FREEDOM SCIENCES STUDIES INSTITUTE

Membership: Dr. Railsback (Brew), Dr. McDonald (Lime), nurses Goren and Kuyper

Affiliations: Project:Glamor

Base of Operations: Northern California

Aliases: Ivory Tower

First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents#2/2 (September, 1988)

History: The Freedom Science Studies Institute (FSSI) was funded by Project: Glamor, a covert US government operation seeking to recreate the super soldier serum (aka Juice) originally created by Dr. Theodore Sallis. To prevent discovering of the true nature of the Institute, it was referred to in connection with the Project as Ivory Tower. Funding came through a number of illicit channels, including arms sales to Latveria and drug sales through Columbia. Human test subjects were obtained by a number of Project members, including the mercenaries, Zahner (aka Corndog) and Monteiro (aka Taco Bell), and members of a satanic cult, including Skinny (aka Loose Screw), who purchased the Project's drugs.

The FSSI's activities were initially directed by Dr. Railsback (aka Brew), who was assisted by nurse Goren. Goren was killed while trying to soothe an agonal subject, Senator Wilbur Wycombe. Railsback, after appearing to be unable to have a surviving subject, was subsequently replaced by Dr. McDonald (aka Lime), who was assisted by nurse Kuyper. Due to fears about his resentment of his replacement, and that he could expose the entire operation, Railsback was himself chosen as the next test subject. McDonald succeeded in enabling the serum to differentiate between different types of tissue, and Railsback became the first success, although he was hideously mutated in the process.

McDonald was then commissioned by Project member Col. Jody Choate (aka Steel) to mutate himself and six other loyal soldiers. Choate then slew McDonald after he had demanded payment. Railsback broke free from his prison, killed several people at the Institute and traveled to Florida to avenge himself on those responsible for his transformation. Railsback was apparently killed in the process.

All activities of the Project were eventually publicly revealed by investigative reporter, Mickey Ditillio (aka Rodent). It would be presumed that the Institute was closed as a result.

COMMENTS: Created by Steve Gerber and Tom Sutton.

Sorry about the images. They were the best I could do.

images: (without ads)
Marvel Comics Presents#2, p11, pan1 (main image)