| Abraham Erskine | |
|---|---|
| File:Erskine.jpg Abraham Erskine The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #1 (Sept. 1991) | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941) |
| Created by | Joe Simon Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Abraham Erskine |
| Team affiliations | Project: Rebirth U.S. Army |
| Notable aliases | Josef Reinstein[1] |
Abraham Erskine is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. A scientist for the United States Army in World War II, he created the Super Soldier Serum that led to Captain America's transformation.
Publication history[]
Abraham Erskine first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941), written by Joe Simon and illustrated by Jack Kirby. He was killed off in that issue, and has since been featured in several retellings of the origin of Captain America.
Fictional character biography[]
Born in Germany, world renowned biochemist and physicist Dr. Abraham Erskine spent much of his early life studying the human specimen. This work focused on a revolutionary diet and exercise program that would be the key to creating the perfect physical specimen.[2] Erskine used this work to develop a transformational substance that he called the Super Soldier Serum[3] and the Vita-Rays[4] that would be key to a successful transformation. As a German he soon found himself working for the Nazis, but he was horrified when he watched Adolf Hitler and Baron Zemo test a "death ray" on a human subject.[5] In an attempt to defect from the Nazi party, Erskine contacted the United States to offer his services.[5] In a mission involving several American operatives (including Nick Fury), Erskine was able to successfully make his way to America where he aligned himself with the U.S. Army.[6] In the spring of 1940, false news of a fatal car crash involving Erskine spread. He took the opportunity to adopt the alias "Josef Reinstein", as the Nazis had considered him a traitor.[7]
Erskine recreated his Super Soldier Serum and created Project: Rebirth for the U.S. Army.[8] He met with Dominic Fortune in late 1940 to check his availability for Project: Rebirth, but after a series of tests Fortune was dismissed.[9] Several other candidates, including Steve Rogers, were brought in later that year. Rogers was selected as the candidate who would undergo the transformation.[10] Believing the project may have been compromised, Erskine passed on the formula for Vita-Rays to Colonel James Fletcher.[10] Before several U.S. Army officers and government officials, Erskine administered the Super Soldier Serum and Vita-Rays to Rogers, immediately transforming him from a frail, sickly man into a Super Soldier. Moments later, Nazi operative Heinz Kruger, who had been posing as a government official, shot and killed Erskine.[3] Though he had passed on the formula for the Vita-Rays, the knowledge of the Super Soldier Serum died with Erskine.[4]
Erskine's great-grandson, Michael Van Patrick, later became a superhero known as MVP.[11]
Other versions[]
Ultimate Marvel[]
A very similar version of Erskine is featured in Ultimate Origins #2 (Sept. 2008). This version of Erskine is also assassinated after administering the Super Soldier Serum to Steve Rogers.
In other media[]
Television[]
- Erskine was featured in the Captain America segment of The Marvel Super Heroes.
- Erskine's alias, Dr. Reinstein appears in Spider-man (1994 animated series).
- Erskine appears briefly in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Meet Captain America".
Film[]
- Erskine's alias, Dr. Reinstein, briefly appears on the side of a vial in the film The Incredible Hulk.
- Erskine will be portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the upcoming Marvel Studios film Captain America: The First Avenger.[12]
References[]
- ↑ Giant Size Invaders #1 (June 1975)
- ↑ Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1 (Jan. 2008)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Captain America #109 (Jan. 1969)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better #4 (July 2007)
- ↑ Marvels Project #2 (Nov. 2009)
- ↑ Captain America #255 (March 1981)
- ↑ Marvels Project #3 (Dec. 2009)
- ↑ Marvel Super-Heroes #3 (Sept. 1990)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Adventures of Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #1 (Sept. 1991)
- ↑ Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007)
- ↑ McNary, Dave (2010-06-07). "Stanley Tucci joins 'Captain America'". Variety. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
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