I will admit that when it comes to comicbooks (and especially well-established characters), I have read far less than I would have liked. They all have so much history and so many appearances that it's hard to keep up or even know where to start! Therefore, a lot of my knowledge of these characters has come from just looking things up, talking to friends who are also into these worlds, and ultimately watching the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Along those lines, I must say that I absolutely ADORE the movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and therefore thought the Winter Soldier storyline might interest me in the comics. That being said, having seen the movie (and no I did not cry the last time I watched it, what are you talking about??), I can't help but now face the book without wanting to compare the two to one another. There weren't too many new twists to be found in this collection, having seen the general plot play out in the film, but how plot ultimately unraveled was a bit different. This is most notably in the presence and importance of certain characters throughout Ed Brubaker's collection. Some of these differences really worked for me, while some I was a little uncertain on, though that may also have to do with my gaps in knowledge of some of the backstory and history of certain characters. The focus of Captain America: Winter Soldier Ultimate Collection is on Captain America facing the threat of a resurfacing cosmic cube, the power of which could alter worlds and be incredibly destructive in the wrong hands. Yet Steve Rogers' attention in this mission is drawn to the figure of the Winter Soldier, a soviet super-soldier and assassin, whose identity is... well.. you know.... Spoilers????? ..... ..... ..... Bucky with the good hair. Obviously, seeing his old friend anew and under the influence of Hydra mind-control does a number on Steve and puts a kink in his mission and makes him question what to do. Is Bucky still somewhere in there, or is it just his body with a totally blank mind? Can he be saved? Will he have to relive Bucky's death all over again in a new way? As I mentioned, the way this story plays out is different than in the film, though ultimately leading to a similar end that can then continue on. One big difference that I really liked was the presence of Red Skull. He is important, effective, and just keeps going as a real threat and villain in the shadows, long after you think he is gone. I like having the actual figure present in the stories, and I know Red Skull was pretty important in a lot of comic books and story arcs throughout the ages. Other characters that showed up that I didn't realize were around or a big part of Captain America's stories during the War are Namor and the Human Torch. They are seen in a few flashbacks of when Cap, Bucky, and the Howling Commandos used to work together, and it really adds to the history of Captain America and just how many battles he got into during the War, showing how he wasn't just an iconic figurehead for a short period of time, but actually quite active, along with all the other heroes who have become a part of American history in that universe. One major distinction, however, that I am actually pretty hype about is Sharon Carter (Agent 13). While apparently she is Steve's ex-girlfriend, she is not simply reduced to love interest like she was in the Marvel movies, nor an egregiously forced one at that: she is actually an awesome field agent who Nicky Fury cares about, as well as Steve and all her other teammates. She is given her own work to do and her own character, and honestly she deserves it. It's almost as though she is the figure that Natasha plays in the Winter Soldier film. Oh, and speaking of character differences, something else I didn't realize was that Sam Wilson (lovely as ever, and always down to help his friends out) as Falcon can actually listen to birds and get intel from them??? Amazing! I love this! And now I come to the thing that always throws me off in the comic books: Bucky and Steve's relationship. They are clearly close friends who love each other a lot, but there is something that I just can't let go of from the film adaptations in how they grew up together and have been friends all their lives, that I just don't want to shake off for the "young boy who Cap took under his wing as a partner in war". Though as I said, they are still clearly connected and care for each other, making their dynamic and how Steve responds to finding out the Winter Soldier is Bucky very engaging. So overall, there wasn't per say anything too new in this story that I had not seen before, but I did like all the variances and inclusions of other characters in the story as compared to the film. As a book alone, it is an interesting story with some twists to it to keep you going, and I definitely want to get more into this series and the Captain America comics themselves. (And no, not just because my friends and I have determined that I am basically pre-supersoldier Steve Rogers).
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