Captain America (vol. 5) #50
Days Gone By
New York - Now
Today is the day of James “Bucky” Barnes’ birthday and as usual he is spending his time avoiding bombs. However, unlike the war, James is now Captain America and he is evading missiles being fired at him by men in suits of armor capable of flight.
Camp Lehigh - 1941
On his sixteenth birthday, James celebrated his birthday by tricking a local bar into think he was of legal drinking age. He got so drunk he got into a fight with two sailors and broke an MP’s wrist before he was brought under control and thrown into the brig.
In the morning, Major Samson is brought down to Bucky’s cell, he finds the teen enjoying a magazine in his cell despite his situation. When Samson addresses him, James stands at attention. The Sargant reminds James that the camp took him in after the death of his father.[2] However, his tendency of getting into fights and causing trouble is leaving Samson with very little options on how to deal with him. However, he has decided that to give James a very different birthday present this year, something that will help the young man focus his rage. As of 0600 that morning, James is to report for special combat training. Happy about his new assignment, James salutes the Sergeant and thanks him for the opportunity.[3]
Now
Unable to shake his pursuers, Captain America manages to snap a photo of them and transmit the images back to the New Avengers hideout. She asks Clint Barton to compare the photos to their records and tell him who these people are and why they are trying to blow him up. As he evades another explosion his mind drifts back to yet another birthday….
Occupied Poland - 1943
The Invaders were on a secret mission in the region on the day of Bucky’s 18th birthday. Toro (Thomas Raymond) wanted to throw him a surprise party, but the others — Captain America (Steve Rogers), the Human Torch (Jim Hammond) — were against the idea because it could blow their cover. Bucky had walked in on them discussing it ruining the surprise, much to Toro’s dismay. He tells the others that he was having a cake made by the matron and everything. This upsets Steve who asks Toro if he included Bucky’s name on the cake.
He did, not realizing that the matron was loyal to the Nazis. Moments after this revelation, Master Man and Warrior Woman came crashing in through the wall. With their cover blown, the Invader strip off their costumes they fight back against the superpowered Nazis. As he opens fire on their foes, Bucky admits to Toro that he is amused that their cover was blown over his birthday.
Now
The two mercs pursuing Captain America are firing wildly, putting a young woman and her infant child at risk. Luckily, James is fast enough to yank them out of harms way. That’s when Clint get back to him on who these guys are. They are remaining members of the “traditional values” terrorist group known as the Watchdogs, a group that Captain America shut down a while ago. The ones that remain free worship the original Captain America and see Bucky as an afront to his legacy.[3]
London, England - March, 1945
Captain America and Bucky have captured a Nazi spy on Bucky’s 20th birthday. They are interrogating him to find out what it is that Baron Zemo is trying to accomplish in the United Kingdom. Steve compels him to talk by reminding him that both Hitler and the Red Skull have lost the war and that he wouldn’t have allowed himself to get captured if he didn’t think that. He knows that the Nazis are going to face stiff punishment for their crimes, but Cap assures him that they will be lenient with the spy if only he spills what he knows. He could even be allowed to go back home to Germany once the war is over. Steve asks him to help them end the war.
After the interrogation is over, Cap apologizes to Bucky as this is probably not how he expected to spend his birthday. James admits that this is par for the course and asks Steve what he did on his 20th. Steve says that he was in the middle of Project: Rebirth, the process that turned him into Captain America.[4] Steve then suggests that they head to a bar that’s still open and get some kind of celebration out of James’ big day.
Not long after that was the day they stopped Baron Zemo’s attempt to use a buzz-bomb jet to attack London. However, this came at the expense of both Captain America and Bucky. While Steve plunged into the freezing waters and went into suspended animation, Bucky lost and arm and was recovered by the Russians. They turned him in to the assassin known as Winter Soldier and from then on, there were no birthdays. Just a string of missions, murders, and years spend in suspended animation.[5]
Now
Even though he is now the new Captain America, James will never forget, nor will he ever think he can make up for what he did as the Winter Soldier. When he finally downs the last of the Watchdogs, he asks them what this is all about. He tells him that he doesn’t think that he’s not the real Captain America. James admits that he knows that better than anyone. However, at least he’s trying. With that, he slams the Watchdog in the face with the butt of his handgun.
When Captain America returns to his apartment he is exhausted and all he wants to do is rest. However, when he walks into the kitchen he is surprised when the New Avengers reveal that they have organized a surprise birthday party on his behalf. When they wheel out the birthday cake — which is loaded with candles — Natasha admits that they aren’t sure how old Bucky was and figured the added candles will make up for all the birthday he missed. James is delighted and flattered. He thinks about when Steve Rogers first freed his mind with the Cosmic Cube and how he thought he was cursed.[6] Now, surrounded by friends new and old, he realizes that it was a blessing all along. As he goes to blow out the candles, he is asked if he is going to make a wish. He says, nah, and blows out the candles.
Recurring Characters
Captain America, New Avengers (Luke Cage, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Spider-Woman, Ronin, Ms. Marvel, Mockingbird), Black Widow, Jessica Jones, Dani Cage, Watchdogs, (in flashbacks) Invaders (Captain America, Bucky, Human Torch, Toro), Winter Soldier, Master Man, Warrior Woman, Baron Zemo
Continuity Notes
George Barnes was a soldier at Camp Lehigh who died in a training accident in 1937. The camp adopted James following the accident. See Marvel Holiday Special 1991, Captain America Sentinal of Liberty #12, Young Alllies 70th Anniversary Special #1, and Captain America and Bucky #620 for the piecemeal fragments of this story, you’re welcome.
As explained in Captain America (vol. 5) #12, the purpose of this training was so that James could become Captain America’s partner.
The Watchdogs started off as a grassroots organization trying to restore “traditional American values”, basically they were anti-anything that wasn’t white Christian anglo-saxon. So they hated non-white people and anything fun. They were also secretly funded by the Red Skull. See Captain America #335, 345-346, and 350 for the real meat on these losers. This is a precursor for later attacks that will be chronicled in Captain America #602-605.
According to sources, Adventures of Captain America #1, Steve was born on July 4th. The year he was born has changed over the years. The most recent date given was in the Captain America profile in Avengers: Roll Call #1, which states he was born in 1922. Multiple stories place Operation: Rebirth as happening in the winter of 1940-1941. Making Steve 18 when he under went Operation: Rebirth. Why is he wrong about his age here? Dude’s been through 4 years of nearly non-stop conflict in the middle of the biggest wars of the last century, I think we can cut him some slack for not having his birthdays straight. Even I can’t remember what I did or where I was on my 20th birthday. I mean I was probably at the same shithole bar I drank at in my early 20’s, but I couldn’t tell you what I did or who was there. Memory is like that even in the best of times.
For more on Cap’s plunge into suspended animation and Bucky’s transformation into the Winter Soldier see Avengers #4, and Captain America (vol. 5) #8 and 11.
Bucky was the Winter Soldier until just recently when Steve Rogers used the Cosmic Cube to free him of his brainwashing. See Captain America (vol. 5) #14.
Topical References
Putting a ton of candles on Bucky’s birthday cake is a cheeky way of getting around the Sliding Timescale. See, as the Sliding Timescale pushes the Modern Age forward, the number of years between World War II and the present will continue growing larger over time. As such, Bucky’s age will constantly change as time goes on. I’ll give you a for instance. If Bucky was 20 in 1945, that would have made him 84 years old when this comic was first published. I’m writing this in 2023, at this time only four years have passed (in universe) between that story and ones being published this year. So this story that was published in 2009, from my perspective, now happened in 2019 and Bucky would have been 94 on his birthday.
Sentinel of Liberty
In the year 1940, as a war raged in Europe, the United States was undergoing a secret operation called Project: Rebirth. A frail young man named Steve Rogers was selected for Professor Abraham Erskine’s new formula. He was transformed into America’s first super-soldier. Tragically, he would be the only one, as Erskine would die at the hands of a Nazi assassin moments later.
Steve Rogers was given a costume and shield patterned after the American flag and became Captain America. Covertly operating out of Camp Lehigh, Captain America battled Axis spies and fifth columnists that threatened the United States. Joining his battle against the Nazis was young Bucky Barnes. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, America officially entered the war and Captain America and his new partner fought on the front lines along side the brave men who fought for the Allies.
However, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis eventually began developing super-humans and special operatives of their own. To further combat these extranormal threats, the Invaders were formed, united Captain America and Bucky with the Sub-Mariner, Human Torch and his partner Toro, and later British heroes Union Jack and Spitfire.[3] As the war came to a close, Captain America and Bucky seemingly perished trying to stop Baron Zemo from launching a prototype drone plane. While the plane exploded, Steve Rogers plunged into the freezing waters of the English Channel. The Super Soldier Serum in his veins caused him to enter a state of suspended animation and Rogers slept for decades. Time marched on, the war was won, and America prospered. Over the years, there were short lived successors to Steve Rogers who carried the mantle of Captain America.
In recent times, Captain America’s old friend the Sub-Mariner came upon a frozen body in ice that was worshiped by a tribe of Inuit people. Embittered at the human race and not realizing it was his old ally trapped in the ice, Namor threw it into the ocean where warmer waters allowed it to thaw. He was found by the Avengers, this era’s premiere team of superheroes. When Captain America revived he joined the ranks alongside Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man and the Wasp.[4] In this new era, Captain America reconnected with Nick Fury, also from the war, and worked for his spy agency, SHIELD. Through SHIELD he fought threats such as the terrorist organization known as Hydra. It was also there he met and fell in love with Agent 13, aka Sharon Carter.
This era was also not devoid of threats and allies both new an old. Regardless of the danger he faced, Captain America continued the good fight and was the inspiration to many. He also ushered in a new generation of heroes by training the likes of the Falcon, among others.
Unknown to everyone, Bucky had also survived the explosion in 1945, but his fate took a darker turn. Recovered by the Russians and given a cybernetic arm to replace the one he lost, Captain America’s partner was brainwashed into an assassin that became known as the Winter Soldier. For decades he would be thawed out of suspended animation and sent on missions before being put on ice again, and so it went for years without anyone realizing who he really was. In recent times, Captain America eventually fought the Winter Soldier and undid his brainwashing with the power of the Cosmic Cube. Horrified by what he had become, Bucky fled into the night.
Not long after this, the United States government signed the Super-Human Registration Act into law. It required that all superhuman register with the government. This created a divide in the community between those who supported the new law and those who saw it as a massive overreach on civil liberties. The leader of the anti-registration movement was Captain America himself. However, in the final battle he ended up surrendering when he realized that the majority of the American people actually supported the new law. Made to stand trial in New York City, Steve Rogers didn’t make it past the court room steps before he was gunned down by an assassin. Captain America was dead.
Now director of SHIELD, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) was eventually convinced that the world still needed Captain America. Steve’s final wishes were for Bucky Barnes to take on the mantle. Given Steve’s indestructible shield, and a brand new costume, Bucky redeems his past while carrying on the great legacy of Captain America!
Continuity Notes
This feature glosses over the deeper details, preferring to use visual montages to condense a lot of the details of Captain America’s storied career. Here is a page by page breakdown of details that were glossed over or went unspecified:
Page 1:
This is a retelling of Captain America’s origins that were originally told in Captain America Comics #1.
The name of the Nazi assassin was revealed to be Heinz Krueger in Captain America #109.
Page 2:
Captain America is depicted here in his original costume. The mask is not attached to his shirt and he is wielding his triangular shield. After Captain America’s early adventures he had the costume redesigned to be more practical on the battle field. He was also gifted a new circular shield. This change happened in Captain America Comics #2, but the details behind these changes were only told later. See Captain America #255 as a for instance.
The blonde woman seen in this montage is Betsy Ross, Captain America’s government liaison early on in his career. She first appeared in Captain America Comics #1. She mostly appears in Timely era stories.
We also see James “Bucky” Barnes out of costume here. Bucky joining Captain America also happened in Captain America Comics #1.
Page 3: Captain America’s post-Pearl Harbor missions began in Captain America Comics #13.
Page 4:
Of Adolf Hitler’s superhuman operatives we see the Red Skull (Captain America Comics #1), Master Man (Giant-Size Invaders #1), Baron Blood (Invaders #7), Warrior Woman (Invaders #16), and the original Ringmaster of Crime (Captain America Comics #5).
The original Invaders (Captain America, Bucky, Sub-Mariner, Human Torch, and Toro) first formed in Giant-Size Invaders #1. There were two Union Jacks on the Invaders, the original Montgomery Falsworth who joined Invaders #7, he was succeeded by his son Brian starting in Invaders #19. Spitfire joined the team in Invaders #12.
Page 5: Recaps the time when Captain America and Bucky went MIA in 1945. This was originally told in Avengers #4.
Page 6: We see a montage of people who succeeded Steve Rogers as Captain America over the years. They include:
William Nasland, who first appeared as the Spirit of ‘76 in Invaders #14. He was the first to be selected as a successor of Steve Rogers in 1945, as originally told in What If? #4. His first appearance as Captain America is retroactively placed as Captain America Comics #49.
Jeff Mace, who first appeared as the Patriot in Human Torch Comics #4. He succeeded Nasland when he was killed on an early mission, also see in What If? #4. Mace’s first appearances as Captain America is retroactively placed as Captain America Comics #59. Per Captain America: Patriot #4, Mace retired in 1950.
William Burnside a man so obsessed with Steve Rogers that he underwent surgery to look and sound like him and legally changed his name (his real name isn’t revealed until Captain America #605). He also found a version of the super-soldier formula but it drove him mad, forcing the government to put him on ice until the present day, per Captain America #155. His first appearance as Captain America is retroactively applied to Young Men #24.
Page 7-8:
This scene is recapping Captain America’s revival in Avengers #4.
Namor’s mentioned animosity toward the human race came from suffering amnesia for decades and discovering Atlantis was seemingly destroyed in his absence, per Fantastic Four #4.
We also see a scene of Captain America raising his hands along side Quicksilver, Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch and Goliath. Cap led this team of starting in Avengers #16, although Goliath wouldn’t join until issue #28 of that series.
Page 9:
Captain America chronologically started working with SHIELD in at tale told in Strange Tales #160. He officially joined the spy agency in Tales of Suspense #78.
Captain America has known Nick Fury since World War II. Their first chronological encounter (as of this writing) happened in Wolverine: Origin #17, circa 1941. However, the first published wartime adventure the two shared happened in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #13.
Also pictured here is Dum Dum Dugan, Fury’s right-hand-man since the war and with SHIELD. He also met Cap in Sgt. Fury #13.
Steve’s on-again-off-again romance with Sharon Carter began in Tales of Suspense #75.
Captain America first fought Hydra back in the war, starting in Wolverine: Origin #17 (again). However, his first published clash with them happened in Tales of Suspense #85.
Depicted here are two Hydra leaders, Baron Strucker, the first chronological clash between the two happened in a flashback in Uncanny X-Men #268. The first published was Captain America #128, although technically this was an android impostor. The other is Madame Hydra who Cap first fought in Captain America #110-114.
Page 9: This is a montage of various Captain America allies and foes.
Advanced Idea Mechanics: A terrorist organization that Captain America first fought in Tales of Suspense #79.
Flag-Smasher, aka Karl Morgenthau, who first appeared in Captain America #312.
Diamondback, aka Rachel Leighton, former foe and former girlfriend of Captain America. She first appeared in Captain America #310.
Nomad: aka Jack Monroe, the Bucky to the 1950’s Captain America starting in Young Men #24. In the present he became Steve Rogers’ sidekick in Captain America #281 until he went solo in issue #306.
The Fourth Sleeper, a Nazi built robot that revived in the modern day in Captain America #101.
The Cosmic Cube: A powerful device that can alter reality. Cap first encountered it in Tales of Suspense #79.
Baron Helmut Zemo, the son of Heinrich Zemo who Cap fought in the war. Heinrich died in Avengers #15. Years later, Helmet came after Cap as the Phoenix in Captain America #168. He took on the Baron Zemo mantle starting in Captain America #275.
Machinesmith, aka Samuel Saxon, a brilliant roboticist that Cap first fought in Captain America #247-249.
Batroc the Leaper, aka Georges Batroc, master of the savat fighting style. He first appeared in Tales of Suspense #75.
MODOK, aka George Tarleton, a cybernetic entity created by AIM, he first appeared in Tales of Suspense #94.
The Madbomb, a weapon that was created to drive the entire United States insane. It was invented by Mason Harding for the Royalist Forces of America. Captain America put a stop to it in Captain America #193-200.
The Falcon, aka Sam Wilson, who was trained by Steve Rogers in Captain America #118. They have been partners on-and-off for years thereafter.
Arnim Zola, a mad Nazi geneticist that survived into he Modern Age. He first appeared in Captain America #208.
Doctor Faustus, aka Johann Fennhoff, a psychologist turned criminal who first appeared in Captain America #107.
The Black Panther: The ruler of Wakanda, Captain America has had interactions with two generations of Black Panthers. The first was Azzuri during World War II, this encounter was first depicted in Black Panther (vol. 3) #30. The second was T’Challa the Black Panther of the Modern Era, whom he first met in Tales of Suspense #98-99/Captain America #100.
US Agent, aka John Walker, who temporarily replaced Steve Rogers as Captain America from Captain America #333-350. He became US Agent in Captain America #354.
Crossbones, aka Brock Rumlow, who first appeared in Captain America #359-360.
Page 10: A montage of the Winter Soldiers exploits until he his brainwashing was undone.
Bucky’s transformation was chronicled in Captain America (vol. 5) #8 and 11.
He seemingly killed the Red Skull for Aleksander Lunkin in Captain America (vol. 5) #1.
Bucky was freed from his brainwashing via the Cosmic Cube in Captain America (vol. 5) #14.
Page 11: The Super-Human Registration Act and the subsequent civil war that it sparked, and Captain America’s eventual surrender was primarily chronicled in Civil War #1-7.
Page 12: Steve Rogers was gunned down in Captain America (vol. 5) #25. However, he didn’t actually die. Instead he was unmoored from time by chronal bullets as will be told in Captain America: Reborn #1-5.
Page 13: Tony Stark was appointed director of SHIELD in Civil War #7. His tenure was short lived and he is ousted by Norman Osborn following Secret Invasion #1-8. Before then, Stark convinced Bucky to become the new Captain America in Captain America (vol. 5) #33-34.
Passing the Torch
A Fred Hembeck story about the Acrobat recounting the time he posed as Captain America and fought the Human Torch. I don’t understand why Marvel keeps giving the guy work, he’s a hack. His jokes are as funny as stage 4 cancer.[1]
Continuity Notes
Fred Hembeck is making fun of the story in Strange Tales #114, not knowing that Mark Waid did a way better job of doing just that 10 years earlier in Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #11 because, again, Fred Hembeck is a fucking hack. Also mentioned is the Acrobat’s first appearance which was Strange Tales #106.
