Bucky Barnes

James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes is Captain America's best friend.

Early Life
Bucky Barnes was born in 1917. An overachiever as an athlete and student, Barnes first met Steve Rogers during an encounter with bullies, and since stuck by his side. In 1936, Barnes comforted Rogers during the latter's mother's funeral, promising to be with Rogers "to the end of the line."

A year later, Barnes was drafted to join the U.S. Army during World War II. On his last day before he was to be shipped, Barnes took Rogers to the Stark Expo during a double date. However, Barnes found Rogers trying to sign up and reminded him that this was a war, not an alley. The two friends bid farewell.

While on duty, Barnes and his men were captured by HYDRA and forced to serve as POWs. Arnim Zola took Barnes in for experiments until Rogers came, now enhanced with the Super Soldier Serum, and saved Barnes and the POWs. Barnes then served alongside the Howling Commandos until his final mission, where he was to help capture Zola. However, Barnes soon fell off the train carrying Zola, and seemingly died. In reality, Zola's experiments on Barnes meant that Barnes barely survived the fall. Zola found Barnes's body and converted him into a weapon: the Winter Soldier. HYDRA used the Winter Soldier against all of their threats as a master assassin, including Howard and Maria Stark.

How Captain America: The Winter Soldier Should Have Ended
The Winter Soldier is first seen being pursued by Captain America, intercepting Cap's shield. However, the Winter Soldier then makes off with the shield, much to Cap's disappointment.

Sometime later, the Hulk finds Barnes and takes him to the Super Café, where the Hulk proceeds to repeatedly pound Barnes and chant, "Not the villain!"

Villain Pub: To the Tailor!
The Winter Soldier appears as a patron of the Villain Pub.