The Marvel Cinematic Universe typically prides itself on being as comic-accurate as possible without losing its essence or identity. They can’t always keep the details from the comic books to tell good stories that align with their overarching story, sothere are times whencharacters in the MCU are a bit differentfrom their Marvel Comics counterparts.A great example of this lies with The Winter Soldier, AKA Bucky Barnes.
A huge fan-favorite of the MCU, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), is quite different from the source material but somehow incredibly similar at the same time. Marvel Studios had pretty much no choice but to stick relatively close to the original character to adapt him in a way that was going to makeCaptain America: The Winter Soldiera compelling story.This list will highlight the many ways Bucky differs from his comic book counterpart. There won’t be any ranking; instead, the list will simply aim to provide clarity about where the two characters differ.
10The Soviet Union
Wait, it wasn’t HYDRA?
While The Winter Soldier may work for the villainous organization HYDRA inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, that’s not the group he works for in his Marvel Comics origin. When The Winter Soldier becomes active in the books, he actually works for the Soviet Union. HYDRA has absolutely no connection to the character in the source material.
Due to the nature of his different origins in the comics,the Soviet Union got its hands on the assassinand took control of him. This choice made the conflict surrounding his actions have a lot more national impact than a fake organization. It definitely made more sense forHYDRA to have gotten him inCaptain America: The First Avenger, but the red star on his metal arm in the sequel film is the last remnant of his Russian connections.
Captain America: The First Avenger
9Clearing Him of Conditioning
Longing, rusted, seventeen, daybreak…
Even after he got his memories back in the MCU, Bucky Barnes was not free of the conditioning put onto him by HYDRA in his years as The Winter Soldier. Once he got his memories back during his time away afterCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, he was still able to snap back to his old self inCaptain America: Civil Warwhen Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl) recited his trigger words.
In the comics, however, Bucky cleared all his mind issues in the same event that brought his memories back.With the power of the reality-bending Cosmic Cube, Captain America demanded Bucky remember who he was. This convenient event also cleared his conditioning, as it was far more hand-in-hand with his memories than the MCU version,which was also a bit darker of a plot.
Captain America: Civil War
Oh, Bucky… what are you wearing?
When Bucky makes his MCU debut appearance inCaptain America: The First Avenger, he’s dressed as a standard soldier in the WWII U.S. military. While he does don a newer, special ops uniform that ever-so-slightly resembles his comic outfit, it’s still a tactical uniform that fits in with the military. The same cannot be said about his comic book counterpart, though.
Inthe original Captain America books, Bucky Barnes isless of a military man and more of a superhero sidekick. The Bucky of the source material is dressed more like the Robin to Captain America’s Batman. He’s got tights and colored in bright blue and red with an eye mask. He certainly looks more like a superhero than an agent of the government.
7Death of the Starks
Calm down, Tony. He’s innocent.
The biggest plot twist inCaptain America: Civil Waris that, during his time as The Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes murdered Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) parents. This secret leads to the major climax in which Iron Man tries to kill Barnes while Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) tries to stop him.
In the comics,The Winter Soldier had nothing to do with the death of the elder Starks. They still died in a car accident, but it’s commonly just classified as a genuine accident, never linking the incident to Bucky’s assassin’s past. MCU-exclusive fans may find this jarring, given how astoundingly important this event is in the cinematic universe, but Tony Stark can rest a little easier knowing his friend’s bestie didn’t murder his parents. The change was wise, though, as it gives Bucky a more personal connection to other characters besides Steve, thus making hisMCU version better than his comic book counterpart.
6His “Death”
He’s fallen from two very different places.
In both iterations of the character’s origin, Bucky seemingly “dies” from a fall, but the circumstances and locations are very different. Everyone knows that in the films, Bucky died falling from the train he and the Howling Commandos were raiding in hopes of capturing Arnim Zola (Toby Jones) for his crimes.
In both iterations of the character’s origin, Bucky seemingly “dies” from a fall, but the circumstances and locations are very different.
In the comic books, Captain America and his teenage sidekick board a rogue drone plane armed with high-caliber explosives. Unfortunately, the captain can’t hold on, soBucky does his best to turn the plane aroundor defuse the explosives. The plane eventually explodes and takes the young kid with it, or so everyone thinks until he re-emerges much later.
5The Red Room & Black Widow
He and Natasha met far before the present day.
The Red Room was finally further explored in the MCU throughBlack Widow. However, some would be shocked to discover that during his time as an agent of the Soviet Union,The Winter Soldier played a crucial role in the Red Room.Obviously, he does not have this historical connection in the MCU, which is probably for the best, as it would get a bit cluttered.
When he temporarily stepped in as an instructor in the Red Room,Bucky began a secret relationship with Black Widow, making him a vital part of the Widow’s origin and the general history of the Marvel Comics spy world. This relationship between the two would be so significant that it would carry on when they meet up again in the present day of the Avengers.
Black Widow
4Becoming Captain America
‘Endgame’ could have gone much differently!
At the end ofAvengers: Endgame,Steve Rogers got the perfect endingto his story after he got to live the life he always wanted with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and the chance to hand off the mantle of Captain America to another. As he does later in the comics canon, Steve hands the shield off to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) inAvengers: Endgame. However,Bucky Barnes took up the Captain America mantlefar earlier than Sam in Marvel Comics.
After Steve was murdered at the end of the comic book “Civil War” event, Bucky took up the role of the Star-Spangled Man.Comic book Bucky peaked at this time, especially since the “Civil War” story was so impactful. His take on Cap was so well-received that when it came to the ending ofAvengers: Endgame,many people hoped he would be handed the shield instead. But, thanks to where Bucky was at during that time in the MCU, it’s clear that his friend knew the mantle was not something he was ready for, and had a personal journey he still needed to go on.
3His Memories
“Who the hell is Bucky?”
As stated, most of Bucky’s mental issues in the comic books were solved pretty quickly thanks to the use of the Cosmic Cube. Things didn’t turn into sunshine and rainbows after that, but much of his internal conditioning was cured due to Captain America telling him to “Remember who you are.“The MCU has a much more layeredtake on it.
In the movies,Bucky’s memories aren’t completely wiped but rather shoved, buried deep in his mindscape. When Steve finds him inthe third Captain America movie, his recollections slowly come back but are muddy. Unlike the fix for both happening at the same time, as it did in the comics,Bucky’s memories are restored far before his conditioning is fully cleared in Wakanda, as seen inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
2His Age At War
Wait… he was how old?
The friendship between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes is one of the best in the MCU. Their time together as childhood friends, eventually going to war together, bonds them for life. There’s a very clear and lingering sense of loyalty between them that not even decades can erase. Indeed, the line “I’m with you ‘til the end of the line” shattered and warmed hearts all over the world.
In the comic books, Bucky isamong the oldest future Avengers. When he joins Captain America in WWII, it’s typically assumed he’s about 16 years old. This key difference means they certainly weren’t childhood besties, andBucky kind of just got sucked into war at a very young age, as many soldiers did during that time. Thus, Bucky served more as a “ward” than a good friend—at least to the degree of the MCU.
1Friendship with Steve
“I’m with ya ‘til I have to go to college.”
As previously mentioned, the MCU’s duo is super tight, thanks to how good of friends they are. Their friendship served as the emotional core for the entireCaptain Americatrilogy and the only reason it worked is because of how well it was written, so much so that it becameone of the most compelling stories in the entire MCU. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call it one of the three most important dynamics in the MCU.
While they were certainly friends in the Marvel Comics canon, and it’s been slightly retconned as of late to match their MCU relationship,their early comic books had them more as partners in warand even a superhero/sidekick dynamic. This approach still allowed for “The Winter Soldier” storyline to work many years later, but Cap felt responsible for Bucky as a mentor rather than as a best friend.
