Mermaid Man, real name
Ernie, is a semi-retired superhero living in Bikini Bottom. He and his sidekick, Barnacle Boy, are the stars of a show-within-a-show called
The Adventures of Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, but they are also real superheroes within the universe of
SpongeBob SquarePants. The two are now very old, and currently reside at Shady Shoals Rest Home. However, their two biggest fans,
SpongeBob SquarePants and
Patrick Star, convinced them to come out of retirement. He is voiced by Ernest Borgnine
Description
Mermaid Man is a parody of both Aquaman and Batman. He wears a nearly identical costume, and his powers, which include being able to control the creatures of the sea, are also similar to those of Aquaman. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy's TV show and method of fighting crime are based on the campy 60's Batman TV show, their secret headquarters, the Mermalair, is a parody of the Batcave, and their vehicle, the "Invisible Boat-Mobile" is a parody of both the Batmobile and Wonder Woman's invisible jet. Of note he and Barnacle Boy are virtually completely
human in appearance, save they are the same size as the other characters of
SpongeBob SquarePants.
Kyle (Tim) "Barnacle Boy" Barnacle Cook has been the sidekick of Mermaid Man. He is voiced by Emmy Award-winning comedian and actor, Tim Conway. He, along with Mermaid Man, are superheroes. He is a parody of both Aqualad and Robin. Barnacle Boy was said to be 68 years old in "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V".
Childhood
Kyle "Barnacle Boy" was born in the local Bikini Bottom Hospital. Barnacle Boy was extremely poor as a child, and his father couldn't afford to keep food on the table. He was often bullied at school, and nobody would sit next to him at lunch.
Barnacle Boy is thin, bald, has large nose similar to and bigger than
Squidward's, has puffy ears, a black mask and a turquoise neckerchief. He also wears dark blue rubber gloves, boots, a red T-shirt, and rubber black shorts. Being younger, he is more sane and self-aware than Mermaid Man. However, Barnacle Boy is also more cranky and rude. He often calls Mermaid Man an "old coot". He is revealed to be 68 years old in Mermaidman and Barnacleboy V. As younger self, instead of a black mask, he wears glasses and is much taller. Also, as younger self, his neckerchief is space-control.
Barnacle Boy possesses powers similar to Mermaid Man, though he lacks the belt powers. Barnacle Boy also has "Sulfur Vision" (a form of heat vision), which Mermaid Man has never been shown to have. Like Mermaid Man, his powers do not work as well as they used to.
Despite being a senior citizen, Barnacle Boy is still treated like a child by his mentor, much to his disdain. In "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy V", when Mermaid Man orders a Pipsqueak Patty (a very small version of a Krabby Patty intended for children) for Barnacle Boy at the Krusty Krab, they get into an argument which ultimately results in Barnacle Boy becoming a villain and forming a group called "E.V.I.L." (Every Villain Is Lemons) with Man Ray and the Dirty Bubble. After a protracted fight with Mermaid Man and the "International Justice League of Super Acquaintances (whose costumes and powers are assumed by the main characters of the show), which E.V.I.L. actually wins, he and Mermaid Man patch things up. Barnacle Man, as he likes to be called, gets a little more respect now (even though he mentions that an adult-sized Krabby Patty actually is too big for him).
In the video game Battle for Bikini Bottom, it is revealed that Barnacle Boy has a son, a daughter-in-law, and four "screaming" grandchildren.
