Co-Creator of Winter Soldier Has Mixed Feelings About New Disney Plus Series
by Emily Nagle
Ed Brubaker, one of the co-creators of Winter Soldier, has shared in a newsletter that he has “mixed feelings” about the new Disney Plus series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” The writer explains that he is unsure how to feel about Bucky Barnes becoming such a big part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, because he doesn’t feel like he received adequate recognition for creating him.
“Everyone at Marvel Studios that I’ve ever met (all the way up to Kevin Feige) have been nothing but kind to me,” Brubaker explains. “But at the same time, for the most part all Steve Epting and I have gotten for creating the Winter Soldier and his storyline is a ‘thanks’ here or there, and over the years that’s become harder and harder to live with.”
Brubaker began working for Marvel Comics in 2004, with the first comic he worked on for them being volume five of “Captain America #1,” which he worked on with Steve Epting. This is the volume that resurrected Bucky Barnes after nearly 40 years, turning him into the Winter Soldier, a Soviet assassin with a bionic arm. He worked on the series until 2012.
“I have a great life as a writer and much of it is because of Cap and the Winter Soldier bringing so many readers to my other work,” Brubaker continues. “But I also can’t deny feeling a bit sick to my stomach sometimes when my inbox fills up with people wanting comments on the show.”
After laying down the foundation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brubaker has received some recognition for his work, receiving a cameo in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and receiving “special thanks” in the credits of “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Even still, it’s not the same as getting paid for his major contributions.