With Bucky Barnes has come full circle from Winter Soldier to Avenger. Yet, Marvel also unveiled a reality where Bucky Barnes’ redemption arc took a nosedive with him becoming Captain America’s ultimate nemesis. In a sick and twisted turn of events, Captain America’s greatest ally was reimagined as none other than the Ultimate Universe’s Red Skull.

Bucky may truly believe in Red Skull’s racist agenda...

In Ultimates #10, written by Deniz Camp with art by Juan Frigeri, the Ultimate Universe’s Avengers, aka, the Ultimates are invading the neo-nazi stronghold of the Red Skulls to rescue Namor. However, the team of heroes is met with violent pushback by the Grand Skull and his forces.

When Grand Skull delivers the line, “It was good to see you, Steve,” there is no mistaking that Bucky Barnes is the predecessor of the Red Skull. The Ultimate Universe has struck again by altering a beloved hero into a deplorable villain, yet this time, it’s highly unlikely Bucky will be getting redemption.

Captain America’s Reunion With His Old Companion Just Got a Lot Darker

Ultimates #10; Written By Deniz Camp; Art By Juan Frigeri; Color By Federico Blee; Letters By Travis Lanham

Bucky Barnes becoming the Winter Soldier remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in Marvel history, as Captain America watched his most trusted friend turn into a brainwashed assassin for the USSR. While the Bucky of Earth-616 was tortured and mind-controlled, he eventually embarked on a gradual but steady path to redemption, ultimately reing forces with Captain America. The Ultimate Universe, on the other hand, presents a far more sinister version of Bucky, one who fully embraces the monstrous, fascist traits that Captain America once saw in the Red Skull.

Though the Ultimate Universe’s Bucky Barnes has indeed been brainwashed, it is by a different ideology. In a cruel twist of fate, he has become a white supremacist, a neo-Nazi, and an extremist. What makes matters worse is that Bucky appears to the past and instantly recognizes Steve Rogers. This makes their reunion all the more painful and suggests a deeper, more insidious form of brainwashing. This is not conditioning that can simply be undone. Bucky may truly believe in Red Skull’s racist agenda, which makes Captain America’s mission to redeem his former friend even more difficult.

The Ultimate Universe Puts a New Twist on the Red Skull in a Truly Tragic Way

Bucky Barnes Becomes the Red Skull of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe

The details of Bucky Barnes' new origin have yet to be revealed, and it is still possible that he underwent intensive and brutal brainwashing. However, what is clear is that he recognizes Captain America and, in his current state, believes in Red Skull’s ideology, delivering the eerie line, “Symbols don’t die, they come back different.” With these factors in mind, it raises the question of whether Bucky can be redeemed again, as his Earth-616 counterpart was. As for the chances of redemption, the outlook for Captain America’s former ally does not look promising.

Unlike Bucky Barnes’ transformation into the Winter Soldier, Bucky taking up the mantle as the Grand Skull, and his sentiment regarding the movement imply that the Red Skull's movement is more genuinely instilled within Bucky’s mindset. Rewriting Bucky as a racist extremist hints that he will not be getting his iconic redemption arc seen in both the MCU and Marvel Comics. While it is a tragic fate to befall one of Captain America’s most beloved allies, this transformation further establishes the dark status quo of the Maker’s Ultimate Universe and how some heroes have been permanently altered into villains.

Ultimate Bucky Barnes Takes a Dark Turn Without the Winter Soldier Mantle

Will Marvel Do the Unthinkable and Give Red Skull a Redemption Arc?

The chances of Ultimate Bucky Barnes ever reclaiming his old title are near none as Wolverine has taken on the role as the Ultimate Universe’s new Winter Soldier, becoming an amalgamation of his Weapon X origins and the Winter Soldier’s USSR brainwashing. Bucky becoming Red Skull positions him as Captain America’s primary antagonist and aligns with many of the Ultimate Universe’s reimaginings of classic characters. Ultimate Bucky is a much darker reinterpretation that still reflects elements of his well-known origins. However, it is unlikely that anyone bearing the name Red Skull could ever truly be redeemed, including Bucky Barnes himself.

Ultimates #10 is available now from Marvel Comics!