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Captain America (2004) (Collected Editions) #16
Captain America & Bucky: The Life Story of Bucky Barnes
Think you know the story of Cap and Bucky's origins? Well, think again. The secret story of the early days of Captain America is revealed here, told from Bucky Barnes' point of view. What was Cap and Bucky's first mission together? What was the tragedy that happened on it that changed everything about who Bucky was? And what is the secret that connects the Cap and Bucky series to Cap's modern day stories? From co-writers Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko with artist Chris Samnee (Thor: The Mighty Avenger).
Collecting: Captain America & Bucky 620-624
Collecting: Captain America & Bucky 620-624
168 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2012
14 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,797 books3,022 followersEd Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.
In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 24, 2019
"Steve and I were sentinels of liberty, defenders of freedom . . ." -- Bucky on his WWII experiences
Although our beloved Cap gets top billing here he is strictly a supporting character, as the volume is primarily about (and no surprise, really, given the subtitle) his-then teenage sidekick James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. It's an updated origin story / retelling, that is heavy on WWII action scenes in the European Theater - my one minor gripe is that they didn't depict any missions featuring the Howling Commandos - when Bucky first 'made his bones' as a distinctly non-superpowered hero alongside Cap, the original Human Torch, and an insufferable Sub-Mariner. Possibly the best section was a unsanctioned, clandestine rescue to retrieve a captured Allied spy where Bucky makes an alarming discovery that completely shatters his remaining bit of youthful innocence. The concluding chapter then sort of awkwardly shifts gears to jump ahead and briefly feature his time as The Winter Soldier.
Although our beloved Cap gets top billing here he is strictly a supporting character, as the volume is primarily about (and no surprise, really, given the subtitle) his-then teenage sidekick James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. It's an updated origin story / retelling, that is heavy on WWII action scenes in the European Theater - my one minor gripe is that they didn't depict any missions featuring the Howling Commandos - when Bucky first 'made his bones' as a distinctly non-superpowered hero alongside Cap, the original Human Torch, and an insufferable Sub-Mariner. Possibly the best section was a unsanctioned, clandestine rescue to retrieve a captured Allied spy where Bucky makes an alarming discovery that completely shatters his remaining bit of youthful innocence. The concluding chapter then sort of awkwardly shifts gears to jump ahead and briefly feature his time as The Winter Soldier.
February 16, 2024
Captain America & Bucky 620-624
Fills in some of Bucky's experiences in WW2. Very rewarding expansion of his and Captain America's time together. I could read more of these kind of fill-in stories.
Fills in some of Bucky's experiences in WW2. Very rewarding expansion of his and Captain America's time together. I could read more of these kind of fill-in stories.
March 26, 2015
***Buddyread with the Shallow Readers! Sidekick is the obvious Bucky Barnes aka Bucky aka Winter Soldier***
This was a refreshing look at a character I've only ever known as Winter Soldier. And like I've said before, movies can really put a damper on comic forms. But this time, everything actually fits (with this one volume, at least).
Bucky Barnes is someone I've been interested in for awhile. So seeing his start was really important to me. I had no idea how he got to the point of his existence in Winter Soldier. And this answers a lot of questions. Like the fact that Bucky was an orphan with a sister that he seriously loved (in a non creepy, non incest way). It also shows us how he was chosen to be Cap's sidekick. And from what I can see in this, Cap never doubted the kid. Even when he went off protocol to make shit happen, Cap backed up his quick thinking, if not reckless, acts.
And while I don't agree with the mistreatment of sidekicks without "powers", it was cool to see his rocky relationship with other heroes. Because even when they doubted him, he still risked his ass to save them time and time again.
It was weird to see non-WS, because Bucky was such a vulnerable kid. He took the most backhanded compliments and held them close to his heart. Poor kiddo.
But seriously guys.
August 10, 2016
Story of the dead side kick who got a pretty cool dead-but-not-exactly-dead story and became central character in the movie universe. Well done Brubaker.
Bucky's story is retold with a bit of exaggeration, a bunch of embellishments and wince-worthy decision making adults. Yeah, WW2 was desperate times but hauling a sixteen year old boy with barrels of anger and bad temper to the war front as a partner to Captain America, wasn't a bright idea.
Having said that, Brubaker takes effort in making Bucky agonizingly endearing and a tragic hero in his own regard. Brubaker doesn't feed platitudes or grandiose reasoning for Bucky's service in the military. He acknowledges the misplacement of a young man in a horrific war, Bucky's reaction to concentration camp and the way it forces him to see the world differently - a broken boy hardens to a young man when he sees the depth of depravity human beings can achieve.
Bucky, for the win.
Bucky's story is retold with a bit of exaggeration, a bunch of embellishments and wince-worthy decision making adults. Yeah, WW2 was desperate times but hauling a sixteen year old boy with barrels of anger and bad temper to the war front as a partner to Captain America, wasn't a bright idea.
Having said that, Brubaker takes effort in making Bucky agonizingly endearing and a tragic hero in his own regard. Brubaker doesn't feed platitudes or grandiose reasoning for Bucky's service in the military. He acknowledges the misplacement of a young man in a horrific war, Bucky's reaction to concentration camp and the way it forces him to see the world differently - a broken boy hardens to a young man when he sees the depth of depravity human beings can achieve.
Bucky, for the win.
April 27, 2022
This was fun I guess!
We have the story of the past of Bucky and then how he meets cap and then teams up with him to fight Nazi soliders and meeting the Invaders and how he saved their lives and getting the respect of Namor and I loved the way Brubaker wrote this, its these small momens but they make the scene so much more epic and then him eventually going to missions on cap and his past as Winter solider and his first time meeting Nat and the whole life story of Bucky as told in the title. Think of it like Bucky year one and one of the best ones at that easily!
This is easily one of my favorite Brubakers story and he does it so well, you really get to know the story of Bucky intimately so well and its just awesome plus the art is gorgeous and setting of those great times ahh I love it! Just wonderful omg! A must read for sure!
We have the story of the past of Bucky and then how he meets cap and then teams up with him to fight Nazi soliders and meeting the Invaders and how he saved their lives and getting the respect of Namor and I loved the way Brubaker wrote this, its these small momens but they make the scene so much more epic and then him eventually going to missions on cap and his past as Winter solider and his first time meeting Nat and the whole life story of Bucky as told in the title. Think of it like Bucky year one and one of the best ones at that easily!
This is easily one of my favorite Brubakers story and he does it so well, you really get to know the story of Bucky intimately so well and its just awesome plus the art is gorgeous and setting of those great times ahh I love it! Just wonderful omg! A must read for sure!
July 17, 2020
I hate when I finish a great comic and just think "Fucccckkkkkk... why can't I have more of this?"
This writing team - made up of Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko (one of my favorites!) have managed to tell Bucky Barnes' entire life story in a way that was not only engaging and interesting, but heartfelt and moving, as well. It's not revealed until the very end that he's telling the story to his sister, Rebecca, who has Alzheimers and will not remember what he's said.
In this story, they make a few tweaks to the original canon. For example, Bucky becomes Cap's sidekick by being trained and assigned to him rather than catching Steve changing out of his uniform. It covers from the time Bucky lost his mother through to his time after he came out of the cold as the Winter Soldier.
I greatly enjoyed Bucky's narrative here. I loved the way they showed how he was so angry for so much of his life after losing his mother and the army and Steve taught him to channel that anger into helping others during the war. The contrast between his style and Steve's is incredibly apparent and I love that he never lost his spirit despite everything he went through in the war.
So, this is a clear recommend from me. The story is terrific and beautifully told. Samnee's art is absolutely perfect. Bucky's narrative was absolutely wonderful and a delight to read.
This writing team - made up of Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko (one of my favorites!) have managed to tell Bucky Barnes' entire life story in a way that was not only engaging and interesting, but heartfelt and moving, as well. It's not revealed until the very end that he's telling the story to his sister, Rebecca, who has Alzheimers and will not remember what he's said.
In this story, they make a few tweaks to the original canon. For example, Bucky becomes Cap's sidekick by being trained and assigned to him rather than catching Steve changing out of his uniform. It covers from the time Bucky lost his mother through to his time after he came out of the cold as the Winter Soldier.
I greatly enjoyed Bucky's narrative here. I loved the way they showed how he was so angry for so much of his life after losing his mother and the army and Steve taught him to channel that anger into helping others during the war. The contrast between his style and Steve's is incredibly apparent and I love that he never lost his spirit despite everything he went through in the war.
So, this is a clear recommend from me. The story is terrific and beautifully told. Samnee's art is absolutely perfect. Bucky's narrative was absolutely wonderful and a delight to read.
May 29, 2012
Another set of stories from Ed Brubaker about Cap’s sidekick Bucky. This time we get a revised origin story with an emphasis on the personal tragedies in Bucky’s life as well as some of their other exploits in World War II. Entertaining but it feels like Brubaker has covered this ground pretty thoroughly already.
February 19, 2022
✯ [4.5/5] ✯
Maybe I am bias because I love Bucky but WOW hearing about what he went in this comic world was rough, and also: in the MCU I think it makes more sense the whole Winter Soldier x Cap thing (hehehe) but here I understand Buckynat, you know? She was the one who loved him in all his phases... so yes. I am emotional!!!
Maybe I am bias because I love Bucky but WOW hearing about what he went in this comic world was rough, and also: in the MCU I think it makes more sense the whole Winter Soldier x Cap thing (hehehe) but here I understand Buckynat, you know? She was the one who loved him in all his phases... so yes. I am emotional!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2019
This was great; it was so nice to read some of Brubaker's work again.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Rating: 5/5 stars
March 14, 2017
So much fun learning more about Bucky! This is my first foray into Captain America comics but I have seen all the movies. I really enjoyed learning about how Captain America and Bucky became such good friends.
January 13, 2019
Yes, this backstory is explored elsewhere, but it's done so well here, focusing on all the parts that break my heart into a thousand little pieces.
This is the one I had Brubaker sign for me when I met him for 14 embarrassing seconds at WonderCon.
This is the one I had Brubaker sign for me when I met him for 14 embarrassing seconds at WonderCon.
July 19, 2013
I was very surprised by how good this was. Brubaker has done some amazing work and some passable stuff too. Here with the very talented artist Samnee they have done great work!
It is difficult to discuss the magic that can happen or not between a writer and an artist, and I want to clarify that once they tell the story together the artist can make the writing brilliant (or bring out that side of it) or they can make the writing seem weak or insipid. It is very rare that one can clearly distinguish good writing with bad art or vice versa. Once married the two aspects of storytelling become one.
At least this is my working theory,... :)
It is difficult to discuss the magic that can happen or not between a writer and an artist, and I want to clarify that once they tell the story together the artist can make the writing brilliant (or bring out that side of it) or they can make the writing seem weak or insipid. It is very rare that one can clearly distinguish good writing with bad art or vice versa. Once married the two aspects of storytelling become one.
At least this is my working theory,... :)
November 8, 2015
I'll just preface this review by saying that my primary frame of reference is the Marvel movies (which, oops, I might actually like better, in this case - don't hate me!) but since I'm not the only person on this board who's in that spot, I'll continue on with that being said.
I liked the stories included here, though I'll agree with the sentiment - that he seemed to transition into the Winter Soldier rather abruptly. I would've liked to see more of the head space he was in while being the Winter Soldier, instead of sort of brushing over it like I was reading an animated dossier. Overall a pretty good collection here, though I prefer the MCU Bucky. (Sorry comic fans!)
I liked the stories included here, though I'll agree with the sentiment - that he seemed to transition into the Winter Soldier rather abruptly. I would've liked to see more of the head space he was in while being the Winter Soldier, instead of sort of brushing over it like I was reading an animated dossier. Overall a pretty good collection here, though I prefer the MCU Bucky. (Sorry comic fans!)
April 28, 2019
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ComicCorner@CartonManetteDarnay
After reading the first issue last year I finally go round to reading this trade which features #620-24 of Captain America (2004-2011). If I've said it once, I've said is 100 times, I love Bucky Barnes. I'd say I love him 3000 (Simultaneous wink and cry face), so this was a must read for me. I'm not typically interested in Golden Age/ Silver Age stuff, which meant that this was a great little wrap up of the sort of things that were going on in that era. We get to see Bucky as the sidekick, with a slightly different origin to the MCU Bucky. We get to cover a lot of territory in just a few issues, which works great as a recap, or if you just want to know a bit more about that character from his perspective. I should have some sort of review coming to you at some point!
ComicCorner@CartonManetteDarnay
After reading the first issue last year I finally go round to reading this trade which features #620-24 of Captain America (2004-2011). If I've said it once, I've said is 100 times, I love Bucky Barnes. I'd say I love him 3000 (Simultaneous wink and cry face), so this was a must read for me. I'm not typically interested in Golden Age/ Silver Age stuff, which meant that this was a great little wrap up of the sort of things that were going on in that era. We get to see Bucky as the sidekick, with a slightly different origin to the MCU Bucky. We get to cover a lot of territory in just a few issues, which works great as a recap, or if you just want to know a bit more about that character from his perspective. I should have some sort of review coming to you at some point!
October 7, 2023
Oh they knew they were eating when they made this.
This is another origin story tale about Bucky Barnes- how he became Captain America's sidekick as a kid to him becoming the Winter Soldier.
I love Bucky like highkey he's one of my favorites and this got into his relationship with Natasha / Black Widow so I was screaming crying throwing up the entire time.
I wish this were longer tbh. It felt so abrupt when it jumped into him becoming the Winter Soldier. I feel like it didn't want to take that long with it either when that story could have absolutely had more time.
But 10/10, the art was great and this is a must read for the Bucky girlies.
This is another origin story tale about Bucky Barnes- how he became Captain America's sidekick as a kid to him becoming the Winter Soldier.
I love Bucky like highkey he's one of my favorites and this got into his relationship with Natasha / Black Widow so I was screaming crying throwing up the entire time.
I wish this were longer tbh. It felt so abrupt when it jumped into him becoming the Winter Soldier. I feel like it didn't want to take that long with it either when that story could have absolutely had more time.
But 10/10, the art was great and this is a must read for the Bucky girlies.
June 24, 2015
2.5 stars
Well, MCU really did change Bucky's background, character and motivations.
Yes, this is pretty much just me reading comics to see how they adapt and change from the source material.Specifically, just those that are relevant to the Marvel films. I have tried on multiple occasions to read comics, starting with my obsession with X-Men when I was younger and then discovering that I really hated the comics. Not because of the art or the often inane dialogue, but because of the lack of continuity, the ever-changing timelines, universes and characterizations. It drove me batty. They keep killing people off and later resurrecting them in such silly ways. Why kill them off at all? The shock value? They can never keep a couple together. They either fridge the girl, split the couple up, have multiple on-and-off again relationships, etc. Name me more than three long-term committed couples? That aren't ruined in at least one of the multiplicity of different authors' runs?
Anyway, back to this book. In 1940 Bucky is a troubled youth, orphaned and close to his little sister Becca.
Father is military, fyi. After the deaths of his mother and father, Becca gets sent away to boarding school leaving behind Bucky, angry and grieving and furious with the world. He constantly gets into fights; a "scrappy, scrawny troublemaker" is how he is described when he is recruited by General Chester Phillips at age 16.
Almost the very last thing that Bucky's father said to him was "I'm disappointed in you, Bucky ... You really let me down here" because of Bucky getting into a fight after his mother's death. So, Becca is sent away to school while Bucky gets stuck staying on base and swept up into the military since "That's how Jimmy would've wanted it."
Camp Lehigh!
Anger issues. Quick temper. No control. The MCU Bucky is vastly different.
He was only sixteen when they recruited him. So, essentially they must have falsified his records to get him in the army two years under age!
Rogers is supposed to be twenty at this point.
Barnes was already an excellent scrapper and brawler, with top marks in hand-to-hand combat and marksmanship. He trained extensively with the S.A.S.
When he gets chosen for Captain America's partner, Bucky feels as if he can finally let go of the past. He has made his father proud. He genuinely enjoys his work in the war far more than MCU Barnes ever does.
Steve and Bucky have no shared history in the comics. They never meet until Steve is Captain America, super soldier. Their friendship/partnership begins with their propaganda films for morale and the war effort.
There were far more super-humans involved: Submariner, Human Torch & Toro (men made of fire), the Incredible Invaders. (They feel like this mix of far too many science fiction ideas crammed into one story. Overstuffed, bloated and uneven.) Bucky feels weak in comparison.
Cap and the others all managed to get taken captive and Bucky goes after them and he rescues them all from the Nazis.
Dr. Zola was using the supers to create his own Nazi ubermensch.
They see a concentration camp and Bucky wants to free them, but Cap tells him that first they have to act on the information they just uncovered through Zola and take out those targets. Cap and Bucky never do make it back to free the camps, instead mission after mission prevents them from returning. They get shot down over the channel. Cap disappears for years, while Bucky is taken by the Russians and is made into the Winter Soldier.
The comic skips over that process and just says that they revived him, though without any true memories of his life before. He had his skills and training which his Russian masters twisted to their purposes. He became their pet assassin, training alongside the Black Widow, Natasha. They fall in love and that causes all sorts of complications.
And then one day while on a mission, a little girl is involved and the cracks in Bucky's conditioning start to show and the Russians start to put him on ice between missions. Decades pass and Bucky is still a captive locked away in his own mind while he commits atrocities "until Cap fixed me... and all the horrors I committed came rushing back like a tsunami.
I might have put a bullet in my brain to quiet the ghosts...if not for Natasha ... It seems the women in my life have ALWAYS found my humanity."
So, not sure how Natasha is as young as Bucky since he was the one getting put on ice between missions. How is she as young as she is if she has been around since the Cold War?
Anyways, after they are both free of Russia, and Bucky has regained his memories, they go to visit his now elderly sister Becca who is suffering from Alzeimher's. But she remembers Bucky.
"You seem like a good woman, Natasha. Taht's what Jimmy deserves. Someone to take care of hum. He's too busy taking care of everyone else to do it for himself."
"Get some sleep, sis. I love you."
Thanks for that, writers.
Then the former Russian Avenger and the operative once known as the Winter Soldier head off to catch some miscreants.
Reread June 2015
Well, MCU really did change Bucky's background, character and motivations.
Yes, this is pretty much just me reading comics to see how they adapt and change from the source material.Specifically, just those that are relevant to the Marvel films. I have tried on multiple occasions to read comics, starting with my obsession with X-Men when I was younger and then discovering that I really hated the comics. Not because of the art or the often inane dialogue, but because of the lack of continuity, the ever-changing timelines, universes and characterizations. It drove me batty. They keep killing people off and later resurrecting them in such silly ways. Why kill them off at all? The shock value? They can never keep a couple together. They either fridge the girl, split the couple up, have multiple on-and-off again relationships, etc. Name me more than three long-term committed couples? That aren't ruined in at least one of the multiplicity of different authors' runs?
Anyway, back to this book. In 1940 Bucky is a troubled youth, orphaned and close to his little sister Becca.
Father is military, fyi. After the deaths of his mother and father, Becca gets sent away to boarding school leaving behind Bucky, angry and grieving and furious with the world. He constantly gets into fights; a "scrappy, scrawny troublemaker" is how he is described when he is recruited by General Chester Phillips at age 16.
Almost the very last thing that Bucky's father said to him was "I'm disappointed in you, Bucky ... You really let me down here" because of Bucky getting into a fight after his mother's death. So, Becca is sent away to school while Bucky gets stuck staying on base and swept up into the military since "That's how Jimmy would've wanted it."
Camp Lehigh!
Anger issues. Quick temper. No control. The MCU Bucky is vastly different.
He was only sixteen when they recruited him. So, essentially they must have falsified his records to get him in the army two years under age!
Rogers is supposed to be twenty at this point.
Barnes was already an excellent scrapper and brawler, with top marks in hand-to-hand combat and marksmanship. He trained extensively with the S.A.S.
When he gets chosen for Captain America's partner, Bucky feels as if he can finally let go of the past. He has made his father proud. He genuinely enjoys his work in the war far more than MCU Barnes ever does.
Steve and Bucky have no shared history in the comics. They never meet until Steve is Captain America, super soldier. Their friendship/partnership begins with their propaganda films for morale and the war effort.
There were far more super-humans involved: Submariner, Human Torch & Toro (men made of fire), the Incredible Invaders. (They feel like this mix of far too many science fiction ideas crammed into one story. Overstuffed, bloated and uneven.) Bucky feels weak in comparison.
Cap and the others all managed to get taken captive and Bucky goes after them and he rescues them all from the Nazis.
Dr. Zola was using the supers to create his own Nazi ubermensch.
They see a concentration camp and Bucky wants to free them, but Cap tells him that first they have to act on the information they just uncovered through Zola and take out those targets. Cap and Bucky never do make it back to free the camps, instead mission after mission prevents them from returning. They get shot down over the channel. Cap disappears for years, while Bucky is taken by the Russians and is made into the Winter Soldier.
The comic skips over that process and just says that they revived him, though without any true memories of his life before. He had his skills and training which his Russian masters twisted to their purposes. He became their pet assassin, training alongside the Black Widow, Natasha. They fall in love and that causes all sorts of complications.
And then one day while on a mission, a little girl is involved and the cracks in Bucky's conditioning start to show and the Russians start to put him on ice between missions. Decades pass and Bucky is still a captive locked away in his own mind while he commits atrocities "until Cap fixed me... and all the horrors I committed came rushing back like a tsunami.
I might have put a bullet in my brain to quiet the ghosts...if not for Natasha ... It seems the women in my life have ALWAYS found my humanity."
So, not sure how Natasha is as young as Bucky since he was the one getting put on ice between missions. How is she as young as she is if she has been around since the Cold War?
Anyways, after they are both free of Russia, and Bucky has regained his memories, they go to visit his now elderly sister Becca who is suffering from Alzeimher's. But she remembers Bucky.
"You seem like a good woman, Natasha. Taht's what Jimmy deserves. Someone to take care of hum. He's too busy taking care of everyone else to do it for himself."
"Get some sleep, sis. I love you."
Thanks for that, writers.
Then the former Russian Avenger and the operative once known as the Winter Soldier head off to catch some miscreants.
Reread June 2015
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2020
buckyyy <33
August 12, 2025
its a really good book to get to know who Bucky barnes is.
its a small comic book.
would recomend to people that like short stories and that love to get to know Bucky more!
its a small comic book.
would recomend to people that like short stories and that love to get to know Bucky more!
January 1, 2022
Top-notch storytelling. Ed Brubaker's work on Captain America is legendary. So much of what the MCU put into the character comes from this master writer. Brubaker is not alone on these issues he is joined by writer Marc Andreyko & artist Chris Samnee. Samnee's art fits this story like a glove. There is just a timeless feel to Samnee's art. It feels like something from a bygone era yet its style is unique. Although there is some good comic book superhero action in this book it works more as a character study. Brubaker takes us back to the era of the greatest generation, World War II. We learn about the triumphs and tragedy of Bucky aka the Winter Soldier. Brubaker does an excellent job in explaining why a young teenager of sixteen was running around with Captain America on some of the most dangerous missions during WWII. You really want to root for poor Bucky but it is sad that his destiny soon leads him to become a weapon and killer for Russia. In learning more about Bucky we learn more about what makes Captain America tick. Some of my favorite moments in this book are the conversations between Buck and Steve. This is more than just a superhero tale this is a story about the experience of the American soldier. Many say that there are no complete winners in war. Captain America reminds us that killing even if for a righteous cause still leaves a mark on the man. Bucky is a hero because he chooses to face his inner demons and make sacrifices for the greater good. This story really makes the weight of the complicated relationship between Cap and the Winter Soldier so real. This is just a small sample of why many to this day still see Brubaker's run on the Captain America series as probably the best ever written. A five star read all the way.
July 29, 2014
As far as Captain America stories go, I’m forced to admit that, for me, the movies are the source material. The comics are fine and all, I used to read Cap quite a bit when I was a youngster, but the Cap related movies have been so good that wherever they deviate from the comics, then the comics are wrong.
So this Graphic Novel, Bucky’s tale, is a big mess of continuity problems. I had to go back and remind myself that this isn't meant to fill in gaps that aren't covered by the movies, but instead are their own world with its own continuity, in which I assume this fits right in to.
Once I made my peace with that, I was able to enjoy this for what it was, a relatively entertaining story about Bucky and his early life, as an orphan, as a warrior, and as a man out of time.
As it stands, this was fine, the art was okay, but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit more powerful – a beautiful piece of art can distract me a bit if the story is losing me in places – but this was serviceable. If I’d drawn this I’d be thinking it was the greatest thing ever done, but since I’m comparing the art to the best in the industry, I wasn’t as moved.
So this Graphic Novel, Bucky’s tale, is a big mess of continuity problems. I had to go back and remind myself that this isn't meant to fill in gaps that aren't covered by the movies, but instead are their own world with its own continuity, in which I assume this fits right in to.
Once I made my peace with that, I was able to enjoy this for what it was, a relatively entertaining story about Bucky and his early life, as an orphan, as a warrior, and as a man out of time.
As it stands, this was fine, the art was okay, but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a bit more powerful – a beautiful piece of art can distract me a bit if the story is losing me in places – but this was serviceable. If I’d drawn this I’d be thinking it was the greatest thing ever done, but since I’m comparing the art to the best in the industry, I wasn’t as moved.
February 13, 2012
That's a very solid tale from Brubaker & Andreyko, who for me has been slipping in his Captain America writing for a while. Nice to see him return to form - even if it's in the comfy, easy-to-please confines of simple WWII, b&w morality.
Goes awful fast too - wish I'd had more to savour. These expansions of the Cap & Bucky backstory have been very rewarding, and Brubaker makes it look easy to recreate the war-noir mix like this.
The art is a new creator who has an interesting if 60's-like style. It's very fluid and breezy, includes plenty of scenery along with the action. Good stuff.
Goes awful fast too - wish I'd had more to savour. These expansions of the Cap & Bucky backstory have been very rewarding, and Brubaker makes it look easy to recreate the war-noir mix like this.
The art is a new creator who has an interesting if 60's-like style. It's very fluid and breezy, includes plenty of scenery along with the action. Good stuff.
April 26, 2014
Oh, look, another tired origin story. But wait! It's actually good. I like origin stories, anyway, and although the life story of Bucky Barnes has been told many times, Brubaker makes it feel fresh and new by telling it from Bucky's perspective, in Bucky's own words. He highlights how monstrous it was to take a sixteen-year-old boy and turn him into an instrument of war, the first step to his becoming the Winter Soldier. Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko's assured storytelling is complemented by Chris Samnee's clean, expressive art.
September 29, 2020
This is everything I wanted it to be and more. Bucky as a smart-mouthed, headstrong teenager fighting his way to be Captain America's partner and then blundering forward as the only non-super-powered person on the Invaders? Yes, please. Tight stories, working together to make a whole is exactly the kind of comic-book storytelling I love. (Also, Steve Rogers is a dork who believes in Bucky so much and I love him.)
December 24, 2015
Oh, yes! Give me some more Buck Barnes/Winter Soldier backstory!!! I love it. Bucky/Winter Soldier is one of my top five favorite Marvel characters.
I love what Remender did with him in his recent Winter Soldier Mini-series.
this is a great day-in-the-life story of Bucky, and what it was like for him to be a part of the Invaders. Really great stuff. Really great character.
I love what Remender did with him in his recent Winter Soldier Mini-series.
this is a great day-in-the-life story of Bucky, and what it was like for him to be a part of the Invaders. Really great stuff. Really great character.
October 17, 2014
I really enjoyed this comic. I would have to say that now I'm a fan of Bucky and the Winter Soldier. I enjoyed the movies as well. Can't wait to read more about Bucky and the Winter Soldier. Also can't wait for Captain America 3!!!
August 16, 2013
I was surprised this was so good. Great back story on Bucky and his early year with Captain America and later on as the Winter Soldier and his time with the Black Widow.
July 31, 2015
(i actually like buckys backstory in the movie better which i know is really bad)
January 22, 2019
I like his MCU backstory better.😂
February 26, 2022
Wow it really took me by surprise that I enjoyed this wayy more than I thought I would! Possibly my favorite comic book that I've read so far? So engaging and well written -- what a treat!
August 21, 2019
I think I may have come to the conclusion that Ed Brubaker's favorite Captain America character is Bucky.
At the end of the last volume, Bucky has been freed from the Russian gulag he has been being held in and on the final pages, it looks as though that the inevitable is about to happen--Steve Rogers is once again about to become Captain America (which was obvious ever since Reborn .) But not yet.
The title of the book changed to Captain America & Bucky for this story arc (and the next one) and this volume deals with Bucky's origins during World War II and also the early days of Bucky's existence as the Winter Soldier (one question answered here--why did the Russians put Bucky on ice until he was absolutely needed?) At this point in Brubaker's run, I don't know if all this background on Bucky is necessary, but the fact is Brubaker seems to be making up for all of the lost time between Cap came back in Avengers #4 and the beginning of his run, since all of the pre-Brubaker Bucky stories always seemed to feature "fake" Buckies intended to torment Captain America. Maybe we need to understand Bucky's motivations and personality, since for most of his existence, Bucky was just a ghost, but the execution is wanting here (especially when a concentration camp shows up. I found it difficult to believe that someone like Bucky, who was attached to both Cap and the Invaders, would not be aware of the horror of the concentration camps.)
At this point, the story should really make Steve the focus again. The next collection is also called Captain America & Bucky so I'm going to assume that Brubaker's plan is to do a contemporary take on the Captain America and Bucky team, but we'll see. But I've had about enough of Bucky at this point.
At the end of the last volume, Bucky has been freed from the Russian gulag he has been being held in and on the final pages, it looks as though that the inevitable is about to happen--Steve Rogers is once again about to become Captain America (which was obvious ever since Reborn .) But not yet.
The title of the book changed to Captain America & Bucky for this story arc (and the next one) and this volume deals with Bucky's origins during World War II and also the early days of Bucky's existence as the Winter Soldier (one question answered here--why did the Russians put Bucky on ice until he was absolutely needed?) At this point in Brubaker's run, I don't know if all this background on Bucky is necessary, but the fact is Brubaker seems to be making up for all of the lost time between Cap came back in Avengers #4 and the beginning of his run, since all of the pre-Brubaker Bucky stories always seemed to feature "fake" Buckies intended to torment Captain America. Maybe we need to understand Bucky's motivations and personality, since for most of his existence, Bucky was just a ghost, but the execution is wanting here (especially when a concentration camp shows up. I found it difficult to believe that someone like Bucky, who was attached to both Cap and the Invaders, would not be aware of the horror of the concentration camps.)
At this point, the story should really make Steve the focus again. The next collection is also called Captain America & Bucky so I'm going to assume that Brubaker's plan is to do a contemporary take on the Captain America and Bucky team, but we'll see. But I've had about enough of Bucky at this point.
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