Falcon & Winter Soldier: 10 Things About The Winter Soldier Everyone Should Know About

Bucky Barnes is one of the most tragic characters within the Marvel universe. With every incarnation of the character, he was the closest friend of Captain America. However, due to an event that occurred in World War 2, which differs depending on the iteration, he becomes the Winter Soldier. Although he was brainwashed, he eventually recovered and is trying to redeem himself as a hero.

Although the character is haunted, he remains one of the most popular characters in the MCU. However, there might be some facts that newcomers aren’t aware of, from both the comics and movies, regarding the Winter Soldier.

10 He Was Originally A Teenage Soldier In The Comics

During the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, it’s been defined that Bucky was the best friend of Captain America, having known him for years and being roughly the same age. They view each other as equals and becomes allies during World War 2.

However, in the comics, when he first appeared, he was different. Bucky Barnes was more of a young teenager who joined Captain America when he accidentally discovered his identity, becoming his sidekick in order to fight the nazis before his perceived death.

9 His Death Was Almost Permanent For A While

When Captain America was put into ice, Bucky was deemed killed in action when he attempted to disarm an experimental drone plane, with the bomb taking his arm.

Before he became the Winter Soldier, Bucky’s death was seen as permanent, with several replacements or successors being created in order to take his place and mantle. Although it eventually led to Captain America acting alone without a Bucky.

8 He Debuts As Winter Soldier In 2005

Eventually, the character made his full revival and return as the Winter Soldier, becoming a far different and darker interpretation than before.

Becoming the Winter Soldier in 2005 is the main incarnation that has been shaping the character since. It became so popular that the character eventually appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and has become one of the most prominent characters in the MCU.

7 He Had A Romance With Black Widow

Throughout the MCU, Bucky Barnes was dealing with guilt from his time as the Winter Soldier. When he was in hypnosis, he was always strictly fighting as a slave assassin for Hydra.

This resulted in the character never pursuing a romance and he fought anyone he came across including Black Widow. However, in the comics, the two pursued a relationship together and have become close allies within the Marvel universe.

6 He’s A Super Soldier, But How He Became One Is Different

Bucky Barnes is a person with abilities that can rival Captain America. In the MCU, it was implied that his experimentations with Hydra resulted in him becoming similar to Cap himself, with the advantage of having a bionic arm.

However, in the comics, the character was similarly enhanced but through different means. In the canon, the Winter Soldier was enhanced by the infinity formula which is the same formula as the one given to Nick Fury.

5 In The Comics, He Lost His Arm Due To A Rocket

During the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, he tragically fell from a hydra train, falling from a large distance. As a result, he lost his arm and he ended up becoming a slave and Hydra’s personal assassin.

But in the comics, Bucky lost his arm as a result of a bomb blowing up the plane. This resulted in him getting picked up by a Russian submarine that turned him into a weapon for the Russian government, going on missions during the time Captain America was frozen in ice.

4 In The Films, He Was Indoctrinated By Hydra As Opposed To Just Russia

Throughout the character’s stint in comics and mass media, he has been consistently dealing with his trauma as an assassin, although in the MCU, it was primarily due to Hydra.

As a result, his indoctrination was fitting to the storytelling that the MCU wanted to put out there. Unlike the comics, his status in the universe was a potent reason for the various incidents that occurred such as the destruction of SHIELD and the Civil War conflict.

3 He Fights Against Another Captain America In The Past

The history behind the mantle of Captain America is riddled with dark secrets. Following the events that resulted in the original being frozen in ice, several characters donned the mantle. However, prior to Bucky, many suffered a tragic fate.

One of them was the Captain America of the 1950s named William Burnside. Due to the impurities in his super-soldier serum that had an effect on his mental health, he became psychotic, resulting in the Winter Soldier fighting him during his time as Captain America.

2 He Becomes Captain America In The Comics

Prior to the Falcon’s retrieval of the shield in the comics, Bucky Barnes was turned into the successor of Captain America. But he didn’t take the mantle out of Steve Roger’s free will; rather, it was given to him as a result of his friends’ death.

As a result, he was burdened by the role and eventually he relinquished it, returning as Winter Soldier. This is a stark contrast to his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the character was never given the shield, accepting the Falcon as the successor.

1 In The MCU, He Wishes To Redeem Himself

Although both incarnations are good individuals and want to redeem themselves, the MCU takes this more to heart. He goes through therapy and is trying to seek out a simpler life in order to make amends, only going out to help due to the events that are occurring within The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.

Contrasting this is the comics, which have him be more proactive during his time as The Winter Soldier and joining many teams. However, the Winter Soldier’s story in the MCU doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon.

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