Captain America's sidekick, Bucky, much like Batman's Robin, introduced back in March 1941, perished in World War II.
Unlike other comic book characters, Bucky remained dead until writer, Ed Brubaker, resurrected him in 2005 with "The Winter Soldier" storyline. One of the things to notice about this Bucky is the metallic arm that provides him with super strength.
Six years decade after the character's resurrection, audiences were introduced to a new adult version of Bucky, played by actor Sebastian Stan. This version is Captain America's long-time best friend, who died in World War II.
Therefore, people were genuinely shocked in 2014, when Captain America: The Winter Soldier revealed that Buck, much like Steve Rogers is now a Russian supersoldier with a metal hand.
Bucky's metal arm in What If...? explained
There have been three different metal arms of different materials throughout Bucky's appearances throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Titanium (in The Winter Soldier), 1st Vibranium arm (in Infinity War, Endgame), and 2nd Vibranium arm (in Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Thunderbolts*).
However, he has had his titanium arm throughout most of his What If...? appearances (except for the one in Captain Carter). His arm much like the live-action versions enhances his strengths and halts dangerous projectiles. He can punch any metal except for Vibranium in the MCU.
Throughout the entire run of MCU, Buck has used the metal arm only in defensive ways, even when he was a brainwashed assassin. One of the seminal moments in Captain America: The Winter Soldier is Buck catching Captain America's Vibranium shield mid-air.
In the third What If...? he uses the metal arm just to punch Bill Foster in his Giant Man form. But, even that attack was non-lethal.
Considering Bucky effortlessly caught the shield thrown with force, the power Bucky needs to be athletic and nimble, with superhuman reflexes. The only time he used the metal arm in an attacking way is to kill Zombie Cap with the shield in the Zombie episode of What If...?
Bucky Barnes' What If...? appearances until now
Sebastian Stan's Bucky has appeared throughout all three seasons of What If...? In the first season, He is one of the human survivors of the zombie outbreak along with Happy, Spider-Man, Hope van Dyne, Bucky Barnes, Kurt (from Ant-Man 1 and 2), Sharon Carter, and Okoye.
While visiting Camp Lehigh, the group encounters Zombie Cap, Falcon, and Hawkeye whom they beat. But Bucky is magically defeated when Zombie Wanda throws him away.
Bucky has a happier life on Captain Carter's Earth because he lived to see the day and even became the Secretary of State. We meet this version of Bucky in What If...? Season 2
Season 2 Episode 2 of What If...? set in 1988 also features a version of Bucky who is serving the Soviet Union. He is sent to the US to deal with Peter Quil who has become a major threat to the entire universe.
However, he tries to kill young Peter even if the young kid is calmed down, but is convinced by Howard Stark to let the child live. He leaves The Winter Soldier's identity behind and disappears.
What If...? Season 2 Episode 8 had Captain Carter meet a 17th Steve Rogers, who serves as Robin Hood figure. In his team is a Scott Lang and Bucky of that era.
Finally, the last time, Bucky appeared on What If...? is the first episode of season 3 in which The Avengers in their mech suit fight giant monsters connected to the Hulk.
What about the Vibranium Arms that Bucky gets outside the What If...? continuity
The Vibranium arms he later receives can also serve the same purpose. They can help him absorb vibrations. Despite this major upgrade, Bucky ensures to use his metal arm defensively, and the characters are extremely lucky for that.
But that does not mean that he is invincible. In the fourth episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Dora Milaje's Ayo easily dismantles Bucky's arm, beating him in combat.
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The third episode of What If...? Season 3, "What If... the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?" releases on December 24, 2024. It features an interesting team-up of The Red Guardian and The Winter Soldier. You can watch it on Disney+.
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