Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1

Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1Set in 1966 at the height of the Cold War the new mini-series from writer Rick Remender and artist Roland Boschi gets off to a strong start with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top two agents successfully extracting a pair of Nazi scientists from a HYDRA base. Personally I could have done with a little less of the monstrous Madam Worm, but Boschi’s art fits style of the comic well and the interaction between Nick Fury and the cock Ran Shen offers several fun panels.

Despite escaping the castle without raising any real trouble from the terrorist organization with plans to use the scientists’ discovery of the alchemy formula (allowing them to duplicate any element in any quantity) to destabilize the world’s economy, Fury and Shen run into trouble with the appearance of a Russian agent who has his own plans for the Nazis.

Offering us a look at the more murderous version of Bucky under control of the Soviets, the issue sells me completely on the idea of Shen alone with an injured Fury on a mountain against a mythical enemy he fears he can’t beat. Chris Eliopoulos also provides an awesome variant cover. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Coming Soon

  • Title: Captain America: The Winter Soldier
  • IMDB: link

We now have a new full-length trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier starring Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonAnthony MackieRobert RedfordEmily VanCampCobie SmuldersHayley Atwell, and Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier. The sequel opens in theaters on April 4th. You can find the new character movie posters inside.

Coming Soon Read More »

Winter Soldier #17

Winter Soldier #17After uncovering the identity of the “Electric Ghost” a pissed off Winter Soldier realizes why Nick Fury wanted him on this assignment as the last time Bucky saw the woman responsible for terrorist attacks around the world he was still brainwashed and working for the Russians and she was a young girl whose parents he had just murdered in front of her.

Once Fury fills him in on how bad things have gotten thanks to this Russian-bred madwoman enhanced by the same Cosmic Rays which gave the Fantastic Four their powers, Bucky and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards have no choice but to risk their lives by heading into space, sneaking aboard the woman’s cloaked satellite and eliminating the threat once and for all.

After the heavy set-up, questionable plot choices, and goofy island of assassins, writer Jason LaTour finally seems to be settling down with the character. Winter Soldier #17 has a Bond-like quality (even if that Bond is Moonraker), that fans of the character may enjoy. For fans.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #16

Winter Soldier #16After saving the life of rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Robards, the Winter Soldier and his new friend search for leads by heading to an isolated island in the middle of nowhere where the former head of the Red Room has set up a school for young assassins known as The Orphanage.

Although the story is pretty straightforward the reason behind the team-up of Robards and Bucky is less so (even if Bucky keeps the fact that he murdered the man’s handler years ago to himself), as is their final objective. A short conversation between Maria Hill and the retired, but very much still active, Nick Fury suggests the “Electric Ghost” at the end of Bucky’s journey will be another ghost from his past.

The island of misfit assassins is more goofy than frightening and the objectives of Bucky’s new mission are murky at best. Two issues in new writer Jason LaTour has done little to help sell me on the comic’s new direction. It’s not a bad issue, but there’s not much offered here to make me pick up next month’s comic. Hit-and-Miss.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #15

Winter Soldier #15The first issue launching a new creative team and direction for the characters of the Winter Soldier is a little disappointing. Writer Jason LaTour takes over for Ed Brubaker whose overseen nearly all of Bucky Barnes best moments since his return to comics (at Brubaker’s hands) in 2005.

LaTour has to deal with the fallout of a broken-hearted Bucky whose lost the love of his life due to the mad plans of a Soviet sleeper agent. Without the Black Widow, however, an even more morose than usual Bucky is a far less interesting character.

The comic does include an appearance by the Nick Fury (a rarity in Marvel Comics these days) and a new assignment that ties back into his road to redemption involving saving a longtime undercover S.H.I.E.L.D. agent inside HYDRA.

While Winter Soldier #15 isn’t all that good neither is it a bad comic. However, it doesn’t do nearly enough the sell me on the new direction for the title or the character. Pass.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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