H.E.R.B.I.E. did not originate from the comics. Rather he came from the 1978 animated series adaptation of The Fantastic Four before transitioning into the comics. The producers behind the show were unable to use the Human Torch due to the rights to the character being used for a feature film that never materialized. To make up for it, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby conceived of H.E.R.B.I.E. to fill in for the character.