docgold13:365 Marvel Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…April 1

docgold13:

365 Marvel Comics Paper Cut-Out SuperHeroes - One Hero, Every Day, All Year…

April 13th - The Winter Soldier

James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes was born in the 1920’s, the son of a career military family.  An accident left Bucky orphaned in his early adolescence and he managed to convince The Camp Lehigh Army training base to take him on as a ward.  Although originally seen as something of the camp’s mascot, it wasn’t long before Bucky began participating in military training and showed a remarkable aptitude for strategy, marksmanship and hand to hand combat.  Despite his young age, Bucky began specialized training with British Commandos under the tutelage of William Essart Fairbairn and Colonel Rex Applegate.  His skill became so impressive that he was selected for special covert assignments overseas prior to America’s official entry into the Second World War.

After Steve Rogers became Captain America, it was arranged for him and Bucky to become friends, and for Bucky to discover Rogers’ dual identity as Captain America.  It was not long before the two became partners in action with Bucky fulfilling some of the more gruesome aspects of war, such as tactical assassinations and sniper fire, so that Captain America could retain an unblemished symbol of virtue and honor among his fellow servicemen and the general public.  

The behind the scenes arrangement of their partnership notwithstanding, Bucky and Steve became lifelong friends and their closeness and camaraderie helped them become an even more formidable asset to the Allied Forces.  Although he frequently wore a costume to match Captain America’s patriotic uniform, Bucky eschewed the use of a codename, sticking with his original nickname of ‘Bucky.’

Alongside Captain America, Bucky helped to form the specialized squad of super powered heroes who battled against many of the Axis Powers’ more fantastical threats.  British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill dubbed this specialized squad ‘The Invaders.’  Alongside The Invaders and similar teams, such as The Liberty Legion and The Young All Stars, Bucky waged war against all manner of threats, including The Red Skrull, Baron Zemo, Hydra and a host of other villainous menaces.    

Bucky was believed to have been killed in action near the end of the war, blown up in an experimental jet plane designed by the evil Baron Zemo.  It was later revealed, however, that Bucky’s life was saved by the Russian general and war hero named Vasily Karpov.  Bucky was nursed back to health whist being brainwashed and made to see himself as a coldblooded and unflinching weapon of the Soviet State.  Bucky had lost his left arm in the explosion and had it replaced with an advanced bionic prosthetic.  Although he recalled no memories of his previous life, he retained his vast combat skills and quickly became the most proficient and deadly assassin of the Cold War era.  His existence was kept secret and, during those times he was not needed for a mission, he was kept in cryogenic stasis.  Few if any outside of Karpov new Bucky’s true identity and he was referred to solely as ‘The Winter Soldier.’  

Over the next several decades The Winter Soldier would be dispatched to execute sanctions all across the globe.  The longer he remained out of stasis the more aspects of Bucky’s original self would return to the surface.  During one of these prolonged times out of stasis, Bucky aided in the training of the Black Widow assassins produced by The Red Room.  Bucky grew especially close with the young trainee, Natasha Romanoff, and the two became romantically involved.  Fearing that such a matter would compromise The Winter Solder’s efficacy, his handlers put an end to this affair and shortened the times in which Bucky was allowed to stay out of cryogenic stasis.  

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, The Winter Soldier fell into the hands of Karpov’s former protégé, General Aleksander Lukin.  Lukin broke away from the Russian military to establish the lucrative energy conglomerate, Kronas Oil Corporation, and utilized The Winter Soldier to neutralize competitors and garner greater influence, quickly establishing himself as one of the most powerful oligarchs of the former Soviet Union.  

Hungry for still more power, Lukin used The Winter Soldier to try to obtain The Cosmic Cube.  This resulted in a conflict with Captain America who was able to determine the Soldier’s true identity and was stunned discover his long lost friend was somehow still alive.  Cap was eventually able to prevent Lukin from obtaining the cosmic cube.  Before destroying the cube, Cap used its awesome power to undo Bucky’s brainwashing and cause him to remember the entirety of his life.  

It was a very difficult transition for Bucky.  Although he regained his old memories and personality, he was also forced to recall and remember all of the atrocities he was made to commit in his role as The Winter Soldier.  With the help of Cap, Natasha and Sam Wilson, Bucky was able to cope as best he could.  During this time Bucky and Natasha (now the Avenger known as The Black Widow) rekindled their romance together.  

When Steve Rogers was apparently assassinated following the first superhero Civil War, Bucky found himself foisted into the position of wielding the shield as the new Captain America.  Although he felt himself a fraud unworthy to take Steve’s place, Bucky proved highly capable in the role, taking down foes such as Arnim Zola and The Grand Director and joining The Avengers in their defense of The Skrull’s Secret Invasion.  Bucky remained a member of The Avengers during their battles against Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign schemes.   Ultimately, he and The Avengers took on The Red Skull in an adventure that resulted in the resurrection of Steve Rogers.  

Following Steve’s return, both he and Bucky briefly shared the mantle of Captain America.  Bucky fell in battle during the Fear Itself event, yet was revived thanks to a transfusion of the Infinity Formula.  This elixir not only restored Bucky’s health but also augmented his physical abilities and diminished his aging process.  Afterward, he returned to the role of The Winter Soldier, acting as a secretive operative for SHIELD, The Avengers and, for a time, as the leader of a new Thunderbolts team.  

Bucky/The Winter Soldier has featured prominently in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by actor Sebastian Stan.  The hero first appeared in the pages of Captain America Comics #1 (1940).