WARNING! This article contains spoilers for an release from Marvel United: A Pride Special #1

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken liberties with its adaptations, often streamlining or altering expansive comic book story arcs for the big screen. While largely successful, these changes sometimes erase nuanced character histories and relationships, typically for the betterment of the plot. Now, a new comic is rewriting Steve Rogers’ backstory, making the MCU lore inconsistent.

Bucky Barnes and his relationship with Steve Rogers are a cornerstone of the MCU, so much so that none of the Captain America films would have worked without the love between them. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Bucky is established as Steve's sole childhood protector and best friend; a relationship that carried into the present-day timeline.

However, a preview for the one-shot comic My Buddy, written by Anthony Oliveir with art by Pablo Collar and Michael Wiggam, collected in Marvel United: A Pride Special #1, appears to be shaking up the continuity by reintroducing a forgotten figure from Steve’s past.

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My Buddy, Written By Anthony Oliveira With Are By Pablo Collar And Michael Wiggam

The MCU does not have unlimited time to explore every facet of their characters’ backstories, and a prime example is Steve Rogers. Though Bucky Barnes does in fact exist in the early Captain America comics, he is a teen sidekick to Steve during the war and not a friend from childhood, like the MCU established. In choosing to construct the plot around Bucky being the formative friend in Steve’s early life, the MCU obscured a significant piece of comic book history. In the original comics, it was Arnie Roth who stood up for Steve, protecting him against bullies.

In the preview for Marvel United: A Pride Special #1, the first page of a one-shot comic, My Buddy, reaffirms Arnie’s place in Steve’s history. Arnie’s significance in Captain America mythos, often overlooked or simply unknown to newer fans whose introduction to Captain America is primarily through the films, highlights a historical depth that the MCU, by necessity of adaptation, chose to by. This reintroduction is more than just a nostalgic nod; it's a vital reassertion of comic book continuity and rightfully highlights one of Marvel’s first openly gay characters.

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The return of Arnie Roth through My Buddy signals a thoughtful effort by Marvel to acknowledge and expand upon its deep lore, rather than solely adapting or retconning to fit the MCU. Arnie’s reappearance is a testament to the enduring power of comic book continuity and the importance of revisiting characters who, while not cinematic superstars, hold significant weight within the established universe. This allows for a deeper dive into Steve Rogers’ origins, exploring how his moral com and sense of justice were forged through other connections instead of one singular friendship.

Arnie’s reappearance is a testament to the enduring power of comic book continuity and the importance of revisiting characters who, while not cinematic superstars, hold significant weight within the established universe.

This comic, therefore, is not just a retcon but an expansion, enriching what has already been established over decades of comic history and offering a more nuanced understanding of Captain America's early life. Set in 1939 in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, My Buddy firmly grounds Arnie Roth in Steve's early life, leaving no room for interpretation. It's a subtle yet powerful statement: while the MCU provides a widely accessible entry point into the Marvel universe, the comics remain the ultimate source of its intricate history and character development.

With the ever-evolving scope of comics, many untold stories, forgotten heroes, and the quiet, impactful acts of friendship don't always make it into the mainstream spotlight. By shining a spotlight on Arnie Roth and his importance in Captain America canon, Marvel is setting the record straight for new readers and celebrating the depth and breadth of its own storytelling legacy, ensuring that important and marginalized figures get their due recognition.

Marvel United: A Pride Special #1 will be available on Wednesday, June 11.