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Captain America: The Winter Soldier [Marvel Premier Collection]
Brand-new introduction by author Ed Brubaker.
Brand-new foreword by Academy Award-nominated actor Sebastian Stan.
Sebastian Stan returns as the Winter Soldier in Thunderbolts*, in theaters May 2, 2025.
Eisner Award-Winning writer Ed Brubaker (Daredevil, Criminal) delivers a high-stakes, espionage-laden thriller in this classic story that reshaped the legacy of Captain America and left a lasting impact on the Marvel Universe.
Collects Captain America (2004) 1-9, 11-14.
Marvel’s Premier Collection gives iconic Marvel stories the treatment they deserve—including a special foreword by author Ed Brubaker, newly designed cover upgrades and all-new exclusive material! Ideal for both old and new fans—the perfect entry point into the Marvel Universe anytime, anywhere. Eisner Award-winning writer Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Daredevil) delivers a high-stakes, espionage-laden thriller that redefines Captain America. Cap is pitted against the Winter Soldier, a mysterious assassin revealed to be none other than Bucky Barnes—his long-lost friend and sidekick, believed dead since World War II. This gripping narrative forever alters the emotional core of Steve Rogers’ journey. Writer Ed Brubaker pushes the Captain America mythos headlong into the future with high adventure and full-throttle action. For more than fifty years, the Soviets employed an undercover agent — an unstoppable, untraceable killer known as the Winter Soldier — to assassinate key political figures in the West. His suspected identity? Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s one-time partner, thought to have been murdered in the closing days of World War II. Now the Winter Soldier is back, working under the command of the ruthless General Lukin — who has obtained a functional Cosmic Cube, a weapon of limitless power that can bend reality itself. Vowing to end Lukin’s reign of terror and destruction, Captain America relentlessly tracks the Cube — only to find himself face-to-face with the Winter Soldier. Will Cap be forced to battle his resurrected partner so soon after finally learning the astonishing truth?
Brand-new foreword by Academy Award-nominated actor Sebastian Stan.
Sebastian Stan returns as the Winter Soldier in Thunderbolts*, in theaters May 2, 2025.
Eisner Award-Winning writer Ed Brubaker (Daredevil, Criminal) delivers a high-stakes, espionage-laden thriller in this classic story that reshaped the legacy of Captain America and left a lasting impact on the Marvel Universe.
Collects Captain America (2004) 1-9, 11-14.
Marvel’s Premier Collection gives iconic Marvel stories the treatment they deserve—including a special foreword by author Ed Brubaker, newly designed cover upgrades and all-new exclusive material! Ideal for both old and new fans—the perfect entry point into the Marvel Universe anytime, anywhere. Eisner Award-winning writer Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Daredevil) delivers a high-stakes, espionage-laden thriller that redefines Captain America. Cap is pitted against the Winter Soldier, a mysterious assassin revealed to be none other than Bucky Barnes—his long-lost friend and sidekick, believed dead since World War II. This gripping narrative forever alters the emotional core of Steve Rogers’ journey. Writer Ed Brubaker pushes the Captain America mythos headlong into the future with high adventure and full-throttle action. For more than fifty years, the Soviets employed an undercover agent — an unstoppable, untraceable killer known as the Winter Soldier — to assassinate key political figures in the West. His suspected identity? Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s one-time partner, thought to have been murdered in the closing days of World War II. Now the Winter Soldier is back, working under the command of the ruthless General Lukin — who has obtained a functional Cosmic Cube, a weapon of limitless power that can bend reality itself. Vowing to end Lukin’s reign of terror and destruction, Captain America relentlessly tracks the Cube — only to find himself face-to-face with the Winter Soldier. Will Cap be forced to battle his resurrected partner so soon after finally learning the astonishing truth?
Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2025
About the author
Ed Brubaker
1,822 books3,070 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 17, 2025
I'm going to start this review by saying I could write probably a collection of essays right now, so we will see what this ends up becoming! If you have been following my journey with Marvel this year, you will know this a big milestone for me. I don't have the same history with Marvel that I do with DC. For many years, I intentionally avoided cultivating a Marvel readership because 1. I genuinely did not think my brain could hold as much love and knowledge as I have for the DCU for another, separate comic book universe and 2. I love Marvel movies. Fucking sue me.
Before I get into my review of this book itself, I also want to take this opportunity to touch on the comic-book-person of it all. I've never seen anything of the sort happen because I'm Gen Z and Californian, but I hear that people used to made fun of for liking comic books. And maybe I'm totally off base here because I have what the masses would probably refer to as objectively incorrect and low-brow taste in movies, but it's hard not to make the connection here. Maybe people look down and clown on superhero movies so much because of the same reason that they look down on comic books. I am too neurodivergent to know what this mythical reason is, but I will combat it by saying I actually think comic books are some of the most valuable media we have. The combination of art and written word together gives you so much context and perspective about what the world was like at the time of its creation. Seriously, people need to read old comics. It does to me whatever reading classics does to my sister (ha). But in all seriousness, it is such a valuable medium that is deserving of so much more respect. And I would argue that most comic book movies are not bad movies, most people just don't enjoy the superhero comic book genre. I actually feel bad for actors who get ridiculed for their involvement in the MCU. I don't know if Marvel fans are tamer or if I'm just not on that part of the internet, but what Marvel has cultivated with their movies is nothing to turn your nose up at (I think people are going bring back bullying specifically because of me going on this rant - if I get punched tomorrow, I understand). It's a genre so near and dear to my heart, and if it is objectively bad, I never want to be objectively good <3.
Anyways, the actual book! This year I, like many of us, have been taking time to examine what it means to be American in 2025. As I just went on about in more detail than a Goodreads review ever needed, comics have always been there for me. Also, to be honest, I just really want to read the Zdarsky run but figured I needed to read some mainline stuff first since I'd never read a Cap book prior to this! So when I saw this in my LCS, I knew I had to scoop it up. And let me tell ya, buddies, Ed Brubaker is one of my favorite comic writers. A lot of writers - particularly the men in this male-dominated field - write superheroes as such a clear power fantasy of their own, but Brubaker has a really great way of humanizing characters. I also always appreciate a writer who gives the floor to the artist and knows when the art can tell the story better than text could. I have immense appreciation for how this story was compiled even just on the literal blocking and page composition level.
Again, showing my lack of personal history with Marvel, I will admit my introduction to all of these characters was through the movies. So I was surprised by some of the differences, however it is not causing me to meltdown in anger the way I was always worried I would if I read Marvel comics. I can respect and enjoy the things that make the 616 unique and also respect and enjoy the source material. This is a prime example of that. I love Bucky in the movies, and it was so great to meet him in the comics. In a way, Bucky has been a looming figure in my life as the other side of the meta coin he shares with Jason Todd. I am already more impressed by the writing given to Bucky (Jason, you deserve so much better). I also appreciate that I read the special collected edition of this released earlier this year. Sebastian Stan's foreword and Ed Brubaker's introductions were really great to read. Also, shoutout to wherever in Canada this was printed, because the paper smells just like the Scholastic Book Fair from when I was a kid and I didn't know how much I needed to smell that again.
Toodles!
Before I get into my review of this book itself, I also want to take this opportunity to touch on the comic-book-person of it all. I've never seen anything of the sort happen because I'm Gen Z and Californian, but I hear that people used to made fun of for liking comic books. And maybe I'm totally off base here because I have what the masses would probably refer to as objectively incorrect and low-brow taste in movies, but it's hard not to make the connection here. Maybe people look down and clown on superhero movies so much because of the same reason that they look down on comic books. I am too neurodivergent to know what this mythical reason is, but I will combat it by saying I actually think comic books are some of the most valuable media we have. The combination of art and written word together gives you so much context and perspective about what the world was like at the time of its creation. Seriously, people need to read old comics. It does to me whatever reading classics does to my sister (ha). But in all seriousness, it is such a valuable medium that is deserving of so much more respect. And I would argue that most comic book movies are not bad movies, most people just don't enjoy the superhero comic book genre. I actually feel bad for actors who get ridiculed for their involvement in the MCU. I don't know if Marvel fans are tamer or if I'm just not on that part of the internet, but what Marvel has cultivated with their movies is nothing to turn your nose up at (I think people are going bring back bullying specifically because of me going on this rant - if I get punched tomorrow, I understand). It's a genre so near and dear to my heart, and if it is objectively bad, I never want to be objectively good <3.
Anyways, the actual book! This year I, like many of us, have been taking time to examine what it means to be American in 2025. As I just went on about in more detail than a Goodreads review ever needed, comics have always been there for me. Also, to be honest, I just really want to read the Zdarsky run but figured I needed to read some mainline stuff first since I'd never read a Cap book prior to this! So when I saw this in my LCS, I knew I had to scoop it up. And let me tell ya, buddies, Ed Brubaker is one of my favorite comic writers. A lot of writers - particularly the men in this male-dominated field - write superheroes as such a clear power fantasy of their own, but Brubaker has a really great way of humanizing characters. I also always appreciate a writer who gives the floor to the artist and knows when the art can tell the story better than text could. I have immense appreciation for how this story was compiled even just on the literal blocking and page composition level.
Again, showing my lack of personal history with Marvel, I will admit my introduction to all of these characters was through the movies. So I was surprised by some of the differences, however it is not causing me to meltdown in anger the way I was always worried I would if I read Marvel comics. I can respect and enjoy the things that make the 616 unique and also respect and enjoy the source material. This is a prime example of that. I love Bucky in the movies, and it was so great to meet him in the comics. In a way, Bucky has been a looming figure in my life as the other side of the meta coin he shares with Jason Todd. I am already more impressed by the writing given to Bucky (Jason, you deserve so much better). I also appreciate that I read the special collected edition of this released earlier this year. Sebastian Stan's foreword and Ed Brubaker's introductions were really great to read. Also, shoutout to wherever in Canada this was printed, because the paper smells just like the Scholastic Book Fair from when I was a kid and I didn't know how much I needed to smell that again.
Toodles!
April 4, 2026
I refused to read this for years because the idea of reviving Bucky was just too outrageous for me.
As it is, this is a thrilling, very well written and aptly illustrated comic, with its fair share of memorable moments.
I'm still not sold about what it does for Cap continuity (this whole idea that he's been around for just 10 years doesn't add up), but still, it's a very solid read, though the resolution is not up to the development. Brubaker's intro is truly insightful and made the whole thing more sensible to me.
As it is, this is a thrilling, very well written and aptly illustrated comic, with its fair share of memorable moments.
I'm still not sold about what it does for Cap continuity (this whole idea that he's been around for just 10 years doesn't add up), but still, it's a very solid read, though the resolution is not up to the development. Brubaker's intro is truly insightful and made the whole thing more sensible to me.
February 8, 2026
Captain America Just ain't for me
April 29, 2026
This version of Bucky is even sadder than the MCU
March 27, 2026
Ed Brubaker has mastered the art of writing noir griity espionage crime thrillers for comics.
1. There is a genuine humane side to Brubaker's characters which is much beyond the general ambit of good or bad.
2. Unlimited unchecked Power is the real villain which can corrupt even the most sane person.
3. Liked the backstories of the WW2 and especially Jack Monroe 's interlude part.
Overall a entertaining thought provoking read.
1. There is a genuine humane side to Brubaker's characters which is much beyond the general ambit of good or bad.
2. Unlimited unchecked Power is the real villain which can corrupt even the most sane person.
3. Liked the backstories of the WW2 and especially Jack Monroe 's interlude part.
Overall a entertaining thought provoking read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews