Bucky Barnes Life Story

Winter Soldier

In 2005, Marvel launched a new Captain America series (Volume 5) with writer , who revealed that Bucky did not die in World War II. It was revealed that after the plane exploded, General Vasily Karpov and the crew of a Russian patrol submarine found Bucky's cold-preserved body, albeit with his left arm severed. Bucky was revived in Moscow, but suffered brain damage with as a result of the explosion. Scientists attached a , periodically upgrading it as technology improved.

Programmed to be a Soviet assassin for Department X – under the code name the Winter Soldier, he is sent on covert missions and becomes increasingly ruthless and efficient as he kills in the name of the state. While a Soviet agent, he also has a brief relationship with the Black Widow. The Winter Soldier is kept in a cryogenic stasis when not on missions, and as a result has aged only a few years to a young adult since the closing days of World War II. In 1968, the Winter Soldier was sent to kill Professor Zhang Chin, whom he had met over 20 years earlier. He was thwarted by an intangible being called the Man with No Face, though he was able to escape. On assignment in the in the 1970s, he suffers a breakdown and goes missing for days after his target. The Winter Soldier also aided in 's escape from the Weapon X laboratory and later murdered , Wolverine's wife, seemingly killing their unborn son , who survived the attack after being cut from his mother's womb.

In the present day, the Winter Soldier seemingly kills the and Jack Monroe (Nomad) under orders from former Soviet general (Karpov's former protégé). The Winter Soldier launches a terrorist attack on , killing hundreds, and charges the which Lukin sent him to retrieve. He kidnaps , an agent of the international espionage agency and a former lover of Steve Rogers (Captain America). Upon her rescue, Carter tells Captain America that Winter Soldier looked like Bucky. S.H.I.E.L.D. chief confirms the Winter Soldier's existence, but cannot ascertain his identity.

Captain America tracks down and confronts the Winter Soldier. Regaining his memories, Bucky becomes overwhelmed by guilt over his past actions, crushing the Cosmic Cube and teleporting away.

He reappears shortly afterward in , where he helps Captain America fend off a terrorist attack. He asks Nick Fury for employment and new equipment following the loss of his bionic arm. Following the events of the superhuman , Winter Soldier helps Fury plan the escape of an arrested Steve Rogers. Before the plan can be implemented, however, Rogers is assassinated. Considering registration architect (Iron Man) as ultimately responsible, Winter Soldier plans to kill Stark in revenge. Deducing that Stark will oversee the appointment of a new Captain America, Winter Soldier steals Captain America's shield from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent so that it cannot be handed down. Ultimately, he heads to Kronas's headquarters, where Lukin reveals he is the Red Skull and has the evil psychiatrist attempt unsuccessfully to brainwash the Winter Soldier.