The following contains major spoilers for Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #4, available now from Marvel Comics.

Captain America uncovered a dark secret about his oldest ally and, somehow, it hasn't changed a thing between the two characters.

Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #4 by writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly (Gotham City Garage) and artist Carmen Carnero (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Captain Marvel) sees the titular hero finally make his way to the apartment of his old partner Bucky Barnes in the hopes of hashing out whatever has come between them. Though they aren't at odds, Steve knows neither of them has been entirely truthful with the other regarding the conspiracy they've become embroiled in. As Bucky reveals, that is truer for him than it is for Steve, as he has been a part of it all from the very start.

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capsol 4 great century weapon

As Bucky explains to Steve, he has only recently discovered that he was a part of the maniacal and mysterious Outer Circle's schemes. Much like the resurrected and updated super-soldier known as Destroyer, Bucky was once a programmed assassin referred to as "The Great Century Weapon" by his masters at the Outer Circle. Though Bucky had believed that this was all just another layer to his history as the Winter Soldier, it is clear that it all ties back into the conspiracy at hand which just so happens to revolve around Steve's own legacy as Captain America and, more specifically, his shield.

James Buchanan Barnes, better known as Bucky, first appeared all the way back in 1940's Captain America Comics #1 by legendary creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. At the time, Bucky was Captain America's bright-eyed sidekick in the war against fascism, up until the fateful day that both of them disappeared. In the same accident that left Captain America frozen in suspended animation, Bucky was subjected to the same fate for a much shorter amount of time. After being retrieved by Soviet forces, Bucky was tortured, brainwashed, and ultimately turned into the perfect killing machine known as the Winter Soldier.

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What is the Outer Circle?

The Outer Circle is an enigmatic Illuminati-like group that has supposedly been manipulating the course of world events for years. They are also apparently responsible for the creation of Captain America's shield, something he has been warned previously is "their symbol" rather than his own. The members of the Outer Circle have yet to be identified, but Bucky isn't the only person close to Captain America to potentially have a relationship with them, as the former has already taken it upon himself to confront Peggy Carter about her apparent ties to the group.

Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #4 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, with illustrations by Carmen Carnero, colors by Nolan Woodard and letters by VC's Joe Caramagna. Main cover art is by Carnero and Alejandro Sánchez, with variant cover art provided by Mark Bagley and Laura Martin. Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #4 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel