Abraham Erskine

Doctor Abraham Erskine was a scientist who created the original Super Soldier Serum. Whilst living in Nazi Germany, he was forced to use a preliminary version of the serum on HYDRA leader Johann Schmidt. Fleeing to the United States of America, Erskine joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve where he managed to perfect his serum and chose Steve Rogers to be its recipient. However, moments after Rogers' transformation, Erskine was assassinated by HYDRA agent Heinz Kruger. 
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
==== Adolf Hitler's Offer ====
Abraham Erskine was a German-born scientist from Augsburg, noted for his work in developing a serum to enhance human strength and abilities to superhuman levels. Erskine's work coincided with the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany. When Erskine refused to cooperate with the Nazis and tried to escape with his family to Switzerland in 1935, Hitler sent Johann Schmidt, the head of his SS research division HYDRA to force Erskine to finish the formula. Meanwhile, his family was taken to a concentration camp, where they eventually died after a typhus outbreak.
==== In Captivity ====
While Erskine was forced to continue working for the Third Reich, he came into conflict with Johann Schmidt who had intended to use the Super Soldier Serum for his own ends without Erskine's approval. Schmidt had also heard legends of an ancient artifact attainable only to a superior man and believed Erskine's formula would make him that superior man, although Erskine believed that his formula would not only enhance Schmidt's strength, but also his rage.
Erskine refused to hand over his formula until Schmidt threatened him with a gun and took an early version of the formula, which indeed gave him enhanced strength, but also demonstrated severe side effects. Schmidt would lose his hair, his skin would turn a deep red, and his face and head would also be deformed into a grotesque skull-like appearance. Erskine would later say the formula had also enhanced Schmidt's already-malevolent personality as well.
=== Project Rebirth ===
==== Meeting Steve Rogers ====
: "Well, there are already so many big men fighting this war. Maybe what we need now is the little guy, huh? I can offer you a chance. Only a chance."
: ―Abraham Erskine to Steve Rogers[src]
While reviewing some more potential test subjects inside a recruiting station at Stark Expo in 1943, Erskine happened to encounter Steve Rogers, who was having an argument with Bucky Barnes over his own right to go overseas and fight, showing himself to have a strong moral standing. As Erskine looked closer into his recruitment documents, he discovered Rogers had only recently attempted to enlist under assumed names in four different cities.
Intrigued by the lengths Rogers had gone to enlist, Erskine came to speak with him in private and asked Rogers if he wanted to kill Nazis during World War II, admitting that this was indeed a test for Rogers. When Rogers briefly questioned where Erskine was from, he claimed he came from Queens in New York City before admitting he was born in Germany. When Erskine asked his question again, Rogers claimed he did not wish to kill anyone but simply disliked bullies.
Rogers' answer satisfied Erskine enough to approve his draft card as 1-A and had him stationed at Camp Lehigh. As he signed the draft card, Erskine noted that he would be offering only a chance with Project Rebirth and no guarantees, but Rogers insisted that he would take whatever chance he was given. When Erskine questioned where Rogers was really from, he admitted he was from Brooklyn before Erskine called him a soldier and then left.
==== Training Soldiers ====
: "You're not really thinking about picking Rogers, are you?""I am more than just thinking about it. He is the clear choice."
: ―Chester Phillips and Abraham Erskine[src]
At Camp Lehigh, Chester Phillips did not like the idea of bringing a frail boy like Steve Rogers on the frontline, but Erskine was sure that he had made his choice for the Project Rebirth. Though Rogers struggled through basic training due to his small size and poor health, his perseverance and ingenuity impressed Erskine, who regarded Rogers as the clear choice. Erskine resisted Colonel Phillips' efforts to persuade him to select Gilmore Hodge, who was physically superior, but whom Erskine regarded as a bully. Erskine's confidence in Rogers was cemented when he witnessed Rogers throw himself on what he thought was a live grenade in order to protect his fellow soldiers.
The night before the test, Erskine came to the private quarters to offer Rogers a drink from Augsburg, but did not give it to him because the experiment was tomorrow so Rogers could not have any fluids. Erskine admitted his reasons for selecting him. Erskine told him about Schmidt and explained while someone like Schmidt, who had known power all his life, might lose respect for that power, a weak man like Rogers would know the value of strength. Erskine urged Rogers not to forget who he was, not a perfect soldier, but a good man.
==== Transforming Steve Rogers ====
: "Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but the first step on the path to peace. We begin with a series of microinjections into the subject's major muscle groups. The serum infusion will cause immediate cellular change. And then to stimulate growth, the subject will be saturated with vita rays."
: ―Abraham Erskine[src]
The next day, when Steve Rogers arrived at the Strategic Scientific Reserve Brooklyn Facility, Erskine, with help from Howard Stark, injected him with penicillin and multiple injections of the Super Soldier Serum and bombarded him with Vita Radiation. Erskine nearly stopped the procedure when it appeared Rogers was having difficulty enduring the procedure, but Rogers urged him to continue. Moments later, Rogers emerged from the chamber significantly taller and noticeably more muscular.
==== Assassination ====
: "Any hope of reproducing a program is locked in your genetic code. But without Dr. Erskine, it will take years."
: "He deserved more than this."
: "If it could only work once, he'd be proud it was you."
: ―Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers[src]
Erskine's experiment was successful, but his satisfaction was short-lived as Heinz Kruger, who was sent in by HYDRA to sabotage Erskine's work, had infiltrated the facility disguised as an observer from the State Department, detonated a bomb, destroying Erskine's machinery and shot him before attempting to escape with a sample of the Super Soldier Serum. When Steve Rogers rushed to the fatally wounded Erskine's side, Erskine's final act was to point to Rogers' heart, to remind him of who he was inside.
== Personality ==
: "Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. That you will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man."
: ―Abraham Erskine to Steve Rogers[src]
Erskine was a scientist of integrity. He understood the importance of compassion for the weak, refusing to accept Gilmore Hodge as a candidate for Project Rebirth because of how the latter treated Steve Rogers in boot camp, referring to him as "a bully" despite his physical qualifications, which confounded the traditional Chester Phillips. His decision to elect Rogers for the Super Soldier operation was solidified when Rogers selflessly ran to cover a grenade, which was, in reality, a dud.
== Abilities ==
* Genius-Level Intellect: Erskine was one of the brightest minds in the world during his time. He was so smart that he was actively sought out by Johann Schmidt to give him the Super Soldier Serum. He was also actively sought out by SSR who wanted him for Project Rebirth. His most famous and important work was creating the Super Soldier Serum which was continuously trying to be recreated as nobody knew his original form.
* Master Scientist: Erskine was an extraordinarily advanced chemist, having devised, created and perfected the Super Soldier Serum in the 1940s. 
* Bilingualism: Erskine was fluent in his native German, as well as English.
== Relationships ==
=== Allies ===
* SSR
** Chester Phillips † - Friend
** Howard Stark † - Friend and Colleague
** Peggy Carter - Friend
* Steve Rogers - Friend and Test Subject
=== Enemies ===
* Adolf Hitler †
* HYDRA
** Johann Schmidt/Red Skull?
** Arnim Zola †
** Heinz Kruger † - Killer
== Appearances ==
In chronological order:
* Captain America
* The Avengers (mentioned)
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Erskine went under the alias of Josef Reinstein in order to hide from Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Zemo.
Category:Comics Characters
Category:Scientists
Category:Humans
Category:Deceased characters
Category:Professors
Category:Males
Category:Captain America Characters
Category:Grey Hair
Category:Brown eyes