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ADAM CARTER

Real Name: Adam Carter

Identity/Class: Normal human (1950s era)

Occupation: US Marine (Private First Class)

Group Membership: US Marine Corps

Affiliations: Fellow US Marines, Koreans of a small village (name unrevealed)

Enemies: Communist military in Korea

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Korea;
   formerly USA

First Appearance: Marines in Action#14/3 (September, 1957)

Powers/Abilities: Adam Carter is a trained Marine, proficient in basic hand-to-hand combat and skilled in firing rifles. Initially, he had an aggressive attitude, fighting hard against racially defined opponents, but then became focused against only Communists.

Height: 5'10" (by approximation)
Weight: 160 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Blond

History:

(Marines in Action#14/3 (fb) - BTS) - An orphan and at loose ends living in the USA, Adam Carter, who enjoyed shooting and fighting, joined the Marines. He was sent in a counterattack during the Korean War after winter, but fellow Marines felt his trigger-happy attitude left him lacking in certain Marine qualities. He hated Communists and Koreans equally, sometimes shooting at friend and foe alike.

(Marines in Action#14/3) - During one push by his battalion and after nearly shooting a Korean civilian, he became embroiled in vicious hand-to-hand fighting and separated from his fellow Marines. Carter was beaten unconscious and injured by Communist soldiers, but his battalion fought them back. Carter's commander left him behind for medics and pursued the enemy. Barely regaining consciousness, he staggered away as Communist soldiers neared, but collapsed again. He was found by Korean villagers and taken back to one family's home where his wounds were tended. The villagers disliked the brutal Communists and so helped Carter recover, sharing their meager food with him. Recuperating with the friendly family, he felt a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt before. Eventually, he tearfully left and hours later found his battalion again, who thought he had been lost. The battalion searched for the small village, but found Communists had since burnt it to the ground. The Marines confronted the Communist soldiers with Carter leading the brutal charge against them. Carter had found focus and was admired by his fellow Marines. His sergeant later told Carter that the villagers had safely escaped and Carter resolved to help clean up the mess the Koreans were in by fighting Communists.

 

Comments: Created by uncredited writer and Syd Shores (pencils & inks).

His final fate is unrevealed. If he survived, maybe he settled in South Korea or returned to the USA having overcome his racism.

This type of storyline has become a tad cliche now (a bigot facing a near-death experience but helped by those he despises, serves to confront his bias and helps him reach understanding), but this anti-racism tale dates from 1957.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Adam Carter has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Marines in Action#14/3, p1, pan1 (main image)
   p4, pan4 (headshot)

Appearances:
Marines in Action#14/3 (September, 1957) - uncredited writer, Syd Shores (pencils & inks), uncredited editor (likely Stan Lee)

Last updated: 02/07/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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