S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Title: Winter Soldier #12
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Ed Brubaker
• Artist: Butch Guice

With the Black Widow‘s life on the line Bucky has no choice but to agree to let himself be reprogrammed by Novokov’s scientist and once again become the mindless killer known only as the Winter Soldier.

As Captain America and S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists attempt to decipher the programming and objective Novokov has implanted into Bucky’s head, Wolverine and Hawkeye are called in to stop him before he can complete his mission. As they soon discover, that’s easier said than done.

Presented mostly from Wolverine’s perspective hunting down a former friend who’s even more dangerous than he remembers, the comic works fairly well. Why Cap isn’t in the field helping them isn’t made clear, and because of the structure we get little of Natasha as well. (However, what we do get seems to foreshadow how this arc will end.)

The choice to send Bucky after Daredevil seems an odd one from the Soviet sleeper-soldier’s point of view, but it should provide plenty of action for the next issue. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]

• Title: Winter Soldier #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Ed Brubaker
• Artist: Butch Guice

With the Black Widow still under the control of Soviet sleeper agent Leo Novokov, the Winter Soldier‘s world implodes as he sees the damage his lover does to S.H.I.E.L.D., including nearly killing Nick Fury.

To help track down the Black Widow, who still believes she’s a Soviet spy who has been working undercover for years, Captain America shows up with a pair of Avengers in Wolverine and Hawkeye (meaning the “secret” of Bucky’s survival lasted less than a year).

It’s unlikely the Black Widow will stay lost for long and, yes, there will be some guilt over her actions and the death of Jasper but no real lingering effects to the overall Marvel Universe. The only way this story has any lasting meaning is if the Black Widow had killed Nick Fury (which didn’t happen, and I don’t see any reason a character with the savvy of Fury would have put himself in position for her to try) or if Bucky is forced to kill Natasha (which won’t happen either). Still, it’s well told and worth a look.

[Marvel, $2.99]