CORPORAL BOB ADAMS

Real Name: Bob Adams

Identity/Class: Human (World War II Era)

Occupation: Soldier

Group Membership: U.S. Army

Affiliations: Jimmy Adams, Jimmy, General Douglas MacArthur, Lt. Simms

Enemies: The Imperial Japanese Army

Known Relatives: Jimmy Adams (younger brother)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in the Pacific Theater of operations during World War II

First Appearance: Battle I#65 (August, 1959)

Powers/Abilities: Bob Adams was an experienced soldier. He carried a rifle. At times, he operated a .50 caliber machine gun emplacement.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Battle I#65/3) - When the Japanese attacked U.S. military bases in the Philippines in 1941, Corporal Bob Adams was one of the soldiers who defended Bataan against the Japanese. Bob's younger brother Jimmy was also among the soldiers stationed there. As they fought, Jimmy wondered if it were true that they wouldn't receive any reinforcements. Bob affirmed it was true and stated all they could do for the time was continue fighting.

    Bob's superior officer, Lt. Simms, received orders from General MacArthur to perform a delaying action against the Japanese. Bob, Jimmy and the other men in their company took over a heavy gun emplacement to hold out as long as they could against advancing Japanese forces. The soldiers there suffered from malaria and a gradual thinning of their ranks until 50% of them had been rendered incapable of fighting. Seeing that Bob was still in good shape, Lt. Simms ordered him to return to their headquarters and tell them what shape they were in so that supplies could be sent.

    Dodging Japanese patrols, Bob made it back to army headquarters but before he could explain their situation, he was told they were withdrawing from Bataan. Bob was choked up when he realized Jimmy was still back at the emplacement but General MacArthur himself informed Bob that soldiers at the emplacement had already been overwhelmed by the Japanese and taken prisoner. As Bob joined the other retreating forces aboard a ship bound for Australia, he overheard MacArthur say "I shall return!" Thinking to himself, Bob vowed silently to Jimmy that he would return as well.

(Battle I#65/4) - In February 1945, Bob was part of the U.S. forces that invaded Bataan to retake it from the Japanese. As he fought the Japanese, Bob noticed a young freckle-faced soldier who seemed nervous. Bob befriended him and was surprised to learn his name was Jimmy, like his brother's. Still unaware of his own brother's fate, Bob felt a particular need to protect Jimmy and kept an eye on him as the fighting continued. When Bob's sergeant questioned whether Jimmy would bear up in the continuing fighting, Bob insisted to the sergeant that Jimmy would be all right.

    General MacArthur visited the soldiers to inspire them just before they were sent to capture an enemy prison camp. Bob was assigned to the patrol and demanded Jimmy accompany them, against the sergeant's wishes. Arriving at the prison camp, the sergeant sent Bob to lead half the patrol to the back of the camp and await his signal to start their attack.

    Bob and Jimmy went to the back of the camp but Jimmy's nerves got the best of him and when a Japanese soldier came near, he broke noise discipline and shot him. This alerted the other soldiers based at the camp and soon, a firefight broke out. As the fighting spread inside the prison camp, Jimmy saw a Japanese soldier lunging at one of the prisoners; Jimmy shot the enemy soldier. The prisoner whom the soldier had been about to kill was Bob's own brother. Bob was overjoyed to find his brother alive and learned that when Jimmy opened fire early, all the prisoners in the camp had taken that as their signal to attack the guards. Jimmy Adams told his brother he knew they'd come back for them and that it was what kept them alive.

Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and Joe Sinnott.

    The Battle of Bataan lasted from January 7-April 9, 1942. The Battle for the Recapture of Bataan lasted from January 31-February 21, 1945.

    This profile was completed 06/18/2025 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Bob Adams should not be confused with:

Jimmy Adams

Jimmy Adams was Bob Adams' younger brother. Both men were stationed in Bataan in the Philippines in 1941 at the time of the Japanese assault. When U.S. forces were withdrawn from Bataan, Jimmy was taken prisoner by the Japanese while his brother participated in the retreat. Jimmy was held in a prison camp in Bataan for years but kept himself alive with the thought that Bob and the rest of the U.S. armed forces would come to liberate them. When Bob's young friend Jimmy opened fire early on one of the camp's guards, Jimmy Adams and the other prisoners took that as their sign to rise up against the guards. Jimmy Adams was almost killed by one of the guards but the other Jimmy saved him. Jimmy Adams was happily reunited with his older brother.






--Battle I#65/3 (65/4

Jimmy

Jimmy was a young freckle-faced soldier who participated in the Battle for the Recapture of Bataan. Jimmy was uncertain of himself in battle but as he reminded Bob of his brother, he took a special interest in looking out for Jimmy and ensuring he survived the battle. Bob insisted on bringing Jimmy with him to liberate a Japanese prison camp, against the wishes of his sergeant who thought Jimmy was too nervous. As they went around to the back of the camp to await the sergeant's signal to attack, Jimmy saw a Japanese soldier and lost his cool, opening fire early. The prisoners in the camp took that as their signal to attack the guards and soon, the attacking U.S. soldiers and prisoners overcame the guards. Jimmy discovered the experience had given him courage and cool under fire. He shot a guard just as he was about to kill Jimmy Adams. By doing this, Jimmy was able to help reunited the two Adams brothers.





--Battle I#65/4

Lt. Simms

Lt. Simms was Bob and Jimmy Adams' superior officer in Bataan. Lt. Simms received the orders from General MacArthur instructing them to perform a delaying action against the Japanese. Simms sent Bob Adams back to headquarters to tell them what they needed but Bob didn't return to Simms as the U.S. forces retreated from Bataan. Lt. Simms' men were taken prisoner; Simms' fate was unrevealed.





--Battle I#65/3

images: (without ads)
Battle I#65/3, page 1, panel 1 (Bob Adams, main)
Battle I#65/3, page 5, panel 3 (Bob Adams, face)
Battle I#65/3, page 1, panel 1 (Jimmy Adams)
Battle I#65/4, page 2, panel 2 (Jimmy)
Battle I#65/3, page 3, panel 4 (Simms)

Appearances:
Battle I#65/3-4 (August, 1959) - unidentified writer, Joe Sinnott (artist), Stan Lee (editor)

First posted: 06/20/2026
Last updated: 06/18/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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