Since the moment Leo erased Natasha's memories of Bucky, I've had the sinking suspicion that Brubaker wouldn't have them returned. As Bucky himself says here, it seemed like the only obvious lasting effect of Leo's attack on Bucky and the United States, a better result for him than simply unleashing a radiological attack on Washington, DC. But, when the moment comes, it's as devastating as it is fascinating.
This series has really been "Winter Soldier and Black Widow." Since the first days of Bucky's resurrection, Natasha has been right by his side. Brubaker now leaves Bucky alone, without a support network, more on the brink than he's ever been. It seems to set the stage for this series to deliver on its premise, of Bucky taking care of the problems that can't be solved by people like Captain America. Without Natasha, he becomes all the more of a ghost now. If Latour does his job, we'll see Bucky struggling to handle the pressure of that reality, something that Brubaker at least hints here he won't be able to do all that well.
It's hard to see Brubaker leave. Although the most recent volume of "Captain America" dragged, feeling mostly like material recycled from previous stories, this series has always been fresh. As Brubaker says himself at the end here, I don't think that I'd have believed you eight years ago if you'd tell me that I would not only accept Bucky's resurrection, but find him becoming one of my favorite characters. But, here we are. So, thanks, Ed, for creating such a great character and setting us on such firm footing here. As Latour probably knows, he has enormous shoes to fill.
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