But early photographs of Bibendum, as the Michelin Man is also called, are nothing short of terrifying. Bibendum was conceived by Edouard and André Michelin, the brothers who founded the company.

The iconic Michelin man, who’s been around in some form since 1898, has become synonymous with the company’s guidebook. In fact, he even has an actual name – Bibendum (or Bib for short).