Bucky Barnes’journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been filled with many ups and downs, much like his comic counterpart. His evolution from Captain America’s loyal right-hand-man to the brainwashed and dangerous Winter Soldier to the leader of the New Avengers, Bucky has seen it all in the MCU. However, the films and Disney+ series have only scratched the surface of his most fascinating comic book storylines, particularly his complicated relationship with the Cosmic Cube.
In his storied Marvel Comics history,Bucky’s path to freedom from the Winter Soldier is directly linked to the Cosmic Cube, and is a pivotal plot point detailed inCaptain America: Winter Soldier,written by Ed Brubaker with art by Steve Epting.
Later, Bucky’s relationship with the Cube changes quite dramatically inAvengers: Standoff!and the subsequentThunderbolts(201), wherehe forms an almost paternal bond with Kobik, the sentient manifestation of the Cube itself. These two distinct yet interconnected arcs set the stage for a unique opportunity for the MCU to explore Bucky’s trauma, healing, and unexpected role as a father-figure.
The Winter Soldier’s Decades of Brainwashing Began to Unravel with the Cube’s Intervention
Captain America: Winter Solider, Written By Ed Brubaker With Art By Steve Epting
For decades,Bucky Barnes was a ghost; a phantom, shadowy assassin known only as the Winter Soldier. His mind was a fractured mess of forgotten memories and implanted commands, both of which were used as a weapon wielded by HYDRA. The brutality of his actions, the cold callousness of his assignments, were all a testament to how effective his brainwashing was.Yet, even the deepest and most brutal mental manipulation has a breaking point.
In the comics, this breaking point wasn’t a moment of great clarity; it was the raw, unrestrained power of the Cosmic Cube. Its influencerestored Bucky’s memories in overwhelming fashion, and it began to chip away at the layers of HYDRA’s programming, allowing his true heroic self to resurface.The Cosmic Cube’s near-unlimited power, capable of warping reality on a fundamental level, clashed with HYDRA’s mental wards within Bucky’s mind.The collision created a psychic onslaught of conflicting memories and emotions that began to dismantle the Winter Soldier persona. It was an involuntary act of freedom that forced his suppressed memories to the forefront.
However, this wasn’t a cure-all, but rather the crucial first step on a long and sometimes painful journey towardreclaiming his identity as Bucky Barnes, leaving him disoriented and changed by the Cube’s accidental intervention. The Cube’s influence continued to ripple through Bucky’s psyche even after this first earth-shattering encounter. It acted as a persistent echo within the dormant parts of his consciousness that yearned for freedom. This slow, almost imperceptible process of mental deconstruction wasn’t about instant healing, but about the painful, gradual reassembly of a shattered mind.The Cube’s presence served as a catalyst for Bucky’s reemerging self-awareness.
A Father Figure Emerges From The Ashes Of A Super Soldier’s Tormented Past
Who Wouldn’t Want To See Bucky As A Dad?
Years after the initial encounter, the Cosmic Cube re-entered Bucky’s life in a very unexpected way:taking on a new, sentient form as a young girl named Kobik.This form was a radical departure from the Cube’s traditional existence as an object, andpresented Bucky with an entirely new challenge. Instead of a force of mental disruption, Kobik was a being in need of guidance; a powerful entity with the innocence and vulnerability of a child that needed protection. This peculiar dynamic put Bucky into an unprecedented role, forcing him to confront his own trauma while nurturing a “child” capable of reshaping reality itself.
Bucky’s early interactions with Kobikwere (understandably) filled with tension, as he knew that the untapped power she wielded could easily be misused or corrupted. Whoever gained control of Kobik would be able to rewrite reality in any manner, meaning in the wrong hands, evil could easily triumph over even the strongest hero. When reality itself is the adversary, the battle would be impossible.However, as he spent more time with her, a surprising bond began to form.He saw not just the Cosmic Cube, but a sentient being grappling with her own existence and the weight of her abilities.
Bucky, the hardened super-soldier, found himself teaching Kobik about right and wrong, about empathy, and about the consequences of her powers.
This unexpected connection allowed Bucky to tap into a forgotten part of himself:a capacity for tenderness and protection that had been buried under decades of violence and pain.Seeing a powerful entity trying to understand its place in the world held a mirror to his own fragmented past. This unlikely relationship blossomed into a pseudo-father-daughter bond. Bucky, the hardened super-soldier, found himself teaching Kobik about right and wrong, about empathy, and about the consequences of her powers. He became her protector, her confidante, and her moral compass.
This new and unexpected role as a “father” lays a detailed and captivating path for Bucky;a path to healing, compelling him to look beyond his own suffering and fully invest in the well-being of someone totally dependent upon him. The responsibility of guiding Kobik, a “child” who embodied both the potential for boundless creation and devastating destruction, allowed him to reclaim a vital sense of purpose far beyondthe confines of war and espionage. Such a shift could ultimately redefine his very identity and turn him into a compassionate and dedicated guardian.
Elements FromAvengers: Standoff!andThunderboltsCould Bring New Facets To The MCU
A Parental Role Could Change Bucky’s Characters As A Whole
Should the MCU choose to incorporate Kobik into their ever-expanding lore, the potentials are quite literally endless.The depth of Bucky’s bond with Kobikoffers unique avenues to potentially explore withthemes of surrogate parenthood, the burden of unwanted power, and the impact of unexpected connections on one’s personal growth.Seeing Bucky, a character so deeply scarred by his past, not only embrace, but thrive in a nurturing role as a father figure would be a powerful and moving exploration of his emotional growth and evolution.
A Bucky/Kobik storyline could not only further humanize him in a way that the MCU has been invested in over the years, but also showcase the power of empathy and responsibility,cementing his place as a multi-layered and truly heroic figurewithin the broader canon. This intricate relationship betweenBucky Barnes and Kobik, full of potential for both emotional depth and cosmic implications, deserves its moment in the MCU spotlight.
