Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
James Buchanon Barnes

Aliases
Bucky

Identity
Known to authorities

Citizenship
Formerly USA

Place of Birth
Shelbyville, Indiana

First Appearance
(as Bucky) Captain America Comics #1, (as Winter Soldier) Captain America #1 (2005)

Origin
Captain America #11

As a young boy, James Buchanon Branes lost his father (a soldier during WWII), and was adopted by Camp Lehigh as their mascot, and given the nickname "Bucky". It was here where he learned the identity of Captain America. Later he underwent rigorous training and hired as his sidekick, where he went on many adventures with Cap and the original Invaders. However, on a final mission against Baron Zemo, Bucky hopped on a plane trying to disarm a bomb along with Captain America. The bomb detonated, dropping Cap in the North Atlantic, while Bucky's body was never found, until it was discovered by a Russian sub, commanded by Gen. Vasily Karpov, many years later.

When Bucky awoke, he had amnesia, which gave Karpov an opportunity to reprogram Bucky as a Soviet assassin. He spent most of his adult years, traveling the globe, killing many people, and was kept in stasis between missions.

Recently, the Winter Soldier killed the Red Skull, and stole his Cosmic Cube for Karpov's successor, former General Alexander Lukin. In order to mess with Cap's mind, the Winter Soldier had also managed to kill Jack Monroe and launched a major terrorist attack on the city of Philadelphia, which also fueled the Cosmic Cube's power. However when the Winter Soldier kidnapped S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Sharon Carter, she was rescued by Captain America, whom she told that she thought she saw Bucky. Later, Nick Fury confirmed to Cap that the Winter Soldier is indeed Bucky.

After Lukin ordered the Winter Soldier to bury the Cosmic Cube in an underground bunker, Cap, with help from the Falcon and Iron Man, tracked him down and defeated him. After the battle, Bucky had regained his memories, but took the Cube and fled.

Recently, it was revealed that the Winter Soldier may have helped Wolverine escape from Weapon X, and may be responsible for the loss of his wife and baby.