This article contains spoilers forCaptain America: The Winter Soldier.
It was the story that shouldnt have worked.
There were certain sacred cows in mainstream comics, certain stories a writer just didnt undo.
Or so everyone thought.
Everyone except writer Ed Brubaker, who dared to ask Why?
Now, many of those the story beats informCaptain America: The Winter Soldierat the movies.
Not bad for a story that no one thought should ever be told.
Cap was defined by his conflict with the Axis Powers and little else.
In Caps earliest adventures, Bucky served a dual purpose.
For the returning Captain America, the death of Bucky Barnes was that tragedy.
And yet, always knowing what the right thing to do was.
The death of Bucky was one event that fueled Caps character.
In truth, its likely that no one felt there was a place for Bucky in the Silver Age.
Marvels newer, more sophisticated fans, could have viewed Bucky as a Robin rip off.
Bucky was an anachronism, a one-note character who was way more interesting dead than alive.
Until, of course, he wasnt.
When Brubaker and artist Steve Epting relaunchedCaptain Americain 2005, the series was at a creative crossroads.
Sales, which never exactly set the charts on fire in the first place, ebbed.
Marvel had teased Buckys return in stories for decades, but it was just that…a tease.
There even was a Bucky android for a time.
In a way, the Winter Soldiers existence was a greater tragedy to Cap than Buckys death.
If Bucky was frozen, Rogers could have just as easily been turned into a Winter Soldier.
Bucky was now the Super Soldier idea gone horribly wrong.
Bucky seems to be the Little Engine That Could.
Theres probably one or two that didnt, but most people were like, Wow!
They pulled it off.
Not only was Bucky back, he was a major new part of the Marvel Universe.
Now, Marvel could tell flashback tales of Bucky meeting such characters as Wolverine and Nick Fury.
Thats why I think the Winter Soldier works as a way to bring Bucky back.
WatchingCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, one can see Eptings drawings come to life.
Epting visually informed the character that would go on to inspire a new generation of Cap readers.
The former Winter Soldier barely had time to get his bearings before he replaced his mentor as Captain America.
No one was ready for the fan love that poured forth after Bucky took up the mantle of Cap.
And what a story it was.
Like us onFacebookand follow us onTwitterfor all news updates related to the world of geek.
AndGoogle+, if thats your thing!
