8 Captain America Questions That Always Confused You

5. Why Did Bucky And Falcon Stop Being Captain America?

Captain America is actually one of the Marvel universe's longest running legacy characters. Although he only gets that title via the assistance of some well placed retcons, Cap has actually maintained the most active legacy in recent years, with both Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson stepping in to fill his boots when Steve has otherwise been indisposed.

Steve Rogers' death in the aftermath of 2007's Civil War was a huge event, and it came during a seminal moment in the character's bibliography. Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting were charting an exciting course for the hero, one that resurrected Bucky Barnes as a Soviet-era assassin known as the Winter Soldier.

When Steve was gunned down on his way to court, there was only one person who was going to replace him - although Barnes himself was reluctant to wield the shield. Comics dictate a return to the status quo however, and it only took a couple of years until Rogers returned - but not as Captain America.

For a while, Bucky actually retained the Cap identity while Steve took on the new role of America's Top Cop. It was only when Barnes himself was then killed off that Steve again took on the role, and Bucky attempted to detoxify the Winter Soldier identity.

Falcon, on the other hand, became Captain America after Steve's super soldier serum wore off and aged him. For a while, Wilson was the only Cap, until Steve returned and there were two. Secret Empire then concluded with Steve shaking the fascist funk brought on by the cosmic cube, which led Wilson to relinquish the mantle back to his friend.