Super-Soldier Serum
The Super-Soldier Serum is a drug that features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
History
The Super-Soldier Serum was a chemical that was developed by Dr. Abraham Erskine that was capable of transforming a person into a superhuman. (Captain America Comics v1 #1) During World War II, America had divided its scientific efforts between developing the atomic bomb and creating a super-soldier. (Marvel Comics Presents v2 #8) Secretly, the Super-Soldier Serum was one of the many efforts at creating enhanced superhumans as part of the Weapon Plus program. (New X-Men v1 #145)
The loss of Dr. Erskine saw immediate efforts to recreate the Super-Soldier serum or an alternative to it. The U.S. had not abandoned their efforts in recreating Erskine's original process but instead used a number of methods to increase their chances of success. This saw the creation of Operation Firebird with Betsy Ross serving as a special employee to the project. She would escort Captain America and Bucky to the secret government research facility staffed by scientists working on various alternatives to the serum. Dr. Oliver Kellog was developing vitamins to enhance a subject whilst Professor Nero Smythe was looking towards radio-controlled automation in the form of the Semi-Automated Militia (S.A.M.) whilst Dr. Todd and Ms. Vinegar wanted to conduct a series of tests of Rogers in an effort to recreate the serum. (Captain America: The 1940's Newspaper Strip v1 #1)
An attempt to recreate the serum led to an incomplete version being created that was tested on Clinton McIntyre though it ultimately cost him his life.(Captain America v3 #28)
As the war continued, the Super-Soldier program remained despite the loss of the project's chief scientist. This time though, they looked to enhance the mind of the subject instead of their physical abilities. The test subject for this program was Trenton Craft where they seemingly succeeded and named him Colonel America. His first deployment was on March 26, 1944 at Yokohama, Japan with the mission being a disaster. Craft's powers were beyond his control to the point that he destroyed an entire island. After killing thousands of people, Craft decided to return back home and vowed to never use his powers again. (Marvel Comics Presents v2 #8)
A modern attempt at creating a Super-Soldier was later enacted by the United Nations that was inspired by the legacy of Captain America. This saw the creation of the United Nations Bannermen who were state-of-the-art hothouse clone supersoldier tech whose brains were neuro-imprinted with U.N. directives alongside three basic personality interaction modes with Adamantium lacing and Gamma enhanced functionality. These six billion dollar men were developed by the Security Council and advertised as the new elite which would police the 21st century that could be deployed onto the field by S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel Boy v2 #2)
Another attempt to recreate the serum resulted in the development of Extremis. (Iron Man: Extremis v1 #3)
A man named Dr. Jacob Paxton who was the grandson of Professor Erskine looked to revive the experiments in recreating the Super-Soldier Serum. For the past 20 years, he had been research non-infectious diseases. Around this time, he came to establish Nextin Pharmaceuticals that was a newly established research firm that came under a new figurehead now under the name of Jacob Erksine in a bid to attract new customers. Dr. Erksine came to successfully recreate the serum where he intended to use it as a cure for cancer. However, individuals within his company intended to weaponise the serum and sell it to interested parties. In fact, several members of Erskine's own security force had been given imperfect versions of the serum. Around this time, a whistle blower within the company revealed to Pete Wisdom that Nextin had re-discovered the Super-Soldier Serum and had intended to sell it to the highest bidder. As such, British spymaster Pete Wisdom contacted Steve Rogers about this development. (Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier v1 #1)
Recently, the U.S. military engaged in a new Super-Soldier program where they found that they could not recreate the serum. Instead, the U.S. Army looked to use existing transformative substances to achieve the same results. They found a volunteer in U.S. Corporal Todd Ziller who was subjected to Gamma enhancements, Mutant Growth Hormone, Pym Particles and the Lizard Formula. The effects of these various substances led to Ziller being transformed into a gigantic superpowered reptilian who was designated as American Kaiju that was deployed by the military on particular assignments. (New Avengers v4 #9)
Overview
The formula was designed to take a person to the peak of human potential. (Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier v1 #4)
In some cases, the Super-Soldier Serum affected the brain of the person allowing the individual to retain and recall any information they had taken in during their life. Thus, they possessed an enhanced mind and capable of remembering any military tactic and can apply it to any situation. (Captain America: Theater of War - To Soldier On v1 #1)
Super-Soldiers
- Steve Rogers :
- Protocide :
- Isaiah Bradley :
- Elijah Bradley :
- Trenton Craft :
- Underworld :
Notes
- The Super-Soldier Serum was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby where it made its first appearance in Captain America Comics v1 #1 (December, 1940).
Alternate Versions
- In Ultimate Avengers v1 #2 (2009), an alternate version of Super-Soldier Serum appeared in the Ultimate Marvel reality designated as Earth-1610 in the Multiverse.
- In Edge of Spider-Geddon v1 #1 (2018), an alternate version of the serum called the Super-Insurgent Serum appeared in the Spider-Punk reality designated as Earth-138 in the Multiverse.
In other media
Television
- In Spider-Man, the Super-Soldier Serum appeared in the setting of the 1990s animated television series in the season 5 "Six Forgotten Warriors" story arc. The Super-Solder formula was used to create Captain America but was destroyed by Nazi spies. Scientists though were able to create imperfect versions of the serum that was used on five volunteers who developed unique powers where they became the Six American Warriors. As a 13-year-old boy during World War II, John Hardesky was tricked by Nazis into spying on the creation of Captain America, memorizing the formula used to create him. However, he then realized that he had been tricked and refused to reveal the formula to the Red Skull, fleeing. Hardesky grew up to be the Cat, a highly experienced burglar.
- In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the Super-Soldier Serum appeared in the setting of the live-action television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was revealed that an attempt was made in the 1950s to recreate the serum with it being tested on Africa-American solders among which included Isaiah Bradley. He came to use it to be a super-powered operative for the U.S. until he was eventually taken by the government for study as they looked to recreate the serum. These efforts were a failure and Bradley was eventually released though by 2024 the CIA came to recruit Dr. Wilfred Nagel for a renewed attempt at recreating the serum.
Films
- In Captain America, a variation of the serum appeared in the setting of the 1979 made-for-television film. This version was F.L.A.G. (Full Latent Ability Gain) that was a kind of super-steroid developed by Dr. Simon Mills who created from Steve Roger's fathers glands.
- In Captain America: The First Avenger, the Super-Soldier Serum appeared in the setting of the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dr. Abraham Erskine developed his Soldier-Soldier Serum while working in Germany. However, a Nazi General, Johann Schmidt known as Red Skull used the serum to increase his physical & mental abilities, however the formula appears to have been either prototypical or flawed, the resulting effects heavily distorted Schmidt's facial tissue and skin complexion becoming the Red Skull. Dr. Erskine later explained to Steve Rogers that the formula not only enhances the user's capabilities but also amplifies their 'key traits,' causing different features according to the user's personality, which caused Schmidt's face to mutate. Dr. Erskine escaped to the USA, he joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve There he took part in Project Rebirth, a project to create a Super Soldier for the Allies. Using Vita-Rays to unlock the serum's potential, Dr. Erskine successfully used the Super-Soldier Serum on Steve Rogers who became the hero dubbed Captain America
Video games
Appearances
- Captain America Comics v1: (1940)
- Captain America v1:
- Steve Rogers: Super-Soldier v1:
External Links
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