Sebastian Stan returns as Bucky Barnes again in Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, and the latest trailer shows the same cheap gimmick that affected Bucky’s character in his last appearance. Barnes is one of the longest-tenured characters in the MCU, debuting in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. He’s had one of the most interesting character arcs, going from a brainwashed HYDRA super-soldier to a rehabilitated Avenger still seeking redemption. He’ll have more of a leadership role in Thunderbolts*, ᴀssembling a group of Marvel misfits for a seemingly impossible mission.
Bucky is arguably the most powerful member of his new team. He’s a super-soldier but has an extra advantage with his vibranium arm. His arm was enhanced during his rehabilitation in Wakanda after Tony Stark blasted his original metal arm off in Captain America: Civil War. However, his arm isn’t invulnerable, and it’s a constant reminder for Bucky about what HYDRA did to him. The Thunderbolts* trailer shows Marvel’s powerful new villain ripping his arm off, and it’s the second time Marvel has pulled this trick on Bucky in his last two appearances.
Thunderbolts* Just Pulled The Same Move On Bucky Barnes’ Arm As TFATWS
The Thunderbolts* trailer introduced the film’s main villain. While it didn’t show much of him or confirm who it is, many comic book readers are guessing it is The Void, the darker half of Sentry played by Lewis Pullman. The Void is an incredibly powerful character from the comics and is shown immersing New York City in a field of darkness in the trailer. To illustrate his power, he throws Red Guardian out a window without touching him and rips Bucky’s arm off with little effort.
This is the second time Bucky has had his arm removed in his last two projects. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky, Sam, John Walker, and Battlestar fight members of the Dora Milaje, attempting to stop them from arresting Baron Zemo. During the fight, Ayo removes Bucky’s arm by utilizing a fail-safe that Bucky was unaware of. It demonstrates that Bucky has a weakness, and there are precautions in case Bucky slips back into the Winter Soldier.
Why Marvel Can’t Keep Removing Bucky Barnes’ Arm To Subdue Him
Bucky losing his arm is starting to get repeтιтive. It first happened in Civil War, and it’s starting to feel like a cheap gimmick, rather than a dramatic moment that hurts his character. It also displays an easy way to subdue a disabled hero. Bucky lost part of his humanity after what HYDRA did to him, and ripping his arm off is a painful reminder of that time in his life. In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky is visually disturbed by Ayo removing his arm and feels betrayed that Wakanda didn’t mention the fail-safe.
While the trailer doesn’t show his reaction, it’ll likely be another harmful moment for Bucky as a hero and could permanently damage his new arm. However, it does give Marvel a chance to show Bucky without his metal arm, allowing him to reveal the hero he can be without any special enhancements. Still, Marvel shouldn’t keep removing his arm because it’s a simple obstacle to keep throwing Bucky’s way, and in Thunderbolts*, it’s starting to feel unnecessarily cruel.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
- Release Date
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February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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