Humph
Cats are an independent and eccentric species, but Humph takes it to the extreme. This free-thinking feline has a bizarre sense of humour and an appearance to match, with a scatterbrained imagination and a costume or prop for every occasion. Whatever the situation, Humph has much to say, so maybe it's fortunate that he can't speak. All he really wants to do is sleep, eat, and read Marvel Comics.
Lately, Humph has found himself thrust into the role of space hero. While slow to adapt, he always does the right thing, especially if it involves protecting his boy, Matt... not that he won't complain about it or chicken out first.
His one weakness, apart from all his other weaknesses, is fish.
Fiction
Humph claimed that his mum always told him to obey signs, Matt and the Cat issue 43 and that one of his grandparents was a wild alley cat. Issue 52
Matt's family got Humph from a pet shop. Issue 10 He claimed to be a fully paid up member of the RSPCA. Issue 18 Issue 19
One Friday evening, as Humph was watching a space show with a glass of milk, Matt's parents told him to put the cat out for the night – out of their fourth floor window. Humph landed in a dustbin, and was disturbed when a robot mistook the dustbin for a probe, intending to take it away for inspection. Issue 5 After Matt followed him down after not hearing from him for five whole minutes, Humph poked his head out of the dustbin, and Matt demanded the robot give him his cat back, alerting it to his presence. Issue 6 Humph fled while the robot was distracted, but on second thought, headed back to rescue Matt... only to find the robot was beaming the boy up onto a star ship. Issue 7 Humph was also caught in the tractor beam and taken aboard. Thinking happy thoughts of fish, Humph searched for Matt, unaware that an "intergalactic egg cup" he'd bumped into was a robot following behind him. Issue 8
At first having trouble with the language barrier, Humph realised that the "egg cup" was taking him prisoner. Issue 9 After it threw him around a bit, he tried to reason with it, Issue 10 but it eventually took him to the bridge, where the Slave-Master was holding Matt. On the joyful reunion between the cat and his boy, the Slave-Master had to clarify that they were to be reunited in the slave section of the ship. Issue 11 As Matt paced around their holding cell trying to plan their escape, Humph read a copy of The Transformers, and became fixated on the idea that he could get his comics by subscription. Issue 12 Humph pouted when Matt revealed he was to play a major part in his escape plan, Issue 13 although all it consisted of was jumping the first robot to step into their cell, which they did with gusto. Issue 14
After recovering from seeing stars, the little robot told them that he meant them no harm, and was only bringing them food. This instantly ingratiated him to Humph. Issue 15 As the ship began to land on Darkon, the robot warned them that they would be sold into slavery and potentially split up to different parts of the galaxy. Humph called out for his mum, but his bigger concern was that he hadn't had chance to eat. Issue 16 The robot guided them towards an escape, explaining that he was a Slavebot that had never known freedom, and wouldn't want free creatures to be sold into the torture of servitude, which Humph reckoned was a bit worse than missing his dinner. The Slavebot encouraged them to change into space suits to survive the cold climate of Darkon; Humph thought he'd feel at home in a helmet, since he was used to being inside dustbins. As Humph got changed, Matt was bemused by the "Make Mine Marvel" shirt under his smock top. Issue 17
When the slave ship came under attack by three Myzoni star fighters, the turbulence of battle caused Humph and his companions to slide across the tilted floor. When Matt advised Humph to grab onto something, Humph could only ask "to what?" Once the robots detected them and opened fire, Humph wondered if they'd take heed of his RSPCA membership. Issue 18 They followed the Slavebot, who found a panel he thought would lead to their escape. It actually opened a trap door underneath them, and they were sent freefalling through the dogfight. Matt tried to take Humph's hand as a star fighter rounded on them, causing Humph to think he was going to lose one of his nine lives. Issue 19 The ship only buzzed them, and Humph and Matt landed in a conveniently placed flowerbed. Humph lamented his lot in life, but soon distracted himself by making a daisy chain. Matt realised they had lost their Slavebot ally and set out to find him; Humph found he had an additional woe in the form of a bottom full of thorns, and wished he could only have a fish buttie and a head rub. Issue 20 As he and Matt searched nearby, Humph was grabbed by the Myzoni. Facing down the intimidating star pirates, he broke the ice by asking them if they'd seen a post office for his Marvel subscription. Issue 21
Humph was rescued by a small army of Slavebots lead by their friend, who declared that whatever else happened, they must "save the Humph". He welcomed Humph to Darkon, encouraged him to join the Slavebots' secret base hidden in the Darkonian mountains, and finally introduced himself as Olia-cym... which Humph thought was a cruel thing to name a child. Issue 22 Humph was showered with affection by the Slavebots, who seemed to treat him like some sort of champion of the oppressed. Just as he was getting used to the treatment, his face drooped when it became clear that they expected him to free them from slavery even if it killed him. Issue 24 When the Slavebots caught wind of a passing Myzoni patrol car, their rebel leader coaxed a shivering Humph to lead them into battle against it, giving him a gun to augment his bravery. Humph at least knew how to act like a hero thanks to his Marvel readership, and even though he wanted to back out, he agreed to it, putting the Myzoni patrol car on the top of his agenda above finding Matt and then a post office. Issue 25 Humph led the charge against the Myzoni, having decided to act tough enough to make the Chromobots look like boy scouts. He was so in the zone that he didn't notice Matt poking his head above the patrol car's parapet, and he used his pal's head as a stepping stone. Issue 26
As a character
In 1985, The Chromobots issue 21 comics fan Dudley had a pin-up of Humph in his bedroom. Issue 12 Issue 16 He also had at least one comic book with Humph pictured on the front. Issue 21
Dudley fell in with alien peacekeepers the Chromobots. In order to hide from Dudley's dad, Transmute transformed into a Humph the Cat stuffed toy. Dad thought it was a waste of money. Shortly afterwards, Transmute reiterated to his team that they wouldn't fail in their mission of capturing Chromatic criminal Predator – though it was hard to take him seriously when he looked like Humph. Issue 20
Dudley had a jumper with Humph's face on it. Issue 22 Issue 23 Issue 24 Issue 25 Issue 26 Mikros had evidently become a fan, as he once described a hulking monster as tough enough to make his ally Shield look like Humph the Cat. Issue 23
A drawing of Humph was on the desk of The Chromobots writer and artist Mike Kazybrid. Issue 26
Notes
- Humph is named for, and partially based on, a cat that Mychailo Kazybrid once lived with, big feet and all. One time Humph broke his ribs![1][2]
- The "Openers" section of The Transformers issue 9 advertised a pin-up of Humph for 89p posted, 5p of which would go to the Ethiopian famine fund. Humph also received a Fact File in issue 14. Both of these pages revealed that Humph's regular smock is blue, as Matt and the Cat was in black and white when Humph changed into a space suit.
