Wow, I Never Knew Winter Soldier Was Supposed to Be This Strong
Warning: Spoilers for Laura Kinney: Wolverine #5!!I've been a Winter Soldier fan for several years at this point, but once in a while Bucky still catches me off guard with an unexpected feat. Whipping out a classic "Fastball Special" with Wolverine was an unexpected, but welcome, show of strength. Bucky is an old dog that can apparently learn new tricks and has a shockingly strong throw to go with them.
Laura Kinney: Wolverine #5 by Erica Schultz and Giada Belviso picks up as Bucky Barnes, now using the codename "Revolution", and Wolverine continue their fight against a mess of Hydra Bots. To speed things along and handle the biggest of the threats, Bucky taps into a classic X-Men combo move, the "Fastball Special," and throws Wolverine at the bot.
While the Fastball Special is hardly new, it's typically performed by someone with super strength, like Colossus. I was a bit floored to see Revolution throw Wolverine through the air, considering Laura now has a full adamantium skeleton, and the move showed Bucky's true strength.
The Winter Soldier Is Strong Enough to Handle Wolverine’s Adamantium Skeleton
Laura Kinney: Wolverine #5 by Erica Schultz, Giada Belviso, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Cory Petit
To fully relay just what I think Bucky accomplished as he sent Wolverine flying, let's break down the components. Unlike her father, Laura Kinney previously did not have her entire skeleton coated in adamantium. That changed recently, and now the current Wolverine has the same build as Logan. A fully coated adamantium skeleton adds a significant amount of weight, conservatively doubling what Laura would weigh normally. Though she asks Bucky how much he can bench, the act of throwing her requires significantly more strength than just lifting her off the ground, especially with the distance to reach the Hydra Bot.
This isn't a feat of battle prowess, tactics, or sharpshooting; it's pure physical strength, and I would never say that's Bucky's forte.
Historically, we've only seen very strong heroes perform this particular move with Logan. While Colossus and Wolverine are the standard pair, it has also been performed by She-Hulk and others. In short, I'm accustomed to seeing it requiring incredibly enhanced individuals to pull it off. For all of Bucky Barnes’ gifts, he is not actually in that category. This isn't a feat of battle prowess, tactics, or sharpshooting; it's pure physical strength, and I would never say that's Bucky's forte. Even with his cybernetic arm, he doesn't typically go for this particular kind of show, even if he's demonstrated strength in other ways.
Bucky Barnes Doesn’t Have Super Soldier Serum Enhancements
MCU’s Winter Soldier Has Different Abilities
If you're coming from the MCU and aren't as familiar with Bucky Barnes' comic characterization, it may be surprising to learn that this version of Bucky does not actually have super soldier serum. Unlike Steve Rogers, who was granted incredible strength, durability, and speed, Bucky Barnes boasts no such enhancements. Until fairly recently, his long life and peak condition were attributed mainly to a string of cryogenic freezes and thaws, which allowed him to complete missions as the Winter Soldier before being iced again. Even I'm prone to forgetting that detail, thanks to the skill and precision Bucky typically demonstrates.
That isn't to say we're discussing an ordinary man. After a battle with Sin, Bucky receives the Infinity Formula, which has enhanced some of his physical abilities. They're still nowhere near the levels of a true super soldier like Steve Rogers, however, or anyone typically seen throwing a Wolverine around. His cybernetic arm can't be overlooked, either, as it's primarily what grants him the ability to turn Laura into a missile. Bucky has used the arm to punch through things no ordinary hand could manage, but this moment is still a new show of strength even with his enhanced arm.
Bucky Barnes’ Show of Strength Accompanies a Codename Change for the Winter Soldier
Becoming “Revolution” May Unlock a New Side to the Winter Soldier
As a Bucky fan, I feel like Marvel is giving me plenty to work with ahead of the character's upcoming MCU return in Thunderbolts. Not only is he branching out by working alongside characters like Laura Kinney, but he seems fairly determined to make his Revolution codenamestick. It's only fitting that a shift in character should also offer other benefits. In this case, Bucky is getting the opportunity to show that his skill extends beyond weaponry and combat acumen, where his talent has never been in doubt. He’s branching out as Revolution and is better for it.
10 Things We Promise You Didn’t Know About Bucky Barnes
With decades of rich history, there is a lot to learn about both Bucky Barnes and the Winter Soldier, from his weaknesses to his various teammates.
The Winter Soldier has never been in the "big leagues" as far as physical strength goes, especially in the comics, but I feel like I've done him a disservice by not realizing just how strong he actually is. One Fastball Special is all that's needed to open my eyes, and I won't be underestimating Bucky Barnes again. He might not be a super soldier on Steve Rogers' level, but the combination of cybernetic arm, Infinity Formula, and determination get the job done. The Winter Soldier is significantly stronger than I realized, and throwing Wolverine across the battlefield is just the beginning.
Laura Kinney: Wolverine #5is available now from Marvel Comics.
