Winter Soldier

Winter Soldier #17

/ / Comics

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

/ / Comics

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

/ / Comics

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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Winter Soldier #14

/ / Comics

Winter Soldier #14Ed Brubaker’s run on Winter Soldier ends with the final issue of the “Black Widow Hunt.” Although I’m happy to see someone else get a crack at Captain America, I fear Bucky’s status in the Marvel Universe could take a hit with Brubaker’s departure, particularly with the choices he makes here.

The first third of the comic is pretty much set-up and the retelling of Bucky’s war with the Soviet sleeper agent Leo Novokov who has brainwashed the Black Widow into believing she is once again an agent of the KGB. I’m not saying the amount of pages spent on catching everyone up are wasted, but it does mean the final battle between Novokov and the Winter Soldier feels rushed and anti-climactic.

More concerning however is Novokov’s victory. Although the Avengers are able to restore nearly all of Natasha’s memories, they can’t make her remember Bucky at all. Aside from making no sense, this certainly opens up new possibilities for the character (including the teased pairing with Hawkeye to mirror the movie characters), but it also means a huge piece of what made this book work will be absent for the foreseeable future. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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Winter Soldier #13

/ / Comics

winter-soldier-13-coverIt takes the combined efforts of Daredevil, Captain America, Hawkeye, and Wolverine to take down down the Winter Soldier who has been brainwashed by the Soviet sleep agent Novokov to kill Daredevil.

If you didn’t know writer Ed Brubaker’s near insane love for the character of the Winter Soldier you’ll certainly get the message loud and clear here as the combined efforts of three pretty damn formidable Avengers (and Hawkeye) struggle to prevent the brainwashed Bucky from carrying out his mission.

The fight has its moments, and it’s certainly well told, but by the end of the issue we’re right back to where we were an issue-and-a-half ago with no movement on the search for the brainwashed Black Widow or the ultimate goal of Novokov. Even if Brubaker seems to be milking a story that doesn’t make any sense with what’s going on with the rest of the Marvel Universe (as Black Widow isn’t reprogrammed in The Avengers or other titles in which she’s also appearing), it’s still worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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