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This Article Contains Spoilers -
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| “ | I am no longer the Winter Soldier. I am James "Bucky" Barnes, and you're part of my efforts to make amends. | „ |
| ~ Bucky after apprehending L. Atwood. |
| “ | The thing is, you don't have to. I'm with you to the end of the line. | „ |
| ~ Bucky's promise to Steve after Sarah Rogers' funeral. |
James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, better known as the Winter Soldier or the White Wolf, is a major character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He is portrayed by Sebastian Stan.
His Good Ranking[]
What Makes Him Close to Being Pure Good?[]
In General/Background[]
- He was never a willing villain, as all his heinous acts as the Winter Soldier were done under mind control by HYDRA, and even then, he shows extreme remorse for his actions as the Winter Soldier and tries to make amends.
- Though he did kill many people as the Winter Soldier, he never shows any emotion due to being mind controlled into doing it, and after being freed from the Winter Soldier program, he is very regretful of his past to the point where he has constant nightmares and receives mandated therapy.
- Even after his hardships, he tries to move on from his past and make amends with the people he hurt.
- He protected Steve Rogers for many years, as he constantly got into fights and Bucky had to intervene to save him.
- When Steve's mom died, Bucky attended the funeral and then walked Steve home, also offering him a place to stay.
- He enlisted in the army during World War II.
Captain America: The First Avenger[]
- He saved Steve who was being beat up by his bully.
- He tried to cheer up Steve who was upset over not getting in the army.
- His insistence that Steve give up trying to get enlisted was out of concern for him, fearing he would not survive warfare given his poor health.
- He shipped out to England and served on the front lines of the war and was subsequently captured by HYDRA alongside his unit.
- When Steve became trapped in the exploding weapons facility, he refused to leave him behind despite Steve telling him to.
- He agreed to return to the battlefield under Rogers' command and joined the Howling Commandos.
- Over the next year, the commandos destroyed many of HYDRA's operations and facilities, significantly affecting Red Skull and Zola's plans.
- He went on a mission to capture Arnim Zola.
- When Steve was knocked down he tried to use the shield to fight the HYDRA agent.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier[]
- After his encounter with Steve on the bridge, in which Steve insisted that Bucky knew him, Bucky spoke out against Pierce and HYDRA for the first time in 70 years.
- After regaining his memories, he is unwilling to kill Steve.
- When Steve falls from the Helicarrier, Bucky dives after him and saves him from drowning.
Captain America: Civil War[]
- After being freed from HYDRA, he went on a mission to learn about his past and his identity.
- When he's attacked by the GSG 9 and Black Panther, who believed he was responsible for the UN Bombing, he reassures Steve that he won't kill anyone.
- He tries to break out of his cell when Zemo tries to brainwash him into the Winter Soldier again.
- He tells Steve and Sam about the other Winter Soldiers and who Zemo was.
- He joins Steve's team to stop Zemo from reaching the Winter Soldiers in Siberia.
- Though he did attack Spider-Man and the other members of Iron Man's team, this was done in self-defense and was also justifiable as they were trying to take him prisoner again despite his innocence.
- During the clash of the Avengers, he tried to tell T'Challa he didn't kill T'Chaka, but T'Challa refused to believe him.
- He was concerned when Ant-Man mentioned the possibility of splitting himself in half.
- He questioned if his life was worth the strife amongst the Avengers.
- Though he did act violent towards Tony during their fight in Siberia, this was justified as he was trying to protect Steve and himself from Tony's blind rage. He was also very regretful of murdering the Starks during his time as the Winter Soldier.
- He decided to be put in cryo-sleep again in Wakanda to finally remove the Winter Soldier programming.
- In a flashback in TFATWS he is seen overjoyed and delighted when Ayo confirms he is free from the Winter Soldier programming, crying tears of joy and expressing his thanks.
Black Panther[]
- He sincerely thanks Shuri for deprogramming his Winter Soldier persona.
- Over the following years, he worked as a farmer in Wakanda and learned about their culture while trying to have a peaceful normal life.
Avengers: Infinity War[]
- When T'Challa gives him a new vibranium arm, he realizes he is needed in another fight and agrees without hesitation.
- He fought in the Battle of Wakanda against Thanos' Outriders.
- He joined the others in protecting Vision when Thanos arrived.
- He charged at Thanos head-on and repeatedly shot him in an attempt to stop him, but was easily tossed aside by the Titan.
Avengers: Endgame[]
- After being resurrected five years later in the Blip, he instantly went to the Battle of Earth through one of Doctor Strange's portals.
- Teamed up with Rocket Raccoon again to fight Thanos' army.
- When Tony sacrificed his life to defeat Thanos, he kneeled in respect alongside the other heroes.
- He attended Tony's funeral to pay his respects even despite the violent disagreements they had in the past. It’s implied he originally wouldn’t have attended, likely believing Tony, from beyond the grave, wouldn’t want him present.
- Supported Steve on going back to the past to live his life and accepted his decision to make Sam the new Captain America, his complete lack of resentment of Steve living a peaceful life likely being they earlier discussed Steve’s intentions.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier[]
- He made a list of names in a notebook for people he needed to make ammends with.
- Befriended Yori Nakajima, whose son he had killed as the Winter Soldier, and tried to make peace with him.
- Apprehended L. Atwood, a former HYDRA asset, and handed her over to the authorities.
- Though he was slightly rude to Christina Raynor during their therapy sessions, this is justified as she was a very flawed therapist who ignored how uncomfortable he was, taunted him with her notebook which aggravated him, and invalidated his feelings.
- He attended a date with Leah despite being very clearly uncomfortable.
- Though he was initially very upset with Sam for giving the shield away, and blamed him for Walker getting it, he apologizes and establishes a good friendship with him.
- Joined Sam on the mission to take down the Flag Smashers.
- Tried to help Karli, who he thought was a hostage.
- Took Sam to meet Isaiah Bradley.
- Broke Zemo out of prison, though it was a very questionable act, he did help them a lot and pretty much guided him and Sam to the origins of the new serum.
- Pretended to be the Winter Soldier again to go undercover in Madripoor.
- He followed Sharon Carter's lead to Wilfred Nagel and confronted him over why he made more super soldier serums.
- He tried to peacefully reason with Ayo and the Dora Milaje about Zemo's freedom, and also tried to stop them from attacking Walker.
- While Sam tried to peacefully negotiate with Karli, Bucky tried to stop Walker from barging in.
- He goes with Sam to confront Karli who had just threatened Sam's sister.
- He seemed horrified over Lemar's death and even more so over Walker's subsequent public murder of Nico.
- After realizing how unstable Walker was, he went to take Captain America's shield back from him.
- He saved Sam just in time as Walker was about to kill him with the shield.
- He refused to kill Zemo, showing he wasn't a killer anymore.
- He made amends with Zemo in the Sokovia memorial, peacefully ending their story before handing him over to the Dora Milaje.
- Asked Ayo for a Captain America suit for Sam.
- Helped Sam fix his family's boat.
- He returns to New York to stop the Flag Smashers' attack on the GRC.
- He tries to get Karli to stop by telling her how her actions would haunt her, speaking from personal experience.
- He chased after the trucks carrying the GRC hostages.
- He saved the hostages when the Flag Smashers set the truck they were in on fire.
- He saved Walker when one of the Flag-smashers were about to kill him with a street lamp.
- After witnessing Walker redeem himself and attempt to save the hostages in the van rather than seek revenge on Karli, he helped Walker up after the latter fell when the Flag Smashers jumped him and cause them to fall.
- He teams up with Walker to catch the Flag Smashers despite their previous animosity.
- Used the Flag Smashers' own app against them to capture and apprehend them.
- He helped the injured Sharon leave the area as she was still a wanted criminal.
- He finally tells Nakajima the truth of how he killed his son.
- He thanks Raynor for helping him despite her flawed methods.
- He attended the community's cookout in Delacroix.
Captain America: Brave New World[]
- He went into politics and became a Congressman, likely to continue to atone for his misdeeds as the Winter Soldier.
- He comforts Sam after his friend Joaquin Torres was wounded, telling Sam it wasn’t his fault and assured Sam that he was doing his best as the new Captain America.
Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers[]
- He paid his respects at the funeral of a fellow Super Soldier.
- Although he initially arrested John Walker, Ava Starr, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian after forcibly stopping the Red Guardian's limousine and endangering them in the process, he only did so because he needed witnesses to testify at Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's impeachment. Then when he learned that de Fontaine has Bob/Sentry, he releases them so they can help stop her, forming the Thunderbolts.
- He told the truth to the team about how John lied about his family life, and is being honest about it.
- Quickly protected civilians during the Void’s rampage.
- Alongside the others, he went to help Walker as he was protecting people from being crushed by debris and was struggling to hold it up, saving him.
- When Yelena got sucked into one of the Void's shadows, he didn't hesitate to lead the team in rescuing her even at the risk of possibly never coming back.
- Together with the Thunderbolts, he convinced Bob not to give in to his darker side, saving the world from the Void's darkness and ending his threat once and for all.
- When copyright issues arose with Sam Wilson over the Avengers name, Bucky tried to talk it out with him.
Avengers: Doomsday[]
- TBA
What Prevents Him From Being Pure Good?[]
- Even though none of his actions as the Winter Soldier were of his own jurisdiction, he still has plenty of lethal and even reckless moments such as carelessly attacking the GSG 9 members that tried to apprehend him, which left Steve to try and save them all from death due to Barnes' actions and when he forcibly stopped Red Guardian's limousine with John Walker, Ava Starr and Yelena Belova inside (which could've gotten them killed), although it would've been better if he convinced Alexei to pull over and find a hideout to discuss about Valentina's plans.
- Has plenty of jerkish moments, particularly against Sam and openly expressing his dislike for his Redwing drone though most of these comments are said in a joking manner and are not meant to be taken seriously. However, some of his jerkish moments are taken seriously such as when he threatens to kill Helmut Zemo for stealing his notebook and is rude to John Walker several times unprovoked, even after the latter saves him and Sam and also bails Bucky out of jail.
Trivia[]
- He is one of the few NPGs who also appeared in Villainous Benchmark wiki, and also the only one in the MCU with this status, as during his time being brainwashed as The Winter Soldier, he had a completely different personality and thus, different moral agency.
- It is unknown whether his What If...? counterparts could qualify as NPG or not.
External Links[]
- Bucky Barnes on the Heroes Wiki
- Bucky Barnes on the Disney Wiki
- Bucky Barnes on the Villains Wiki
- Winter Soldier on the Villainous Benchmark Wiki
- Bucky Barnes on the Marvel Database Wiki
- Bucky Barnes on the Marvel Movies Wiki
- Bucky Barnes on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
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 Near Pure Goods
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