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.

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.

This bums me out. A lot.

Oh FFS!!!!

Brubaker has been one of the shining stars in the Marvel universe. When Bendis and Fraction were pissing me off, Hickman and Brubaker were bringing me joy. When I was disappointed in the latest crossover, I knew Cap would change my mood. This is sad news indeed.

Damn, this is one of the books I look forward to most each month.

It seems like in the last couple of months, almost all of my favorite books, marvel and dc, are getting their creative team shuffled. In almost every case it's gone from an amazing creative team to a soso one. It's really dissapointing to see Brubaker leaving, and though I'll probably still pick up the first 3 issues just cus I love Bucky, I'm sure it won't be the same. You'll be missed, but we all wish you the best of luck.

I thought we had more time. Man Brubaker you know how to write Captain America and Bucky stories. He mad Bucky a cooler character then he was back in WW2. At least Cap is in good hands with Remender. Bucky in Jason Latour's hands, I don't know. Now that familiar with his work. It better live up to Brubaker's run on Winter Solider.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Very sad to see him go, but if he wants to go toward creator owned stuff then I know of nobody who deserves it more than him. His Winter Soldier run will always be one of the most memorable IMHO.

BWAHAHAHA
BB

Well, I am a little worried what will happen to the character now, since hasn't he been there to sort of oversee what has been done with Bucky since he came back? But I have hopes that Bucky will be treated right. I mean, they wouldn't kill him off again right? And Brubaker does deserve his own stuff.

I was thinking a while ago, since He can't really be Captain America anymore, with Steve back, and he can't dress like the Winter Soldier in public because the Winter Soldier is a wanted terrorist, what will Bucky do for his alter ego? I don't know what he would call himself, but like US Agent I think Bucky could adapt his Captain America costume and be his own character. I found this on deviantart.com by

never read winter solider...but i loved Brubaker's Cap stuff.

Sad to see this BUT I love his creator owned work so...yay?

Man, this really stinks. I really enjoyed Winter Soldier, Ed took really great care of the character and made him shine

:(

On the bright side, now I can start reading his run from start to finish (I tend to wait for the good writers to say what they have to say, then leave, before I start reading their work)

I just read the article on CBR. As you can tell by my avatar, Bucky is my favorite character. It's been that way since Cap 14 when Bru brought him back to the world of good guys.

I really don't know what to think. I was hoping Bru would ride it out for another year or at least close to the movie. I loved the way he writes his characters and Bucky and Natasha was one of the best relationships in comics. I am nervous about how the new writer said ' He did some awful things for the Soviets, but if things play out differently who's to say he wouldn't have committed those atrocities for the U.S.?'

That makes me think that he is going to try to make him more like Punisher or even do some questionable things. Makes me wonder if they are trying to make him bad again so that when the movie comes out, it will be aligned. Man, I hope not.

I think this does mean though that Bru will kill off Leo at the end of his arc. I was hoping for him to stay around and be a great antagonist.

Just pretty bummed at the news.

Creative teams changing is like falling in and out of love. It has happened before and it will happen again.

Needless to say, it's all gravy. I'm thankful for the time I spent with these characters under Brubaker's direction. Would I have liked more? Sure. But I'm not gonna be greedy. I can't wait to see what happens next :)

NOOOO!!!

I'm definitely upset about this but I can always read these issues and enjoy them

Damn...wish I could say that I didn't see this coming.

It sucks that he's leaving but at least we'll get some cool creator-owned stuff.

damn - Punisher coming to an end, Winter Soldier series might come to an end with this too.. SMH!!!!

@the_fallen11 said:

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

@ArtisticNeedham: Nice art, I don't understand why everyone is leaving

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

@broo1232: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Makes sense, I love Brubakers indy stuff more than his Marvel work. I say bring on more INCOGNITO, CRIMINAL and FATALE 

sad sad sad

Seriously? That's a massive bummer.

so is winter soldier going to be cancelled?

Will miss ya Bru. Just like Morrison, Bru is literally stepping away from the Big company to do his own created own stuff. Kudos to him. Looks like Remender is next in line for his architect spot.

@Aeroman: Jason Latour is stepping into the title.

@CombatSpoon86: is he any good?

don't know skim throw his untold tales of punisher max which is out monthly right now

Without Brubaker, Marvel will be a much colder, emptier place. It's been a good run. I wish him well in his future endeavors.

will at least give the new writer a chance as I love the book but I'm sad to see brubaker go :(

looks like im dropping ANOTHER Marvel title. but on the plus side now i can make room on my pull list for Hickman's 'NEW Avengers' series :)

hahah

@Cap10nate: Just like you I am sorry to see Bru go. But I am happy that The Winter Soldier series will continue. As for them making Bucky like The Punisher I don't see Marvel are any writer doing that. If anything I could see Bucky as a Specs-Ops Super Soldier.

I'm glad at least that Marvel is continuing this series, although Brubaker's shoes are going to be pretty difficult to fill. A shame that Marvel is losing its best writer but I guess nothing lasts forever.

Doing more creator owned stuff is good though because at least he will do something he is really passionate about.

Oh man, so once I drop this book I'll be down to just Ult. Spiderman as far as marvel books.

edit: Honestly, Winter Soldier 1 intrigued me enough to go read Brubaker's entire Captain America run. I freaking love the Winter Soldier. So much potential. But I'm happy that Brubaker is able to make his own books now.

Now its probably gonna get cancelled soon

NOOOOO!!!! This man is single-handedly responsible for making Bucky my all time favorite character!!! I was really hoping he'd stay on this one book, dammit!

oh god no! Nooooooo!!!! Who is going yo take over? What am I going to read?

KNUCK IF YOU BUCK!!!!!!

@ThexX: That would be pretty cool if they made him into a special ops character. That one comment from the new writer just made me think that they are going to muddy the water on his moral standing which I always thought was pretty firm. I am excited to see where Latour takes the character. I doubt that Bucky and Natasha will be together though.

@mtrakos said:

oh god no! Nooooooo!!!! Who is going yo take over? What am I going to read?

KNUCK IF YOU BUCK!!!!!!

Jason Letour is taking over. Here is an article from CBR that he talks about it. I'm not ready to jump off the bridge yet. I am interested in what this guy has in mind.

@DDangelico said:

This bums me out. A lot.

You spoke my mind

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!