves afire. Comics creator
John Byrne did a story on the concept as writer/artist of the Fantastic Four comic book in the early 1980s, and
Doug Wildey a frequent development artist and sometime producer for DFE claimed to have been part of the decision when interviewed for "Amazing Heroes" comics fan magazine. (Interestingly, as a longtime Hanna-Barbera contributor, he would have worked on
Fantastic 4 (1967), which DID feature The Torch). The actual catalyst for Herbie's creation was the simple fact that the TV rights to The Human Torch had already been optioned as part of the development deal between Marvel Comics, Universal Studios and CBS-TV, which resulted in prime-time, live-action versions of
The Amazing Spider-Man (1977),
The Incredible Hulk (1977),
Captain America (1979) and
Dr. Strange (1978). The character was just not legally available for use in these cartoons. A live-action Torch proved an unfeasible project given the limits of the budget and special effects technology of the day, and never reached production. One other character also optioned under that deal was The Sub-Mariner, abandoned because
Man from Atlantis (1977) was felt to have been too similar.
