Sept 2025 "The Beginning" by Jackie Zamora

My interest in The Marvel Universe began in middle school. At that point, I hadn't known much about the franchise other than a couple of characters, such as Iron Man and Captain America, so I took it upon myself to watch all the movies. Once I had seen them, I realized Bucky was one of my favorite characters. Bucky started out as a young man from Brooklyn and was Steve Rogers' best friend, who would later become Captain America. After joining the army during World War II, Bucky was captured by a secret Nazi group called Hydra. They experimented on him, giving him super-soldier abilities. Bucky escaped and fought alongside Captain America, but during a mission, he fell from a train and was presumed dead.

The Winter Soldier

However, Bucky survived the fall. He was found by the Soviets and Hydra, who brainwashed him and gave him a new metal arm. They turned him into the Winter Soldier, a highly-skilled assassin who was kept in a frozen state between missions. As the Winter Soldier, Bucky was forced to commit many terrible acts, including killing the parents of Tony Stark (Iron Man). He eventually encountered Captain America again, who helped him start to remember his past. This led to a battle that freed Bucky from Hydra's control.

A New Chapter

After regaining his memories, Bucky tried to find peace and make up for his past. He was framed for a crime he didn't commit, which caused a significant conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. Bucky was eventually cleared and sought refuge in Wakanda, where a princess named Shuri helped cure him of his brainwashing. Bucky fought alongside the Avengers against Thanos, but was tragically killed when Thanos wiped out half of all life in the universe. Five years later, Bucky was brought back to life and helped the Avengers defeat Thanos for good.

Making Amends

With his name cleared, Bucky tried to make up for his past as the Winter Soldier. He teamed up with his new friend, Sam Wilson, who became the new Captain America. Together, they battled a group of superpowered terrorists and confronted the person who took over the Captain America title for a short time. Bucky has been working on atoning for his past ever since, even entering politics as a congressman and trying to expose a corrupt government agent. Most recently, Bucky and a group of allies were tricked into being announced as a new superhero team called the New Avengers.

Why these stories matter now

It's important to know Bucky's story because he is now part of the group that is expected to take the role of the Avengers. The group is sometimes referred to as the 'New Avengers,' which seems like a big title for them, considering that there’s no way the original group could be surpassed, not because these characters aren’t good, but because it’s hard to replicate the feeling the original group gave fans. I think the fact that Bucky is part of that group gives longtime fans hope.