BUCKY #1:
"WICKED WAYS!"
Written by Jeff Melton

BUCKY CREATED BY JOE SIMON & JACK KIRBY

In the apartment rented by Bucky Banes and Jack Monroe, Bucky rises out of his bed, leaving a slumbering female form behind him on the bed. Bucky's slumber was interrupted by the sound of buzzing from another room.

"That alarm again!" Bucky says to himself, looking over at the clock radio on his bed, which shows the time to be 7:00 AM. "I only got to sleep an hour ago! I think I'll have that thing taken out, before it drives me crazy! I'd better go turn the thing off before it wakes the dead!" So saying, Bucky walks into the kitchen, opening up a cabinet, where he pulls out a portable monitor. He pushes a button on the monitor that stops the alarm from sounding. He then places the monitor on the bar, leaning against the stove, as it hums on, revealing the sight of Nick Fury! "I should've known it would be you, Fury! What do you want, besides ruining my sleep?!"

"Ah, pipe down, junior!" Nick replies with a calm sarcasm. "You don't look so good, kid. Didn't Cap ever teach you how to shave at least? I know he didn't teach you how to fight."

"What?!" Bucky retorts, responding in kind to Fury's good natured ribbing. "I'll take you on any time you're ready, Fury! I'll try to remember your age, and have mercy on you!"

"Hmmph!" Fury retorts, grinning cockily. "If ya keep sufferin' from those delusions, I'll have to get you to a doctor. I hear Faustus has a few openings on his schedule."

"You should know," Bucky replies, smiling. "No, thanks. I've heard about that character from Jack and Cap. I think I'll just pass on that. As for shaving, you're one to talk. It looks like you average shaving about once a month!"

"I didn't call ya to debate sanitary habits, ya little punk!" Fury retorts sharply with his usual sarcasm. "What did you call me for?!" Bucky demands. "I tell you, if I didn't feel sorry for you, Fury…!"

"Yeah, sure," Fury replies flippantly. "Listen, ya little hoodlum, I got a job for ya."

"A job?!" Bucky replies. "What made you think I wanted one, Fury?!"

"Ah, you'll love this one, Bucky boy!" Nick explains, while shifting through some papers.

"I doubt it," Bucky replies shortly, not impressed.

"This is the deal," Nick continues, as if oblvious to Bucky's comments. "I want ya to take a trip to Mexico and clear up a little SHIELD business for me."

"SHIELD business?!" Bucky exclaims. "Man, Nick! I'd think you don't have any agents!"

"I already sent one," Nick explains. "But, that was two weeks ago. He hasn't been seen or heard from since."

"Hmm," Bucky replies, getting more interested, and the tone of their conversation getting somewhat more serious. "All right. What's this about?"

Nick smiles with satisfaction, knowing that he has gotten Bucky's interest in the project. "There's a prison in Mexico I want you to check out," Nick explains. "There's been some unconfirmed reports of some…questionable things going on there."

"Questionable?" Bucky asks.

"Torture, killings," Nick replies. "You know, that kind of stuff."

"Oh well," Bucky agrees. "That is questionable."

"Yeah, well," Nick continues, giving more details of the plan to Bucky. "What I want you to do is to go south and get arrested in that town, go to jail, and see what's goin' on there."

"Get arrested?!" Bucky replies, smiling. "A fine, upstanding young guy like me? Come on, Nick! How would they look for my image?!"

"What image?!" Nick cooly retorts.

"I'll forgive you for that one, Nick," Bucky concedes. "You've got my interest."

"Good," Nick agrees. He knew that Bucky couldn't resist this assignment. He's tried for years to get Cap more assignments, but his Avengers work keeps him too busy. "We'll drop you off on the outskirts of town, and you can hitchhike into town. Once there, cause a ruckus and get arrested. We know our agent got arrested and, if you can find him, he's the top priority. I look after my people."

"All right, Nick," Bucky replies. Although they joke around a lot, Bucky knows that Nick is serious about finding his missing agent. Nick has never liked to lose any men. He was like that during the war, too. Although Bucky would never admit it, he's always liked Nick. "When can I expect an escourt?"

"It's on your roof right now," Nick replies. "Ya better hurry. I don't like payin' overtime!"

"Why am I not surprised?" Bucky comments, smiling. "All right, Fury. I'll take care of this one for you, but you better appreciate this. You don't have any idea what you're making me miss out on!"

"I'd say ya haven't missed out on anything," Fury remarks.

"Well, you never can tell," Bucky agrees. "Today's a new day."

"Get in the chopper, squirt!" Nick urges. "Keep in touch. They'll be giving you a small radio you can use to contact us."

"All right, Fury," Bucky agrees. "I'm on my way up."

As Fury's image leaves the screen, Bucky thinks to himself, as he walks over to the closet, picking up his costume. "I hope I didn't keep Jack up. He's a pretty good guy, and he likes to get up early in the morning. I'll have to leave him a note or something."

Just that moment, Jack walks into the kitchen from his room. He is wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Morning, Bucky," Jack comments, getting out some bread for toast. "How are you doing?"

"All right, I guess," Bucky replies. "Listen, Jack. I've got to go on an assignment for Nick Fury. I have a lady asleep in my room. Do you think you can get her back to her place for me?"

"Ummm," Jack replies, somewhat unsure of what to say. "Sure, Bucky. I'll be glad to. Are you sure you don't need some help, though?"

"No, Jack," Bucky replies, slipping on his shirt, while Jack puts toast in the toaster. "This is a solo mission. I've got to infiltrate a prison."

"All right, Bucky," Jack replies. "I'll see you when you get back." Bucky nods, as he closes the door behind him. Bucky heads up the stairway leading to the roof. They picked this apartment because of its location near the stairs and the privacy it offered. Bucky is wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a light jacket. His costume is draped over his shoulder. Pulling open the door to the roof, he sees the chopper waiting for them there. As he gets in, he greets the pilot.

"How's it going, Charlton?" Bucky asks. "This thing is quiet! I didn't even hear it until I was on the roof."

"It sure is," Charlton agrees, as he pulls back the lever, allowing them to leave the roof. "It has a few other tricks, too."

"This crate's pretty fast, too?" Bucky asks, looking around the cockpit.

"You won't be disappointed," Charlton replies, smiling. He's proud of his choppers, and enjoys being able to test drive the new ones. Bucky looks out the window, and is amazed when he sees that the chopper is shifting, slowly becoming a sleeker design, like a standard aircraft.

"Whoa!" Bucky remarks. "This isn't just a chopper, is it?!"

"Oh, you know how it is, Bucky," Charlton explains. " The eggheads are always coming up with a new contraption for us to test out." He pulls out a ring from his flight jacket. "That reminds me, Bucky. Take this."

"What is it, a ring?" Bucky asks. "I don't feel comfortable wearing rings. I've never been into that."

"No, it's not a piece of simple jewelry, Bucky," the pilot explains, as Bucky takes the ring out of his hand. "It's a compressed air compartment that holds your costume. For your mission, you can't be wearing your costume wherever you go."

"Hey, this reminds me of one of the guy's in Rick's comics!" Bucky remarks with interest. "But, how do I get it into the ring?"

"Push the button on the underside," Charlton explains, glancing over a Bucky for a second, then turning back to the space in front of him. "It operates a super vacuum that sucks in your costume."

"Whoa!" Bucky reacts, watching the costume shoot into the ring with a great deal of surprise. "This is something else!"

"I thought you'd go for it," Charlton explains. "You'll get to keep it after the mission, you know. Sitwell came up with that one."

"He must've been reading some of the same comics," Bucky remarks, watching the landscape change beneath them.

It is two hours later when Bucky Barnes emerges from an old Ford truck, which drops him off right in front of a local bar. "Thanks, pal," Bucky says in Spanish. "I appreciate the lift."

"I don't know why you wanted to come here, my friend," the old Mexican replies. "With all the strange happenings lately. But, I have said too much already. Farewell, my friend…and good luck."

"Thanks," Bucky replies, getting out of the truck. He watches with interest as the truck backs up, then presses forward on the dirt road leading away from town. "I don't like the way he talked about this place," Bucky thinks to himself. "He knows a little about what's going on, but he's too scared to say anything, much less do anything about it. I don't know who's responsible for scaring these people half to death, but I'm going to do something about it!"

As Bucky walks up to the bar, he passes by two people, each on one side of the doorway, sleeping, their large hats over their faces, blocking out the sun. "Taking a siesta, I see," Bucky thinks to himself, looking down at them. "It looks pretty tempting about now, but I can't do that right now. I need to get some information…and this looks like the best place to dig it up."

With that, Bucky walks into the bar, as several eyes turn to look over at him. There are perhaps ten tables, each one having two or three rough-looking Mexicans, who are drinking Tequila or some other form of licquor. The sight of Bucky surprises them. He has taken his jacket off, draping it across his arm. He walks up to the bar, looking at the bar tender, as he sits on one of the stools positioned in front of the bar.

"I don't know what you are doing here, my friend," the bartender says softly, leaning towards Bucky. "But I think you are in the wrong place."

"I don't think so," Bucky replies loudly, and in Spanish. "I'm here looking for work. I had to…take a vacation from America for a while. A little…complication with the authorities, you know."

"I…see," the bartender replies, stepping back to look at Bucky's unshaven face and rough-looking exterior. "What can I get you, then?"

"How about some bourbon?" Bucky asks.

"All right then," the bartender replies, keeping a suspicious eye on Bucky.

"And get me a big glass!" Bucky remarks. "I don't want to be sober too much longer!" The bartender nods, returnign in a few moments with the drink Bucky ordered. Bucky nods at the bartender, then takes the glass, quickly draining its contents, much to the amazement of the bartender. "Fill it up again, pal," Bucky remarks. "You make a good drink."

While the bartender goes after another drink for Bucky, one of the patrons walks over to Bucky, looking at him with a combination of suspicion and surprise. "My name is Antio," the patron comments.

"My name's Bucky," he replies, noticing that the bartender is returning with another drink. "Do you know about any work in these parts?"

"No, I do not," the patron replies. "In fact, I have been looking for a job as well. The grapes will be ready to be picked in a week, perhaps even a few days. We are all waiting for that. It's when the most work comes into the community."

"That is right," another patron explains, stepping behind Bucky. He is 6'5" and weighs about 250 lbs. He has a beard and dark eyes, which are now glaring at Bucky. "And we don't like outsiders coming in and taking our jobs."

"You'll just have to live with it, then," Bucky reponds nonchalantly. "Maybe if you're a good worker, you won't have to worry about losing your job. I don't care about your problems, so don't cry on my shoulder. I need the money."

"Don't talk to me that way!" the large man exclaims. Bucky ignores him, reaching for his drink.

"Run along, loser," Bucky replies, not even looking at him. "You bore me!"

"You dare…!" the large man exclaims, grabbing Bucky by the back of his t-shirt, and throwing him across the room. Bucky lands on a table with two more large Mexicans, splitting the table and spilling their drinks over the floor…and them!

The two Mexicans, drenched in licquor, leap at Bucky, who easily side-steps their blows, slamming two fists into their face, putting them out quickly! Bucky then turns to see that the large man who tossed him across the room is rushing his way. "I'm not through with you yet!" he calls out.

"All the same to me, joker!" Bucky responds. He ducks under a clumbsy swing, sending out his feet into the large man's stomach, doubling him over. A brutal elbow sends him flying back into the bar! Bucky finishes the man, who is struggling to his feet, with a massive upper-cut that slams his teetch together! Smiling, Bucky lifts the unconscious thug into the air, throwing him at a table inhabited by a tall, black-haired Italian, who has been nursing a rum and coke for two hours. As the thug lands on the table, the drink is spilled on both men, and the Italian's chair collapses, making him hit his head on the unyielding concrete.

Three more thugs rush toward Bucky, but he leaps onto the bar, kicking two of them! He drops back onto his arms, kicking forward, slamming his feet into their chins! As they fall back, they disrupt two more tables of thugs, and the whole bar erupts into fierce fighting! Bottles fly in all directions, as the thugs who had been here looking for a fight finally get one.

The last thug that rushed Bucky is dealt a brutal elbow to the chin that sends him smashing to the ground! Bucky leaps across the distance between the bar and the center of the fight, tackling five thugs at once! "I'm not going to be left out of the action!" Bucky exclaims. He back-hands one of the thugs, knocking him out of the way! Two thugs—one on each side—swing at Bucky, who ducks under their blows, causing them to knock each other out! Bucky leaps back, holding himself up with his hands once more, as he kicks two more thugs in the face, driving them back!

As battles are being raged all around him, Bucky ducks under a thrown bottle, kicking another thug in the stomach! He finishes him off with a blow to the nose that sends him smashing into one of the few tables that was still intact!

"Not a bad little fight!" Bucky thinks to himself. "I'll have to thank Fury for this workout!"

One large man grabs Bucky from behind, putting him in a bear hug! "You started this!" the man exclaims. "This is my brother's bar!"

"That's his problem!" Bucky replies sharply, forcing his hands outward, breaking the bear hug and falling to his feet. The large man, who is 6'6" and weighs 300 pounds, looks down at Bucky, glaring at him. Bucky quickly sends out a blow to the mid-section that doubles him over, then a blow to the chin that sends him reeling back! "I don't like to be grabbed, buddy!" Bucky exclaims. "Unless it's by a seniorita!"

The man swings at Bucky, who easily ducks under the blow, kicking him in the stomach. He blocks the next swing with his forearm, slamming his fist into his opponent's ear, bringing him to his knees. A swift kick to the face ends the fight.

Bucky looks around, seeing that there are only a few thugs left standing, and none of them are approaching him. He smiles, walking over to the bar, picking up his jacket. "It's a shame these guys don't know how to fight around here," Bucky remarks. "I was hoping for some kind of fight."

"Wait a minute!" the bartender exclaims. "What about all of this damage?"

Bucky tosses a few pesos onto the counter for the drinks, shaking his head. "I'll pay for the drinks. I didn't start the fight, and I don't feel responsible for it."

"You will come with us," Bucky hears, just before he is dealt a blow to the back of his head by a billy club. He falls to the ground, as five police officers stand around him. Two of them pick him up by the arms and drag him off. One of the officers turns to the bartender. "We will handle this one as we have the others. You need not worry about him. He won't be bothering you in the future."

The bartender makes no reply, but merely watches, as they toss Bucky into the back of the jeep that is headed to the prison on the outskirts of the village.

"The warden will be happy to have this new arrival," one of the officers mentions. "The bartender said he was a convict in America."

In the back of the jeep, Bucky opens his right eye slightly, taking in the sights, as they continue to drive toward the city. It was no problem to avoid the brunt of the blow, but Bucky doesn't like being hit on the head, regardless.

"You'd better appreciate this, Fury!" he thinks to himself, smiling.

To Be Continued...

BUCKY-GRAMS!

This is the first of a four-issue limited series, featuring Bucky. This series, which takes place in the present, takes place on an Earth where Bucky has recently been revived from suspended animation, and has reclaimed his position as a hero and a partner to Captain America.

Bucky has always been a favorite of mine, and I am writing this series to show that he is a viable character, when written correctly, and a character that does have a place in Captain America's continuity—other than to serve as the source of Cap's guilt over a great failure. In this series, I'll be using a villain who most of you may remember, although it's been quite some time since he's been seen.

This series, which I have enjoyed writing immensely, is dedicated respectfully to Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, without whom it would not be possible. They have given us so many excellent creations over the years that they could not possibly be counted by the Kree Supreme Intelligence! Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to write a regular Bucky series, as well as series of other great Golden Age characters who have been tossed into limbo and effectively ignored for decades!

I await your comments and suggestion on this and all issues to come. Until we meet again, with Bucky #2, I hope you all enjoy the ride. Please feel free to address any comments and question to my e-mail address, jx2melton@aol.com.

Jeff Melton