We saw a flashback scene in the Disney+ series The Falcon & The Winter Soldier taking Bucky Barnes back into his past as the Winter Soldier pre his appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014. This presented Hasbro an opportunity to update their 2014 Winter Soldier figure - which was less than screen accurate - and release him as a special stand-alone release under the Disney+ banner and badged as a release for The Falcon & The Winter Soldier.
While the figure was due in the Spring of 2022, it shipped early in the UK into Smyths Toys and to a number of UK stockists via Hasbro UK.
It comes in the standard Marvel Legends packaging and is aligned in terms of design and colour choice to the Disney+ Wave figures of Zemo, Falcon, Bucky and US Agent from the Spring of 2021 - this includes the use of a grey, Captain America Shield design figure card back. The side illustration shows the masked Winter Soldier, and a larger version of this is displayed on the rear with a short piece of text that aligns to the 'Flashback' subtitle given to the figure.
"Though Bucky Barnes has fought to become himself again, in his darkest nightmares his greatest fear comes to life... that he is still the Winter Soldier!"
The new release utilises the original 2014 figure from The Winter Soldier, a body that has been used a few times since on Winter Soldier figures. The original figure felt a little out of proportion and still presents with slightly longer legs and large feet but the new deco and the new head sculpts have done wonders for the overall look.
The bulk of the body is cast in dark plastic with a sculpted tactical vest over which is placed a chest holster strap in a softer plastic. The belt is also a loose soft plastic element and features sculpted detail on a holster and with a knife tucked in the reverse - there has been no adjustment to make the belt more functional with the accessories.
The paint apps over the base body are mainly centred around the boots and knee pads, with a little bit of detailing added to the belt and chest with silver buckles and clasps. The left arm is presented in bright silver with a brown painted fingerless glove and a red star decal on the shoulder.
The biggest improvement on the figure is via the two new head sculpts. The original figure pre-dated the photo-real deco by some 3-years and at a time where the MCU figures were relatively new to the Marvel Legends Infinite Series and facial likenesses were still more akin to the Comic Book figures than actual actor likenesses.
The two new heads are the best Sebastian Stan likeness to date and you can choose from either a masked version or the exposed face. Both use face-print deco and are sculpted with a hairpiece that flows down either side of the face.
The original Winter Soldier release came with a particularly odd weapon, a large and very sci-fi looking red rifle that had no relevance to the character or the movie. This time around the Winter Soldier is sufficiently armed with a good selection of weaponry.
We start with a combat knife, cast in plastic with a silver serrated blade and black handle. It looks to be the same knife that came with Civil War Bucky, but with a more realistic paint job. It fits into either hand, but there is no sheath to stow it when not in use - that is a shame as the belt piece was ripe for updating on the figure to add this new detail.
Bucky also gets a new Assault Rifle that looks to be a new piece for the MCU line at least - it certainly is not the same one that featured with the Netflix Punisher, or with Killmonger. It is cast in black with plenty of sculpted detail but no added paint apps. This fits into either hand, with both included hands featuring a trigger finger.
The final two pieces are handguns, both similar in sculpt but with one executed as though the magazine were being inserted. Like the Assault Rifle, they come in a harder black plastic with no paint apps. They also can fit in either hand, but as with the knife, there is no holster to stow them in when not in use.
While the Marvel Legends line has seen huge improvements in sculpting and paint deco over the years, there was never a major issue with articulation and this older buck features 19 points of articulation - as it did some 7-years ago. This includes double joints at both knees and elbows allowing two-handed weapon posing and shooting shots, and giving Bucky the ability to sit and kneel.
The older figures did suffer from looser joints, and this new version does not appear to have carried this forward with the joints presenting in good tight condition with satisfying ratchets as you pose most of the pivot joints. The Winter Soldier stands perfectly well, but I suspect the ankles will be a weak spot over time so keep an eye on this.
One of the added bonuses of the set is that the new and improved heads will fit perfectly onto the older body and on a couple of the Bucky variants since they use the same buck or neck joint (Civil War and Infinity War). That means your 2014 Winter Soldier can also get an upgrade and you can display both masked and unmasked versions.
Conversely, the older heads fit on the new body. This means fans of the full face mask can use this, although when you do this you bring back the proportional issues with the older heads being somewhat smaller.
The new Winter Soldier figure is another example of Hasbro's Marvel Legends Team revisiting a character from the MCU history that needs improvement and giving it a makeover to bring it in line with the more modern figures. While there are no changes to the body, the new head does wonders for the figure proportions - although the legs remain a touch too long. Both the head sculpts are glorious and there is a good selection of weapons this time around, they are just crying out for an update to the belt to add working holsters for the knife and pistol.
While he is badged under the Disney+ Falcon & The Winter Soldier banner, this Winter Soldier will fit in perfectly with a Captain America: Winter Soldier display and the unmasked Bucky head will also work well to update the Civil War version if you choose. A recommended purchase!
"Longing, rusted, seventeen, daybreak, furnace, nine, benign, homecoming, one, freight car."
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...