Hello true believers and welcome to Flashback Friday where I discuss Pops from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anything Pop related to the MCU is up for discussion including films and television series. Let’s jump right in with this week’s discussion. Winter Soldier from the Captain America: Civil War set is this week’s featured MCU Pop.
As I write this article I’m reminded of the heavy toll the characters took in Civil War. This is especially true of Steve, Bucky, Tony, and T’Challa. The final fight sequence between Tony, Steve, and Bucky was heartbreaking to watch unfold. Tony fighting to avenge his parents; Bucky fighting for his life; Steve fighting to protect his best friend. I remember watching it in the theater and I noticed some people were crying. It’s amazing to me that after so many films of watching these characters grow and develop that we’ve become so attached that when they suffer, we suffer along with them. That’s how I felt when Bucky’s arm got ripped from his body. I cringed hard in the theater and truly felt heartache for that character. Bucky has been through so much in his life that he just wants some semblance of “normal” which the Russos only teased at the beginning of the film.
This Winter Soldier pays homage to that devastating final sequence in which Bucky loses his arm by Tony’s hand. I know a lot of people remember that airport action sequence as the best part of the film – for me, it’s the fight between Bucky, Steve, and Tony that really hits home. It’s one of the most intimate parts in a large scale film which is why it packs such an emotional punch to the characters and the audience.
Winter Soldier is numbered 168 in the Marvel character master set. This version was an exclusive to Target stores which makes it harder to come by if you’re familiar at all with wanting Target exclusives. He’s part of an 18 Pop Captain America: Civil War set. If you check out the brand new Funko collection tracker app you’ll see that as of this publishing, the Winter Soldier is only going for $11.00. I was expecting this Pop to be much closer to the $20.00 range.
Answer the trivia question below and choose an MCU Pop that I hasn’t been covered in a Flashback Friday article. Leave your answer and choice in the comments section. If your answer is correct I will choose a random person with the correct response and their choice will be featured in a future article. This week’s trivia will come from Captain America: Civil War.
Name all ten activation words for the Winter Soldier.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s column. Check back next week for a brand new Flashback Friday and don’t forget to join our Facebook group. Excelsior!
Matt Norris