Ask a Geek: 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

Hey kids!
So you've seen the amazing Captain America: The Winter Soldier and you enjoyed it! (If you didn't, you're brain dead.)
Now, maybe you're filled with all sorts of crazy questions about what you saw, and the direction of the Marvel Universe. Have no fear, True Believer! You know me! ...or maybe you don't. But you know someone who told you to come here where all your questions will be answered and your geeky curiousity can be tamed!

If you haven't seen the movie, then you may wanna stop here. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Leggo!

1. Why the hell was it/he called 'The Winter Soldier'?

Good question. First off, he wasn't called The Winter Soldier because he got 'killed/separated' from Cap in the snow. (See: Captain America: The First Avenger) The explanation for Bucky's new title as 'The Winter Soldier' was implied in the movie via Black Widow's dialog and the fact that she was aware of who
he was. Don't forget before she worked for the Americans and S.H.I.E.L.D., she was a KGB agent. In the comics, after Bucky was blown up on a mission with Cap he was assumed dead because Cap could not find any remains of his body. The explosion that claimed his life in the comics was over an ocean, while in the movie he succumbed to a vast mountain gorge that Cap couldn't double back and search. Regardless, in both situations his cold preserved body was discovered  by Russian military on a routine training exercise, missing one arm. It was the Russians who fitted him with a new bionic arm, and took advantage of the brain damage induced amnesia he suffered. The star you may or may not have noticed on the shoulder of the bionic arm alludes to his Russian ties. During Cap's cryo stasis, The Winter Soldier was experimented on, and utilized in several black ops wet works missions over the years, and placed in cryo-sleep when not needed. Which is why it appears he's only aged a couple years since WW II. He was vital during the cold war, (probably why he's nicknamed 'The Winter Soldier') and an expert in unexplained political assassinations such as President Kennedy. The knowledge of The Winter Soldier's existence was confirmed in several intelligence agencies across the globe, but his identity remained a big hush hush, wink wink until his run-in with Captain America many years later. You may be a little skeptical how this was all even remotely conceivable, but you have to remember, in the comic Bucky Barnes wasn't the strapping young adult and big bro to Steve Rogers as he was in the first movie. Bucky Barnes was a teenager, a covert American child soldier. So even if it was possible that he survived that explosion, not many would've recognized him as a grown man. After Captain America restored Bucky's memories using the cosmic cube (a  near ultimate device very similar to the Tesseract from Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers films) Bucky would eventually come back to the side of good, and even replace Cap when he assassinated after the Superhero Civil War.

2. NOBODY knew Bucky was still alive? ...C'mon. Really??
Yeah. It was a heavily guarded secret. And in both scenarios, Captain America witnessed his death.

(He just failed to confirm it, in both situations) Like I said in the first answer, Bucky was vital to the rise of Russia becoming a super-power, so he was a need to know secret. Similar to nuclear launch codes. Think of him as a covert Captain Russia. ...or Captain Soviet Union. (Whatever helps you sleep better at night.) Black Widow had a brief relationship with him in the 90's but since she wasn't alive during World War 2, how would she know that he was Bucky, the SAME Bucky from 'Captain America and Bucky'??

3. Ok. Why did everybody in the theater laugh when the traitor Sitwell mentioned the name 'Stephen Strange'? Who the hell is he?
Well, yeah the turncoat Agent Sitwell did mention a couple names that would be a threat to Hydra's world domination- Bruce Banner (The Hulk), Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Stephen Strange who in the Marvel Universe is none other than the Sorcerer Supreme himself, DR. STRANGE! So, I believe it's safe to say, this is Marvel Studios way of acknowledging that Dr. Strange exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we're likely to see him pop up...maybe in Phase 3? (Go HERE to be taught the phases)

4. How the hell did Nick Fury not know Hydra was growing within S.H.I.E.L.D.?
We can chalk this up to a number of explanations. One, he was too distracted with several other things on his plate. He's super secret and bad ass like that. Two, Hydra is just as powerful and covert as S.H.I.E.L.D. is. If you really want me to shit in your cereal, I can tell you with confidence that A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics- they were introduced in Iron Man 3) are on the same page. But don't feel bad. There's a strong chance that there are several sleeper agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. within Hydra as well. Espionage just plays out like that.

5. What was that staff surrounded in blue light in the post-credits scene?
Okay this answer is a little tricky. So bear with me. Short answer: It's Loki's staff from The Avengers.

Now here's the long explanation. You may be confused because you're wondering how the hell did Hydra get their hands on it? This is where owning the movies comes into play. On the DVD/Blu-Ray of certain Marvel Studios films are bonus short films that bridge the films together even further. (The list is HERE.) There's The Consultant (found on Thor - It bridges Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk together. Showing how Tony Stark was played by S.H.I.E.L.D. to get Banner on The Avengers- it also foreshadows that Sitwell is a double agent.) then A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (found on Captain America: The First Avenger - it takes place before Thor and right after Coulson calls Tony Stark in Iron Man 2 explaining his absence) and then there's Item 47 (found on The Avengers) it shows how S.H.I.E.L.D. confiscated all evidence from the alien invasion, including weapons and crafts, for research and 'security' The agent in charge was Sitwell, who as you saw was a Hydra agent all along. Since Hydra had many members within S.H.I.E.L.D., that's how Hydra got Loki's staff. Now, as far as the Tesseract (the blue light on the staff) goes, that's up for speculation. Here's MY explanation. Yes, Thor took the Tesseract back to Asgard in The Avengers however, also in that film Captain America discovered a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. cache of weaponry they were developing to duplicate and combat the type of power Asgardians were capable of. My guess is that whatever that is that is now powering Loki's staff, it's a duplicate.

6. WHO THE HELL ARE THOSE PEOPLE IN THE POST CREDITS SCENE??
Well. The guy with the monocle doing all the talk of Hydra world domination would be Baron Von Strucker he's another one of those crazy Nazi turned Hydra leaders that probably deserve a bullet in the brain.

The 'twins' he referred to in the cage however, are none other than Scarlet Witch, and her brother, Quicksilver. This is very important if you aren't familiar with these characters. Here's why.
(Now granted. What I'm about to give you is their comic background) BOTH of these characters are mutants. Mutants as in X-Men, mutants. Quicksilver, or Pietro Maximoff, has the mutant ability of superhuman speed/reaction/physiology. It hasn't been said how fast he is currently, but he can run half the Earth in 92 seconds. His twin sister, Scarlet Witch, or Wanda Maximoff, has the (slightly confusing) ability to alter probability or warp reality by controlling chaos magics. Let's just say she's a pretty big damn deal. Both are active members of The Avengers, but they were first introduced in the comics as villains, working with their father until they changed their ways. Here's where it gets REALLY FUN. Their father is Magneto. THE Magneto, bad ass from the X-Men. Look at the happy family

Now. Here's where the fun kinda ends. Unfortunately due to Marvel being broke years ago and selling certain characters to other film studios back in the early 2000's -Magneto (and probably the word 'mutant') are properties of Fox. (as far as films are concerned.) That means when Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch pop up in Avengers 2: Age of Ultron they probably won't be mutants, (especially since Quicksilver will also appear in X-Men: Days of Future Past) and they definitely won't mention their daddy. Also, since they are mutants, Fox kinda has rights to them too- so expect something REALLY STUPID like the two popping up in one of those ridiculous X-Men films in the future. And while we're on the topic of movie rights- if you're confused why some of these Marvel comics films are amazing, and some aren't- here's a fun Venn diagram that should set you straight. 

Well that's it for now kids! If you have any more questions or concerns feel free to leave it in the comment section and I'll hop on it as soon as I get a moment!

UPDATE!! (More questions! - April 9)

7. What was written on Nick Fury's tombstone? Everyone laughed, I didn't get it.

That particular visual joke was a bit of a breach of the fourth wall. It was a play on the whole, Samuel Jackson is a bad motherfucker.' thing he's owned for years. The tombstone read, "The Path of the Righteous Man..." a  portion of the bible verse Ezekiel 25:17, which is the line that Sam Jack repeated constantly in Pulp Fiction particularly to people before administering some type of firearmed justice.

8. Why did that traitorous Strike Force S.H.I.E.L.D. agent get saved in the end?

Well, even though they didn't show his comic book alter ego, the special agent that appeared to be second in command to Alexander Pierce, Rumlow is also known in the comics as Crossbones a ruthless mercenary. Crossbones in the comics is a ruthless combatant, weapons expert, and has gone toe to toe with Captain America numerous times. Although he isn't known as Crossbones in the film, the numerous camera shots of his chest showing his cargo straps in the form of an 'X' clearly are homage to his comic uniform.

9. Was the guy Captain America fought in the beginning important? He seemed like it.
He's another character that is actually in the comics, Batroc the Leaper a French mercenary, olympic level athlete and weightlifter, master of the French form of kickboxing, called Savate. He has focused an developed leg muscles which allows him to leap impressive distances, and is why he's nicknamed 'The Leaper' although he's typically labeled a villain because of the jobs he takes, he has been known to have a strong sense of morals and won't cross certain lines. This aspect was played in the movie when he requested Captain America fight him fairly. Side note, besides casting French-Canadian MMA champion Georges St. Pierre as Batroc, Batroc's real name is Georges Batroc. Which makes him double perfect to play the role! Good job, casting director!


Keep the questions coming!!