H.U.B.E.R.T.

Real Name: Hyper-Ultronic Brain Employing Randomized Tracings

Identity/Class: Robot

Occupation: Babysitter of Franklin Richards, servant of the Fantastic Four

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Fantastic Four (Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, Thing), Nova (Frankie Raye), Franklin Richards, Roberta, Spider-Man

Enemies: Trapster

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The Baxter Building, New York

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#238 (January, 1982)

Powers/Abilities: H.U.B.E.R.T. is designed to be the ideal companion for a child. It has the ability to fly, using three jets attached to its bottom. H.U.B.E.R.T. can also link to the computers of the Baxter Building, and was specially designed to monitor the status of Franklin Richards' mutant powers. H.U.B.E.R.T. also has infra-red sensors. H.U.B.E.R.T. was designed to be incapable of violence towards any member of the Fantastic Four's household.

History: (Fantastic Four I#238/2)- Mr. Fantastic designed H.U.B.E.R.T. to serve as babysitter for Franklin Richards, as Agatha Harkness had recently given up that task. Franklin took an immediate liking to the robot, but the Thing mistook H.U.B.E.R.T. for H.E.R.B.I.E., and nearly smashed him until he was halted by the Invisible Girl.

(Fantastic Four I#240)- H.U.B.E.R.T. kept watch over Franklin as he slept while the Fantastic Four journeyed to Attilan.

(Fantastic Four I#242)- H.U.B.E.R.T. watched as Franklin launched a toy rocket into the air-- even though it wasn't a flying toy.

(Fantastic Four I#244)- As H.U.B.E.R.T. watched Franklin play with a Rubix Cube toy, Franklin suddenly activated his mutant powers to solve the toy puzzle. The manifestation of Franklin's powers was so great that in analyzing it, H.U.B.E.R.T. exploded.

(Fantastic Four I#245)- H.U.B.E.R.T.'s remains were discovered by the Invisible Girl as she faced the now-adult Franklin, whose powers had gone out-of-control.

(Fantastic Four I#257)- Now rebuilt, H.U.B.E.R.T. reminded Mr. Fantastic of his appointment to Avengers Mansion, to help treat the Vision.

(Fantastic Four I#265)- H.U.B.E.R.T. encountered the Trapster after he broke into the Baxter Building. His appearance startled the Trapster, and H.U.B.E.R.T. offered to detain him, but the Baxter Building's secretary robot Roberta wound up defeating the Trapster.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#258)- H.U.B.E.R.T. greeted Spider-Man when he arrived at the Baxter Building to have his alien costume analyzed by Mr. Fantastic.

Comments: Created by John Byrne and Terry Austin.

H.U.B.E.R.T. may have been destroyed when Kristoff blew up the Baxter Building in Fantastic Four I#279...but perhaps it was one of the devices preserved by Uatu, seen in Fantastic Four Annual#22/2.

Thanks to Chris Keels for locating the explanation of H.U.B.E.R.T.'s acronym from Fantastic Four I#270's letters page.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
H.U.B.E.R.T. should not be confused with:

• Hadley, robot compantion of Bradley Benyon, @ Uncanny X-Men and Fantastic Four '98 Annual
• Herbert, alias "Explodey Head Guy", @ Deadpool III#15
• H.E.R.B.I.E., Mr. Fantastic's robot assistant, @ Fantastic Four I#209
• The Hub, headquarters of the Charter, @ Star Masters#1
• Hubert Wren, a scientist @ Uncanny Tales#54

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