This January it will be the end of an era. Ed Brubaker will be moving on from writing WINTER SOLDIER, presumably to pursue more creator-owned work. This will bring to a definitive close Brubaker’s time writing Captain America stories in some capacity, which began way back in 2005.
It’s fitting, though, that Ed Brubaker’s final bow at Marvel (for the time being) concludes with his work on WINTER SOLDIER at issue #14. It was Brubaker that brought Bucky Barnes back from the grave in his first story arc on CAPTAIN AMERICA – a feat many balked at at the time. And for the record, Brubaker's final issue on the current CAPTAIN AMERICA volume will be #19, the writer tweeted today.
The announcement was made during the Fan Expo Canada in Toronto today. However, Brubaker’s departure does not signal the end of the WINTER SOLIDER series. Writer Jason Latour will be stepping in as of issue #15 to fill the giant-sized shoes of Brubaker on the series. Latour is probably best known for his work on LOOSE ENDS and UNTOLD TALES OF PUNISHER MAX.
What’s maybe most surprising about this news in general is that we thought Brubaker would be on WINTER SOLDIER for years to come. When the writer decided to step down from all his other Marvel work a few weeks back, he assured fans he would be staying on WINTER SOLDIER for the foreseeable future. While January is still a ways away, it’s definitely sooner than we expected Brubaker to leave.
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But hey, the man wants to do more creator-owned stuff, so be it. He deserves it. Still sad to see him stepping away from a character he molded into greatness over a seven-year period. That's never an easy goodbye.
What say you, fans? What are your thoughts on Brubaker leaving WINTER SOLDIER to pursue more creator-owned work? Will you be picking up WINTER SOLDIER when Jason Latour takes over? Sound off below.