Although Bucky has come a long way in his recent MCU appearances, his history as the Winter Soldier disqualifies him from ever becoming Captain America. Throughout the entire Cold War and beyond, the Winter Soldier operated as a Hydra assassin, killing numerous American operatives during that time.
While Sam and Bucky's chemistry creates a brilliant viewing experience, omitting the Winter Soldier from Captain America: New World Order is the right move. After Chris Evans' departure from the MCU as Steve Rogers, Bucky is free from his duties as Captain America's right-hand man.
Because the strong man who has known power all his life may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows compassion.” This is also why Steve chooses Sam to be the next Captain America.
In the comic books, Steve Rogers is murdered in the aftermath of the Civil War storyline, leading to Bucky Barnes becoming the next Captain America. In the MCU Rogers survives Civil War, eventually passing the mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame.
Bucky Barnes, like Steve Rogers, has lived for several decades due to cryogenic freezing and the super-soldier serum. Bucky's life expectancy could potentially surpass Steve's 116 years, depending on circumstances. Despite outwardly aging at the same rate as Steve, Bucky can still live for at least another 80 years.
The Exact Moment KANG KILLED CAPTAIN AMERICA Steve Rogers Revealed!
Why did Bucky become evil?
Bucky was a hero who fought alongside Steve Rogers in World War Two. But when he was captured and brainwashed, he became an assassin known as the Winter Soldier. It took him a long time to become free and after that, he had a hard time dealing with the things he had to do while he wasn't in control of himself.
On a 1945 mission gone wrong, Bucky fell to his assumed death, losing his left arm in his fall from a train. When he was recovered by Hydra and brainwashed to become the Winter Soldier, he was given a titanium prosthetic arm, but he didn't keep it for long.
Usually, Captain America is considered the best fighter in the Marvel Universe, but on this occasion Bucky beat him fair and square, even using Steve's own shield to deliver the final blow. The power levels of Marvel characters vary greatly according to writers' preferences and story needs.
In the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which released before Guardians of the Galaxy 3, Nebula gives Bucky's arm to Rocket as a Christmas gift. Although it's meant as a callback to the Infinity War and GOTG 1 jokes, it created some confusion about how exactly Nebula got the arm.
While under control of the Russians, Barnes meets and begins falling in love with Natasha Romanoff, who goes onto become the Black Widow. He reunites with her after regaining his senses in the modern era.
It's the latter who hangs over this scene, as he does most of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier; Bucky respects Steve's decision to choose Falcon as the new Captain America, and that's why he hands the shield back to him. It's what Steve wanted, so it's what Bucky wants.
As they practice with it at Sam's house in Louisiana, Bucky apologizes for being presumptuous and not comprehending the baggage that came with the shield.
“Sam and Steve had a relationship where they admired, appreciated and loved each other,” Mackie said. “Bucky and Sam have a relationship where they learn how to accept, appreciate and love each other. You'd call it a bromance, but it's literally just two guys who have each other's backs.”
Despite giving Bucky eight hours with Zemo, the Dora Milaje eventually came for him, which led to Bucky fighting those who aided and supported him so much. This naturally resulted in the Wakandans seeing Bucky as a traitor, specifically Ayo herself. Wakanda is not wrong to be angered by Bucky's actions.
Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Mackie's longtime MCU scene partner, won't be part of "Brave New World." Instead, he'll return in an upcoming movie called "Thunderbolts," centered on a ragtag group that includes Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, David Harbour's Red Guardian, and Wyatt Russell's US Agent.
Zemo asks Sam if he would have taken the serum given the option, and Sam says "no" without hesitation. Sam's lack of hesitation to do the right thing will be what gets him shot, impaled, or injured in a way that causes blood loss.
With all this armstory between them, when fans saw Nebula had a new arm in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, they suspected it might be related to Bucky's stolen/borrowed limb. But James Gunn has confirmed that is not the case. Nebula's arm is not Bucky's; instead, it is its own creation.
The fact of the matter is, the arm still functions as a part of his body. The superpowered enhancements do not change the fact that he will still naturally experience pain when his body is put under such stress, especially when the arm is attached to so many nerves that could've been damaged from losing his actual arm.
Director James Gunn confirmed that Nebula “took a trip to earth and tore it off his [Bucky's] body because she was feeling so Christmasy.” Although we have no doubt Nebula can beat Bucky in a fight, we much prefer a vision where Bucky lends her a spare arm for Rocket. Bucky's arm is, after all, his arm.
In the MCU, with his Winter Soldier mindset, Bucky is as strong as Captain America. If we're talking about the comics, it's because Bucky never received a version of the super soldier serum. He's still a highly trained man with a metal arm, but most of him is ordinary human.
Both are pretty much equal when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Arguably, Winter Soldier is more durable if Bucky and Bruce are compared without any protective cover or suits. Winter Soldier can definitely beat Batman but it'll be very difficult.
In December 2025, Nebula went to Earth specifically to steal Bucky Barnes' vibranium arm from him. After defeating him, she succeeded in removing his arm and took it with her back to space, intending to give it to Rocket Raccoon as a Christmas present.
Bucky's Vibranium arm is just one of his superpowers but it's also essentially what defines the Winter Soldier. He's been proven to be more peaceful without it but, because Barnes didn't know Shuri built a failsafe that removes his arm, he didn't know he could remove it from himself.
In conclusion, it is possible to create a functional arm demonstrating some of the functionality of the Winter Soldier's arm, but the high levels of perfor- mance shown in its durability, strength, and reaction speed are currently far beyond our current technologies.
