Warning! Spoilers ahead for Thunderbolts*!The Marvel Cinematic Universe glossed over one of the most interesting versions of one of Bucky Barnes’ best eras.

Marvel Studios’ latest film Thunderbolts* is delighting fans everywhere and this adventure ends with a surprising twist. After being manipulated by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, the temporarily-named member of the New Avengers in the Marvel Universe. While the MCU may have ignored his time as Captain America, the franchise could finally explore this period in a roundabout way thanks to his new team.

How Bucky Became the New Avengers' Captain America

The Way Steve's Old Sidekick Found Redemption

Once upon a time, Bucky Barnes was one of three people whose death would seemingly never be undone (alongside Jason Todd and Uncle Ben). However, that changed in 2004 during “The Winter Soldier” story arc, which revealed that Bucky didn’t die in the incident that supposedly killed him. Instead, he was found by the Russians, who took him in and subjected him to experiments involving hypnotic control. Bucky was remade as the Winter Soldier, one of Russia’s most lethal and mysterious assassins.

With the New Avengers on the run, Bucky worked alongside the heroes...

The Winter Solider worked for the Russian government for years, but it wasn’t until decades later that he was finally found by his old pal, Steve Rogers. Captain America helped his friend break out of the mind control, but it took a while for Bucky to come to with everything that happened to him. Not too long after getting his mind back, the Marvel Universe was ripped apart by the Civil War, an event that ended with Steve seemingly being assassinated. With the world still needing a Captain America, Bucky stepped in to keep Steve’s legacy alive.

Bucky assumed his friend's mantle in Captain America #34 (2008).

Things unfortunately got worse after the Skrull invasion, which led to Norman Osborn becoming a leading figure in the Marvel Universe. With the New Avengers on the run, Bucky worked alongside the heroes as they tried to take the former Green Goblin down, later ing the team in an official capacity. Bucky’s time as Captain America came to an end not long after the “Dark Reign” storyline, but it was an era that helped the hero find redemption for his unwilling role as the Winter Soldier.

The MCU Really Missed the Mark Avoiding Bucky's Time as Captain America

Bucky Got Better, But Fans Really Missed Out

For the first couple of phases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was quite faithful to Bucky’s character arc from the comics. There were a couple of changes, like Bucky and Steve being childhood friends instead of meeting in the Army, but the MCU accurately captured their close friendship in times of combat. And like the comics, Bucky was thought to be dead for decades, but he was secretly taken captive (this time by the terrorist organization HYDRA) and turned into the brainwashed super-soldier assassin, the Winter Solider.

And like the comics, Bucky’s return came around the time of the Civil War. Though in the MUC, Bucky played a much greater role, largely exacerbating the growing schism between the Avengers (especially once Tony found out his parents’ deaths were caused by the Winter Solider). However, instead of working with the heroes while they were on the run, Bucky was taken to Wakanda so that he could purge his mind of post-hypnotic commands, which he did thanks to Shuri’s deprogramming efforts.

...the MCU completely eschewed a vital part of his healing process from the comics, namely his time as Captain America.

While Bucky is in a much better place, the MCU completely eschewed a vital part of his healing process from the comics, namely his time as Captain America. In the MCU, Steve’s only successor (not counting John Walker) is Sam Wilson, who is still operating under the identity. Bucky, on the other hand, went into congress before later getting involved with the Thunderbolts to stop Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. But after helping save New York from the Sentry’s dark half, the Void, Valentina managed to escape ability by presenting the Thunderbolts, Bucky included, as the newest iteration of the Avengers.

The New Avengers is a Chance to Bring Bucky's Best Character Arc to Life

He May Not Be Cap, But His Story Isn't Done Yet

Bucky had a lot of things going for him during his time as Captain America with the New Avengers. He had an incredibly cool costume, an interesting approach to weaponry (utilizing a knife and gun in addition to the shield), and a compelling narrative. Bucky wasn’t just trying to make up for his past sins, he was carrying on Captain America's legacy at a time of great change and strife in the Marvel Universe, and it was a story that still hits hard all these years later.

Obviously, things are different in the MCU. Bucky has largely come to with his past and Sam has more than earned the right to carry on Steve’s legacy. While there’s not much that can be done there, this is still a great opportunity for the franchise. Bucky and the New Avengers had to approach heroism differently in a world that had grown darker and more morally complex. The MCU is getting darker and makes for the perfect time to showcase Bucky in a team of heroes just trying to survive the coming storm.

...the MCU has only just scratched the surface of his long, winding history...

Bucky has been through a lot, in both the MCU and the comics. While the MCU has only just scratched the surface of his long, winding history, the franchise has set up the hero in an amazing way now that it's assembled the New Avengers. If the MCU’s approach is anything like the comics, this could be an era that gets to the heart of Bucky Barnes and shows what makes him such a compelling character. He may not get to be the MCU’s Captain America, but being with the New Avengers can give him some much-appreciated depth.