Ed Brubaker's Captain America run (primarily spanning
Captain America Vol. 5 #1-50 from 2005 to 2009) is widely considered one of the greatest eras for the character. It famously broke a decades-old comic book rule by bringing Steve Rogers' long-dead sidekick, Bucky Barnes, back to life.
The primary artists collaborating with Brubaker on this seminal story arc were Steve Epting and Michael Lark.
The Winter Soldier Story Arc
-
The Issues: The specific initial storyline introducing the character runs across Captain America (Vol. 5) #1–6, #8–9, and #11–14.
-
The First Appearance: While the plot threads start immediately in issue #1, Captain America #6 (2005)features the official first full appearance and cameo of the Winter Soldier identity.
-
The Narrative Tone: Brubaker pivoted the title away from standard superheroics into a gritty, suspense-filled espionage thriller layered with Cold War politics, war flashbacks, and noir sensibilities.
Plot Overview
-
The Mystery: General Aleksander Lukin, a ruthless former Soviet officer, acquires a functional Cosmic Cube and begins orchestrating a series of terror attacks on American soil—including the assassination of the Red Skull.
-
The Ghost: During his investigations, Captain America encounters a shadowy, metal-armed black-ops assassin who has been executing high-profile political targets for decades while kept in cryogenic stasis between missions.
- The Revelation: Steve discovers that the assassin is actually Bucky Barnes. Having survived the mid-air explosion that was thought to have killed him in World War II, a brainwashed Bucky was rescued, augmented, and mind-controlled by Soviet handlers.
