Winter Soldier

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

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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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Winter Soldier #12

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winter-soldier-12-coverWith 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]

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Winter Soldier #11

/ / Comics

winter-soldier-11-coverThe Winter Soldier and Hawkeye continue to track down Leo Novokov and the brainwashed Black Widow but they’re always one-step behind finding the bread crumbs Novokov has left for them. He’s all the more dangerous now that the Soviet sleeper agent has his own weapons maker in Marvin Martin and a all the armaments he recently cleared out of an old Soviet munitions depot.

The issue ends with an unusual ultimatium for Bucky if he wants to save the woman he loves, but doesn’t get us any closer to a confrontation with Novokov or the brainwashed Black Widow. I like Hawkeye’s inclusion (although I’m confused as to what happened to the rest of the team who was supposed to be helping out in the search), but I hate his current costume which is a mix of the Ultimate and movie versions of the character.

Brubaker is managing to drag out the story in a way that still makes it compelling, and hinting at Novokov’s deeper plans involving his new weapons and Natalia, but I have mixed feelings about the art of Butch Guice as several panels appear rushed. For fans.

[Marvel, $2.99]

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