Red Skull’s MCU Return Should Be Justice For Bucky

If Bucky Barnes were to get a solo MCU movie after The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it should be about his getting justice against the Red Skull. After all, Bucky’s trauma started during the villain’s initial clamber for power in Captain America: The First Avenger. From the involuntary experiments to the brainwashing and decades-long captivity, HYDRA was the reason Bucky became the Winter Soldier. If there’s any character in the MCU that is most emblematic of HYDRA and Bucky’s tragic past, it’s the Red Skull.

Since his initial appearance in The First Avenger, where he first encounters the Red Skull, Bucky has become a crowd-favorite MCU character. So much so that he’s grown from a scene-stealing supporting character to a top-billing, complex protagonist as seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. As of now, only Loki is confirmed for season 2; however, Bucky’s popularity points to inevitable appearances in future MCU projects. Considering the magnitude of Bucky’s presence on the big screen across the Captain America trilogy, and the narrative ripples his story caused throughout the MCU, a solo movie is the perfect vehicle for a story about him getting justice.

Indeed, the Red Skull is the perfect villain for Bucky’s solo movie because a face-off with the progenitor of his trauma would punctuate his redemption arc in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The series ended with Bucky reconciling his fear that the Winter Soldier could only be a tool for destruction with the fact that the Winter Soldier’s superhuman gifts could also be used for good. Though the Red Skull’s last ghostly appearance in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame makes his return to earth in full power and form unlikely, Loki‘s season 1 ending set up Phase 4’s exploration of the multiverse. As such, bringing a Red Skull variant into Bucky’s world would not be outside the realm of possibility. More importantly, it would provide Bucky with a chance for symbolic justice.

Foremost, Bucky deserves closure for his tragic Winter Soldier story. After breaking free from HYDRA’s brainwashing in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his arc throughout the MCU films was predominantly about running from his past. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series was the first instance in which Bucky was shown in therapy and on a path towards making amends, but he still wrestled with his guilt and identity. What’s more, the Disney+ series’ ending title almost solidified Bucky being White Wolf, an identity he repeatedly insisted upon, instead of the Winter Soldier; however, only Falcon’s change to Captain America was shown in the final product. This hints that there are more Winter Soldier stories to tell in the MCU before Bucky becomes White Wolf. That HYDRA still has apparent roots in numerous governments, as evidenced in the series’ first episode, also suggests that Bucky’s identity as the Winter Soldier cannot be fully put away until the organization that created it is put to rest.

HYDRA essentially started with the Red Skull, and it was his command that empowered Dr. Zola to experiment on Bucky when he was captured during WWII and turn him into the brainwashed assassin. Therefore, what Bucky needs in order to get justice is the opportunity to vanquish the Red Skull himself. Now that the existence of the MCU’s multiverse has been revealed, there’s a chance for a solo Bucky movie to do just that with a Red Skull variant. After all, in the comics, the Red Skull poses a more continual threat to Bucky’s world than the MCU has illustrated thus far. Now that Steve has officially retired as Captain America, Bucky is the only active character with a personal history with HYDRA. Re-introducing the Red Skull would ultimately bring Bucky’s journey full circle. Looking at the larger picture, the Red Skull’s return via multiversal magic would effectively bridge the gap between the gritty and grounded themes associated with Bucky’s world and phase 4’s direction towards expanding MCU magic. It’s a win for the studio, but, more importantly, it’s a win for Bucky.

About The Author

Jericho Tadeo
(25 Articles Published)

Jericho is a freelance writer and editor whose words can be found on The Nerd Daily, Elixuer Magazine, and more. His love for movies started with weekend trips to the theatre with his dad when he was young. This translated into a love for storytelling in general. In addition to journalism, he has written for the stage and screen. He can be reached at jerichotadeo [at] gmail [dotcom].

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