I tried doing research on old fashioned bombs, and I can't find much on handheld bombs before the WW1 era grenades. So were those black spherical bombs with the wicks an actual historical weapon, or just an invention for cartoons? If they are real, what are they called?
Yes, to a degree. More can be said on the cartoon bomb, so if anyone would like to contribute further, please don't let anyone stop you! For the meantime, OP, I commend to your attention this previous post examining the same question, answered by u/PartyMoses.