The Marvel character who’s arguably been through the most during the 11-year-run of the MCU is Sebastian Stan’s James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes. Steve Rogers’ longtime bestie, he, like Cap, is a WWII vet who found himself in the present day. Unlike Cap, Bucky was brainwashed into thinking he was a baddie, went on the lam, caused the Avengers to temporarily split, and, finally, in Endgame, found himself embraced by the masses, fighting Thanos and company. And now this: He’s getting short hair.
This news was one of the quieter tidbits revealed at this weekend’s D23 Expo. Marvel didn’t make a meal out of it, simply dropping the first poster for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the forthcoming Disney+ TV show that teams Captain America’s oldest best friend with his other, younger best friend, Anthony Mackie’s Falcon, and letting people notice that something was amiss. Indeed, gone is Bucky’s long, scraggly, haven’t-been-near-a-shower-in-a-few-weeks look. Instead he cleaned up, and good.
https://twitter.com/lillseb/status/1165690429318123520
There’s been a lot to freak out about over the D23 weekend, from the Mandalorian trailer to the Breaking Bad movie trailer to the trailer for an actual honest-to-god Jeff Goldblum TV show. But people were super shook to see Bucky back to his ’40s-era ’do.
https://twitter.com/brookIynmarvel/status/1165690889051791360
40's bucky barnes is my kink pic.twitter.com/3y7Y0kXvMT
— Nika (@Nikadamn) August 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/civiIswar/status/1165691976538361856
Many were very pro-Bucky short hair.
https://twitter.com/fawsoldier/status/1165702846135898113
https://twitter.com/nomadhems/status/1165671685321871362
https://twitter.com/AlcadeCade/status/1165697060605169665
Short hair BUCKY is everything PERIODT https://t.co/yJCRFb2ynK
— Senay (@moonlightscap) August 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/stevcthor/status/1165510474957410304
Some are already missing his long locks.
https://twitter.com/thewntersoldjer/status/1165715431547494400
https://twitter.com/goswsip/status/1165699737477144576
https://twitter.com/alicnovna/status/1165706450590674944
Some weren’t sure what to think.
https://twitter.com/ohhazeeey/status/1165695362415378432
Others noticed one other change.
did anyone notice that this is the first time they dont put bucky’s metal arm on the front pic.twitter.com/MLU8K9bEMe
— deen (@blizzardbarnes) August 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/nomadthor/status/1165693918081617920
Anyway, perhaps we haven’t seen the last of longhair Bucky. After all, it does grow back.