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witchofthemountains's review against another edition
5.0
I love almost anything with Bucky Barnes in it, so take the rating with a grain of salt.
I'd seen bits and pieces of Bucky's post-Winter Soldier storyline floating around on the internet but I was not prepared for the full force of this volume. There were some silly bits (a gun-toting gorilla?!) and not all of it was post-WS (a few bits were mid-WS period) but all of it was interesting and gave some great insight into Barnes' character.
I'd seen bits and pieces of Bucky's post-Winter Soldier storyline floating around on the internet but I was not prepared for the full force of this volume. There were some silly bits (a gun-toting gorilla?!) and not all of it was post-WS (a few bits were mid-WS period) but all of it was interesting and gave some great insight into Barnes' character.
mxd's review against another edition
2.0
Rick Remender, he's not happy unless our hero is pummelled into a physical and emotional mess. When I saw Remender had written this, I knew the violence and manpain was going to be plenty, and I wasn't wrong.
Though it appears to be part of The Winter Soldier's story, the novel actually focuses on Agent Ran Shen, and is a bit of a spy romp. There's a femme fatale with gravity defying boobs (and worms), a bad guy who looks like David Bowie, a love interest/scientist who needs saving, and Nick Fury who disappears for most of the story, turning up only to make a bad situation awful. There is also Hydra, SHIELD, and the Soviets, all after this scientist's fancy pants formula, and a heap of action and gore.
In the midst of this is the Winter Soldier, because his life's not stressful enough, having his brain zapped into remembering his past and momentarily being free of his programming. It's not a fantastic read, and the artwork didn't really appeal, but it was a readable enough romp and I never say no to Bucky Barnes angst.
Though it appears to be part of The Winter Soldier's story, the novel actually focuses on Agent Ran Shen, and is a bit of a spy romp. There's a femme fatale with gravity defying boobs (and worms), a bad guy who looks like David Bowie, a love interest/scientist who needs saving, and Nick Fury who disappears for most of the story, turning up only to make a bad situation awful. There is also Hydra, SHIELD, and the Soviets, all after this scientist's fancy pants formula, and a heap of action and gore.
In the midst of this is the Winter Soldier, because his life's not stressful enough, having his brain zapped into remembering his past and momentarily being free of his programming. It's not a fantastic read, and the artwork didn't really appeal, but it was a readable enough romp and I never say no to Bucky Barnes angst.
kparrbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I read this for Bucky, and his storyline was great, if brief and certainly not the highlight of an issue with his name. I didn't really care for Ran Shen, and I really disliked how sexualized Mila was for no reason at all. It was a sad story for Bucky, and an overall okay tale.
selfwinding's review
4.0
The last two issues were my favorite because BUCKY. But this spy story was really a lot of fun—different from what I usually read—and I enjoyed sinking my teeth into some new-to-me characters. (But also Bucky.)
themockingbard's review
3.0
I wasn't too happy with this at first because it seemed more of a Ran Shen comic than a Winter Soldier one but the last issue made everything that came before more or less worth it (I'm coming from the biased viewpoint of wanting to read all the Winter Soldier comics specifically).
As far as comics go it's fun, and it had a very specific nightmare sequence that involved worms that I'm not going to be recovering any time soon from.
Mostly though I could have done with Bucky and less of everything else.
As far as comics go it's fun, and it had a very specific nightmare sequence that involved worms that I'm not going to be recovering any time soon from.
Mostly though I could have done with Bucky and less of everything else.
rlaferney's review
3.0
Excellent spy fiction detailing part of Winter Soldier's backstory. It's Remender, so it's pulpy and fun.
troystory's review
5.0
60s spy Winter Soldier adventure? Um, yes please! I loved the story and the characters, and the art, and I'm really sad there isn't a continuation. I'm still new to Winter Soldier comics, but I liked this enough that I'll probably read some more. A really engaging plot!
evamaria's review
4.0
Oh, Bucky... It's no secret that I have lots of feelings when it comes to Bucky Barnes. So naturally I had to buy this trade paperback telling a story of the time when he was an asset for the Soviet's, a brainwashed weapon following orders without question or conscience. Except that there's this man, this "American with a shield", whose voice the Winter Soldier hears at inopportune moments. Be still, my heart... :)
The story is pretty straightforward spy fare, following SHIELD agent Ran Shen as he tries to extract two Nazi scientists who have invented a dangerous formula from HYDRA's clutches, while the Soviets try to do the same, using the Winter Soldier. It's all very James Bond, including cool gadgets, a super-powered villain and a love story.
Although naturally I would have loved it if Bucky had actually been the main protagonist, I really enjoyed the whole thing. Shen, who has been undercover for ages, develops feelings for the scientist who developed the formula, which add to his existing doubts regarding SHIELD and the capitalist system it stands for. In a nice twist it's the woman, Mila, who's the really smart one, her mercenary husband simply taking advantage of her brains and people's expectations. (I only wish she'd been dressed a bit more and not been damsel'd so much - but it fits with the James Bond vibe of the story.) The main baddie, HYDRA's Drain, is a psychic who gets people to kill themselves, but his interference actually reveals some truths - and breaks the Winter Soldier's conditioning. This means that we actually get Bucky for part of the story, which I didn't expect and which almost broke my heart. Like I said, all the feels!
Drain: I can see into your mind, poor brainwashed toy soldier. Oh, to see what they did to you. It would break your Captain's heart.
The story is pretty straightforward spy fare, following SHIELD agent Ran Shen as he tries to extract two Nazi scientists who have invented a dangerous formula from HYDRA's clutches, while the Soviets try to do the same, using the Winter Soldier. It's all very James Bond, including cool gadgets, a super-powered villain and a love story.
Although naturally I would have loved it if Bucky had actually been the main protagonist, I really enjoyed the whole thing. Shen, who has been undercover for ages, develops feelings for the scientist who developed the formula, which add to his existing doubts regarding SHIELD and the capitalist system it stands for. In a nice twist it's the woman, Mila, who's the really smart one, her mercenary husband simply taking advantage of her brains and people's expectations. (I only wish she'd been dressed a bit more and not been damsel'd so much - but it fits with the James Bond vibe of the story.) The main baddie, HYDRA's Drain, is a psychic who gets people to kill themselves, but his interference actually reveals some truths - and breaks the Winter Soldier's conditioning. This means that we actually get Bucky for part of the story, which I didn't expect and which almost broke my heart. Like I said, all the feels!
Drain: I can see into your mind, poor brainwashed toy soldier. Oh, to see what they did to you. It would break your Captain's heart.
joeytruty's review
4.0
3.75/5
I wish there was more Bucky and ultimately this mini-series has no weight or impact due to it's table-setting ending, but Remender has created a moderately fun 60s spy-thriller. Perfectly passable if you stumble upon this on Marvel Unlimited (like I did).
I wish there was more Bucky and ultimately this mini-series has no weight or impact due to it's table-setting ending, but Remender has created a moderately fun 60s spy-thriller. Perfectly passable if you stumble upon this on Marvel Unlimited (like I did).
captainwinter's review
4.0
Poor Bucky.
For a book about the Winter Soldier in which the Winter Soldier isn't the actual "leading man", it was surprisingly good. Was the romantic subplot vital to the story? I don't think so. Did the amount of "Nazi's are bad" start to bother me at some point? Yes (like, we get it. They're very bad. It's not necessary to keep calling them names every other page, though, because that got annoying very quick). Did I think it could have used more Bucky (especially in the first 2-3 issues) and a better storyline for him? For sure. But I still found it a very easy and enjoyable read, so it's a four stars from me, because sometimes you just need to be entertained and it did that for sure.
For a book about the Winter Soldier in which the Winter Soldier isn't the actual "leading man", it was surprisingly good. Was the romantic subplot vital to the story? I don't think so. Did the amount of "Nazi's are bad" start to bother me at some point? Yes (like, we get it. They're very bad. It's not necessary to keep calling them names every other page, though, because that got annoying very quick). Did I think it could have used more Bucky (especially in the first 2-3 issues) and a better storyline for him? For sure. But I still found it a very easy and enjoyable read, so it's a four stars from me, because sometimes you just need to be entertained and it did that for sure.