Vocation: sidekick
Domain: Marvel Universe
Active: 1941, 1942, 1953, 1962, 1986, 1996
Affiliations: sidekick to Captain America, All-Winners Squad
AKA: –
In the Marvel universe, Bucky began as a nickname and eventually became an institution synonymous with “sidekick to Captain America.”
The original Bucky was just an obnoxious kid adventurer that Captain America drug along throughout the European wartime theater, which I would say was pretty irresponsible but, greatest generation, so, whatever I guess.
Anyway, the modern cinematic version got aged up to justify his participation in the war, so no harm, no foul.
At any rate, this poor kid would get crippled in the war, captured by Russians, tortured, experimented on, and returned to the world as the cuddly Winter Soldier.
Since he was presumed dead the government felt free to give his clothes and identity away to any kid with poor judgement and a lust for adventure that wanted to give it a try. Fred Davis did it for years and managed to make it out with only a limp.
Jack Monroe ran with it for a few years until he got himself brainwashed and sidelined. Professional amateur sidekick Rick Jones worked as Bucky in the 70s. Monroe went on to be the hero Nomad; Rick Jones just went on as Rick Jones.
In the 80’s the government reassigned a new Bucky though he quickly and sensibly changed his name to Battlestar. The most recent Bucky was apparently the granddaughter of an imaginary version of the original Bucky. Just to keep things clear, she also goes on to be Nomad.
References: [wikipedia.org: Bucky]
Metahuman Database 