Bucky Barnes Faces His Biggest Challenge Against Doctor Doom Than Spider-Man or Reed Richards

by

In the annals of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos stands as its most formidable antagonist. Known as the Mad Titan, he embarks on a mission to decimate half of all life in the cosmos, aiming to improve survival chances for the remaining half. He accomplishes this feat by gathering all Infinity Stones during ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and reducing trillions with a snap. The Avengers and their allies must pool their resources in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ to reverse his actions and prevent an alternate Thanos from annihilating everyone and everything. To summarize, the upcoming villain of the franchise, Doctor Doom, faces significant expectations as he steps into the footsteps left by Thanos, with his only advantage being his distinctive visage at this point in time.

In a forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film titled “Avengers: Doomsday“, Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Victor Von Doom. Given the extensive connections of many MCU characters to either Tony Stark or Doom, it’s expected that this movie will be difficult to ignore due to Downey’s return. For instance, characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk have fought alongside Stark at some point, while others, such as the Fantastic Four, may possess a history with Doom, making them more determined to defeat the villain. However, among all characters, Bucky Barnes has a particularly personal stake in “Doomsday“.

Bucky Barnes Is the Source of Tony Stark’s Pain in the MCU

In the movie “Iron Man“, character Tony initially embodies the typical image of a wealthy individual with all the material desires fulfilled. By day, he deals in weapon sales for the government, while his nights are filled with partying and excessive drinking. However, the reality of his actions becomes clear when he discovers his weapons being used by the Ten Rings terrorist organization. Following the creation of his first Iron Man suit, Tony manages to escape confinement and dismantles the weapon manufacturing division of his company. Yet, there remains one lingering concern for him, a ghost from his past.

In “Iron Man 2”, Tony Stark grapples with a complex bond he shares with his deceased father, Howard Stark. A hidden message from the past reveals a mysterious new element that proves vital for his survival. However, he manages to move on from his past until it resurfaces in “Captain America: Civil War”. The villain, Helmut Zemo, uncovers the truth behind Howard and Maria Stark’s demise and exploits it to sow discord among the Avengers. He presents Tony with a video depicting Bucky Barnes, disguised as the Winter Soldier, causing an accident that takes the lives of Howard and his passengers. Steve Rogers attempts to pacify Tony, but the revelation pushes him over the edge, prompting him to pursue Bucky.

In essence, Captain America is compelled to protect his friend, widening the chasm between him and Iron Man. The film ends with Steve transporting Bucky to Wakanda to erase Hydra’s malicious actions from his mind, while Tony grapples with the events. Luckily, in the sequel Endgame, Captain America and Iron Man mend their relationship before they travel back in time to gather the Infinity Stones. Unfortunately, Bucky doesn’t have a similar chance for reconciliation, leaving the battle in Doomsday as his last opportunity to atone for his past mistakes.

Bucky Can Make Things Right With Tony in Avengers: Doomsday

During Tony Stark’s funeral in “Endgame”, it’s evident that Bucky Barnes is more distressed than many others. Sam Wilson, in an attempt to console him, places a comforting hand on Bucky’s shoulder. The film doesn’t delve deeply into Bucky’s emotions at the time, but it’s apparent that he harbors guilt over Tony’s death, which occurred while saving Bucky and countless others. It seems Bucky has much he wishes to express to Tony, a conversation they will never have again. However, the looming threat of Doctor Doom presents Bucky with an opportunity to safeguard Tony’s legacy from a villain who resembles Iron Man.

Towards the conclusion of “Thunderbolts”, Bucky joins the New Avengers, a team assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Although he’s not typically a team player, he swiftly adapts to his new position, serving as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ leaders for more than a year. This move stirs some controversy, particularly from Sam Wilson, who questions the legitimacy of a group of ex-criminals using the Avengers name. However, the safety of the Earth remains paramount. Unfortunately, when Doom emerges, that peace is shattered. It falls upon Bucky to resolve the disagreement between the two Avengers teams and unite them against their shared adversary.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Read More

2025-06-04 06:10