ABRAHAM ERSKINE

Real Name: Dr. Abraham Erskine

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: World famous biologist and physicist, inventor of Super Soldier serum

Group Membership: Operation Rebirth/Project Super Soldier/Project: Rebirth (see comments), the United States military

Affiliations: Dr. Anderson, Captain America (Rogers), Dr. Ernst Fleischer, Lieutenant Colonel James Fletcher, Dominic Fortune (Duvid Fortunov), Lieutenant Cynthia Glass, General Richard Chester Phillips, Project: Rebirth (Dr. Crawford, Mr. Hayworth, Dr. Morris, General Max Saunders, General Shaw, Congressman Simpson, others);
    formerly Adolph Hitler, Baron Heinrich Zemo

Enemies: Adolph Hitler, Heinz Krueger

Known Relatives: Michael Van Patrick (great-grandson, deceased), Mr. Van Patrick (grandson), Mrs. Van Patrick (granddaughter in-law)

Aliases: Professor Josef Reinstein

Base of Operations: Project: Rebirth, under the Antiques and Collectibles Curios shop, Washington, D.C., USA;
    formerly Castle Zemo, Bavaria, Germany

First Appearance: Captain America Comics#1 (March, 1941)

Powers/Abilities: Abraham Erskine was a biochemist and physicist, renowned for his expertise and role in the creation of the coveted Super Soldier serum. A humanitarian by nature, Erskine abhorred the testing and mistreatment of human subjects.

History: 

(Avengers: The Initiative Annual#1/4 (fb) - BTS) - World renowned biochemist and physicist Dr. Abraham Erskine spent years researching the key to creating the perfect physical specimen through a revolutionary diet and the ultimate exercise regimen.

(Captain America Theater of War: Operation Zero-Point#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point Erskine met Dr. Fleischer at a conference in Vienna and told him about his formula and the vita-rays.

(Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better#4) - Erskine watched Baron Heinrich Zemo and Adolph Hitler test a "death ray" on a human test subject against the good doctor's objections. Tolerated by Hitler for his expertise, Erskine saw to the surviving human subject, telling Hitler that it was "more noble to enhance the human physique to match its unconquerable spirit" than to build death rays. Erskine escaped to the United States a short time later and offered his services to the United States government.

(Giant Size Invaders#1/Captain America I#255 (fb) - BTS) - In the spring of 1940, news spread that Erskine died in a car crash. Erskine used this opportunity to go underground to continue his research under the codename "Reinstein."

(Avengers: The Initiative Annual#1/4 (fb) - BTS) - Erskine offered his research into diet and exercise to the military, but they turned it down in favor of research with more immediate results.

(Marvel Superheroes III#3) - In late 1940, Erskine and his colleague, Dr. Anderson, met with Duvid Fortunov, better known as adventurer Dominic Fortune, to check his availability as a candidate for Project: Rebirth. Accepting the offer, Fortunov underwent a series of tests overseen by Erskine, but was later dismissed.

(Young Men#24/Captain America I#109/Captain America I#255/Marvel Superheroes II#3/Marvel Universe#1) - On November 14, 1940, Steve Rogers was brought to the Project: Rebirth facilities and introduced to Erskine and Anderson. Recognizing Erskine and recalling his reported death last spring, Anderson told Rogers of the faked accident and remarked that Erskine was too recognizable for a codename to work. Erskine warned Rogers that the coming experiments might kill him, but Rogers offered his willingness to continue.

(The Adventures of Captain America#1) - On the morning of November 15, 1940, Erskine addressed the Project: Rebirth candidates, telling them in a few words the purpose of the experiments. As the candidates trained, Erskine continued his research.

   On December 27, 1940, Lt. Col. Fletcher asked Erskine his opinion on Project: Rebirth candidate Gilmore "Goose" Hodge. They agreed that Hodge was, in their opinion, both dangerous and ignorant and thus unfit, and that Steve Rogers, the final candidate was better suited for the project. Erskine joined Fletcher and Lt. Glass in telling Rogers he was selected.

(Captain America I#255/The Adventures of Captain America#1) - In the weeks to come, Rogers underwent a difficult training regime. Unidentified injections were administered under Erskine's supervision.

(The Adventures of Captain America#1) - On January 28, 1941, Erskine arranged a secret meeting with Fletcher at the Lincoln memorial. Believing the project may be compromised, Erskine gave Fletcher the formula for his Vita-Rays to use should anything happen to him.

(Captain America Annual 2000) - On March 9, 1941, Erskine discussed the selection of Steve Rogers for Project: Rebirth with General Phillips, General Saunders and other military officials.

(Captain America Comics#1/Captain America Comics#59/Young Men#24/Tales of Suspense I#63/Captain America I#109/Captain America I#176/Captain America I#215/Giant Size Invaders#1/Captain America I#255/The Adventures of Captain America#1/Marvel Universe#1/Captain America V#25) - On March 10, 1941, before an audience of government and military officials, Erskine introduced himself and began the process of turning Steve Rogers into a Super Soldier. As with Rogers, some officials recognized Erskine, wondering how he survived his allegedly fatal car crash.

    Erskine brought Rogers into his lab, sitting him on a gurney. He filled a hypodermic needle with the serum, injecting Rogers with it, and provided another sample for Rogers to drink. Strapping Rogers to the gurney, Erskine and his associates powered the Vita-Rays, bathing Rogers in its glow. The project proved successful with immediate results, and Erskine unveiled the enhanced Steve Rogers to the audience. Moments later, Nazi spy Heinz Krueger fired at Erskine through the glass barrier. Erskine died within seconds.

(Avengers: The Initiative Annual#1 (fb) - BTS) - Erskine's research into food and exercise was left unclassified by the military and passed on to his grandson after his death.

Comments: Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby

Erskine's project is first referred to as Operation: Rebirth in Tales of Suspense I#63, then Project Super Soldier in Captain America I#109, before the names are combined as Project: Rebirth in Marvel Super-Heroes Fall Special II#3. For the sake of simplicity, the latter name has been used in this profile.

   The brief retelling of the origin from Captain America I#448 is not included here because, aside from the fact it diverges with Cap saving Erskine's life, it was a Cosmic Cube recreation of the event from Cap's memories and therefore unreliable.

   Erskine is depicted with a receding hairline in some appearances and a full head of hair in others. The simplest explanation is that he wears a hair piece some of the time.

   With the exception of Tales of Suspense I#63 and Captain America I#109, all retellings of the origin through Giant Size Invaders#1 had Erskine introduce the name Captain America in his pronouncement of the experiment's success. This element has been dropped from modern retellings, however.

   Erskine's Jewish background, first mentioned in What If II#29, was confirmed as being true of his 616 counterpart in the Marvel Atlas handbook. Thanks to John McDonagh for noting the What If issue.

   For anyone keeping track, Vita-Rays were introduced to the origin in Captain America I#109, and the explanation for the Reinstein codename was first used in Giant Size Invaders#1.

   As with any origin retold multiple times, inconsistencies appear. In the case of Erskine's death, the more common elements from each retelling are noted above, although they might not apply to each version. Variations had Krueger firing through a door into the lab, firing more than once, changing where Erskine was shot, and how long it took him to die and whether or not he said something to Steve Rogers before dying.

   Erskine's grandson and great-grandson were introduced in Avengers: The Initiative#1. His great-grandson, Michael Van Patrick, was accepted into the 50-state Initiation for his natural super-human status, created through the implementation of his great-grandfather's research decades earlier.

   Empire State University later came into possession of the Erskine Manuscripts, as seen in Spectacular Spider-Man I#9-10. The content of the Erskine Manuscripts was not revealed, but they were described as a point of interest for incoming students.

Profile by G Morrow.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Abraham Erskine has no known connections to

• "Professor Reinstein", aka Wilfred Nagel, Erskine's colleague, used "Reinstein" codename after Erskine's death @ Truth: Red, White and Black#2
• Ernst Erskine, Lucky Pierre, Orson Randall biographer @ Immortal Iron Fist #6
• any other "Abraham" or "Erskine" characters

images: (without ads)
The Adventures of Captain America#1, p29, pan1 (main image)
Captain America Comics#1, p5, pan5 (full body)
Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better#4, p3, pan3 (head shot)

Other Appearances:
Captain America Comics#1 (March, 1941) - Joe Simon (writer), Jack Kirby (pencils), Al Liederman (inks), Joe Simon (editor)
Captain America Comics#59 (November, 1946) - Alan Sulamn (writer), Syd Shores (pencils), Stan Lee (editor)
Young Men#24 (December, 1953) - John Romita (artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Tales of Suspense I#63 (March, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Jack Giacoia (inks)
Captain America I#109 (January, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Syd Shores (inks)
Captain America I#176 (August, 1974) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Giant-Size Invaders#1 (July, 1975) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Frank Robbins (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Captain America I#215 (November, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), George Tuska (pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks)
Captain America I#255 (March, 1981) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Super-Heroes Fall Special III#3 (September, 1990) - Danny Fingeroth (writer), Gary Hartle (pencils), Tony DeZuniga (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
The Adventures of Captain America#1 (September, 1991) - Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire (storytellers), Joe Rubenstein (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Marvel Universe#1 (June, 1998) - Roger Stern (writer), Steve Epting (pencils), Al Williamson (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Captain America Annual 2000 (2000) - Bill Rosemann (writer), Scott Eaton (pencils), Bud LaRosa (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Captain America V#25 (April, 2007) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Steve Epting (pencils and inks), Frank D'Armata (colors), Lazer, Sitterson & Breevort (editors)
Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better#4 (July, 2007) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Tom Grummett (pencils), Gary Erskine (inks), Molly Lazer (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative Annual#1 (January, 2008) - Dan Slott and Christos Gage (writers), Tom Feister & Carmine Di Giandomenico (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Captain America Theater of War: Operation Zero-Point#1 (December, 2008) - Charles & David Knauf (writers), Mitch Breitweiser (artist), Jeanine Schaefer (editor)