Abraham Erskine

Revision as of 08:28, 21 December 2015

Abraham Erskine is a male scientist that features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Abraham Erskine was a male human born in Germany where he became a noted biochemist and physicist. He spent much of his early life in the study of the human specimen and his work focused on a revolutionary diet along with exercise program that he believed could create the perfect physical specimen. (Avengers: The Initiative Annual v1 #1) It was this line of research that led to his work on developing a transformational substance known as the Super Soldier Serum. (Captain America Comics v1 #1)

He was involved in the study of Atlanteans as part of Project: Nietzsche. (Marvels Project v1 #1) Around World War I, John Steele was captured by the Germans and studied him for decades in order the resultant information to create the Master Race with Professor Erskine being one of the scientists involved in the project. (Secret Avengers v1 #9) During a transport to the border, the Nazi convoy was ambushed by American special operatives Red Hargrove and Nick Fury who retrieved Professor Erskine for the Allied effort. (Marvels Project v1 #2) His completion of the Super-Soldier Serum for Project: Rebirth led to Nazi agent Heinz Kruger being dispatched to eliminate Erskine where he succeeded in killing the professor stopping the Americans from mass producing Erskine's formula though the program did transform Steve Rogers into Captain America. (Marvels Project v1 #5)

He was noted to have had a daughter who he was estranged from and she would later marry Tyler Paxton who was one of the candidates for Project Rebirth. She would have a son named Jacob who lived under his mothers second name. (Steve Rogers: Super Soldier v1 #1)

His grandson Jacob would conduct experiments in recreating the Super-Soldier Serum to serve as a cure for cancer whilst working for the Nextkin Corporation. He would take the name of Jacob Erskine partly to draw Steve Rogers out so that he could be used to complete the formula though was ultimately killed by a conspiracy within the company. (Steve Rogers: Super Soldier v1 #1) Another descendant of Erskine's was his great-grandson who was Michael Van Patrick who became the superhero known as MVP. (Avengers: The Initiative v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

Powers and abilities

Notes

• Abraham Erskine was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby where he made his first appearance as Doctor Reinstein in Captain America Comics v1 #1 (March 1941).

Alternate Versions

• In Bullet Points v1 #1 (2006), an alternate version of events showed Assassins target Dr. Erskine a day before Project: Rebirth was activated. During the attack, Private Ben Parker was killed alongside Dr. Erskine whosee death led to the end of the Super-Soldier experiment preventing Steve Rogers from ever being Captain America.

In other media

Television

• In The Marvel Super Heroes, Dr. Erskine briefly appeared in the Captain America segments that covered the Origin of Captain America. He was shown as a scientist that was attached to Operation: Rebirth that was being conducted in secret to form a supersoldier to fight in World War II. Steve Rogers was selected and given the serum but Erskine was killed by a German spy and with the scientist's death was the knowledge of the Supersoldier Serum leaving only Captain America as the only product of the experiment.
• In Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, a character that was seemingly Erksine made an appearance in the micro-episode "Meet Captain America". This saw Kang observe the chrono-archives on his ship to witness the history of Steve Rogers whereby a recording showcasing World War II was shown with a scientist involved in creating the Super-Soldier Serum. He was not identified as Abraham Erskine and his fate afterwards was now showcased.

Films

• In The Incredible Hulk, the character was not mentioned or shown though his alias of Josef Reinstein was shown on a cryo-container within the movie.
• In Captain America: The First Avenger, the character made an appearance as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor Stanley Tucci. He was a German scientist who lived during World War II where he was tasked with the creation of a Super-Soldier Serum. Johann Schmidt who headed the Nazi's deep science division known as HYDRA where he was the first recipient of the formula. Schimdt was transformed into he Red Skull as a result and Erskine believed that the serum amplified the personality of the user. He was rescued from Germany and was taken to America where he worked with the Strategic Scientific Reserve to perfect it to create super soldiers to battle the Nazi's.

Appearances

• Captain America Comics v1:
• Captain America:
• Avengers: The Initiative Annual v1: #1 (2008)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry

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