Abraham Erskine
Abraham Erskine is a male scientist whofeatures in Marvel Comics.
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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) As a civilian scientist, he came to work under Adolf Hitler where he accompanied the Fuhrer during a tour of research facilities of the Third Reich. Among these included the laboratory of Baron Heinrich Zemo who was developing energy weapons that were being tested on live subjects for use in the war. Erskine was horrified at what he witnessed at the hands of Baron Zemo where he noted his objections that were ignored where he expressed why science was not being used to enhance the human body. (Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better v1 #4) 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) It was believed that he was killed in a recent automotive crash but in reality he was operating in secret for the government and went under the code name of Dr. Reinstein. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1)
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)
Though his work was lost, his memoirs were collected into being the Erskine Manuscripts that were considered a priceless and invaluable scientific treasure that eventually came to be possessed by Empire State University who stored it in their library. (Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1 #9)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Within the U.S., he was given the name of Professor Reinstein to hide his true identity with this persona being a code-name. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1)
Erskine was horrified at the inhumane experiments conducted by the Third Reich. (Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better v1 #4)
He was fascinated by the idea of enhancing the human body. (Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better v1 #4)
Powers and abilities
He was regarded as a great genius who was famous in society. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1) In his time, he came to be regarded as a famous biochemist. (Captain America v1 #255) He was noted for being a brilliant theoretician. (Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1 #9)
It was said to be a tissue building chemical with those exposed to it experiencing better physical conditions and reflexes. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1) The serum could virtually wipe out disease, weakness and infirmity where it did not make one superhuman but rather a nearly perfect human being. (Captain America v1 #109) The formula was said to had been committed to memory by Erskine with no written notes to prevent an enemy from copying it. (Giant-Size Invaders v1 #1) It was said that his formula could never be duplicated by others. (Captain America v1 #255)
His memoirs were gathered into the Erskine Manuscripts. (Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1 #9)
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 Infinity Wars: Soldier Supreme v1 #1 (2018), an alternate version of the world was created by Gamora using the power of the Infinity Stones where she began merging heroes in an effort to deal with them. This led to a merger between Captain America and Doctor Strange creating a world where their respective backstories were merged with one another. In this version of history, Dr. Erskine was a bald-headed female scientist who in World War II offered to create super-soldiers for the American military to fight Nazi Germany. Though claiming this would be a serum, she actually empowered volunteer soldier Stephen Rogers with magic thus turning him into the Soldier Supreme.
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. By the modern day, it was revealed that Nick Fury wanted to replicate the experiment to create a supersoldier and hired the scientist Franklin Hall for the task.
- In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Erskine program was mentioned in the live-action television series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the episode "The Patriot" where it was speculated that General Talbot had attempted to replicate the Super-Soldier Serum when turning Director Jeffrey Mace into the super-powered agent named the Patriot.
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.
Video games
- In Captain America: Super Soldier, Abraham Erskine was mentioned after the events of his death in the video-game adaptation set after Captain America: The First Avenger. Arnim Zola intended to use the work of Erskine to create a superior specimen in Project: Master Man.
- In Marvel Heroes, Dr. Erskine was referenced in setting of the MMORPG video game in the Vita-Ray Projector artefact with it being said that scientists were unable to replicate his design of the machine that created Captain America.
Appearances
- Captain America Comics v1: (1941)
- Captain America v1:
- Giant-Size Invaders v1:
- Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better v1:
- Marvels Project v1:
- Avengers: The Initiative Annual v1: #1 (2008)
External Links
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