Super Soldier Serum

In Comics
In comics the super soldier serum was devolped by Professor Josef Reinstein, although it was retconned as an alias for Dr. Abraham Erksein. The doctor created the serum to work in conjuction with his "vita-ray" treatment to creat the ultimate human. In theory, once injected with the serum and exposed to the vita-rays the person would be at the peak of human effeciency. The army wanted to use the serum to creat an army of super soldiers to stand up to the Nazi war machine. The government envisioned an army of men who did not get tired, ran faster, and fought harder than any other army on earth.

As part of the experiment Steve Rogers, a frail young man, rejected by army recuirters for being to sickly, is tapped to serve as the final test subject. Rogers is exposed to the vita-rays and injected with the serum. He is immediatly transformed into the perfect human weapon. While still recovering from the treatment a Nazi spy reveals himself amongst the military observers and attempts to kill Rogers, but is foiled when the doctor dives in front of the bullet. Before the Nazi can fire again Captain America throws the Nazi into the electical equipment killing him.

Doctor Reinstein never wrote down the formula, therfore it's secret died with him. However several attempts to duplicate it have ended in madness, due mainly to the abscence of the vita-rays in the treatments.

Captain America (1979)
In the 1979 made for television movie => Captain America, the super soldier serum is refered to as the FLAG (Full Latent Ability Gain) formula (at one point referred to as a "super-steroid"). Is is devoloped by the father of Steve Rogers, who was a scientist in WWII. When spies nearly kill Rogers, he is given the experimental formula in hopes that it will save his life. It heals his wounds and gives him increased speed, stamina, and strength.

Captain America (1990)
In the 1990 film the super soldier serum is developed by Dr. Maria Vaselli. Vaselli is an Italian scientist and is forced to develop the serum for the fascists in 1937. The first test subject is a rat who immediatly turns a bright redish color and is covered with black scar-like tissue. The next subject was an Italian boy who was kidnapped for the experiment. The tratment enhanced his mind and body, but altered his skin similarly, giving his face a red, skull like appearance. After the test on the boy Dr. Vaselli defected to America, where she perfected the formula. It was used on Steve Rogers, a young man suffering from polio and denied entry into the armed services. The formula cured his polio and gave him enhanced strength, speed, and stamina. However shortly after being injected with the serum Dr. Vaselli was murdered by a Nazi spy among the military onlookers. Never wanting her formula to fall into the wrong hands the doctor never wrote it down, thus secret formula died with her.

Captain America: The First Avenger
(2011) The serum will no doubt appear the upcoming Captain America film.