Captain America: Civil War - 30 Easter Eggs & References You Must See

28. Vasily Karpov

When we're first re-introduced to Bucky in his 1991 flashback, we also meet Gene Farber's unnamed Soviet (HYDRA) agent, who conditions him and is seemingly in charge of the Winter Soldier programme. Later, when new villain Zemo first appears, his discovery of a hidden box of HYDRA documents on Bucky's past reveals that the man in question is Vasily Karpov.

That name should set off some alarm bells for comics fans. In the comics, it is Karpov who finds Bucky when he's a popsicle and reprograms him to become The Winter Soldier. He was also responsible for the similar creation of the Red Guardian.

Incidentally, there's no reason Karpov has to die in that situation when he meets Zemo. For most of the conversation the pair have, his mouth is clearly above the top of the sink, and all he has to do is breathe out of it and not thrash around under the water line. Sure, he might die of hunger, but if anything he's just made himself drown unnecessarily there.