Let me show you in seconds: How f*cking strong Spider-Man is.
As you can clearly see, Spider-Man effortlessly handles both Bucky and Falcon: 2 experienced U.S. soldiers, one of whom has a metal arm and once used to knock Steve Rogers to the ground!
Observing the attitudes of both sides raises a question: ‘Is there any holding back here, or is Spider-Man simply more powerful than the Winter Soldier?’
Let’s consider both possibilities!
Contents
Bucky’s Metal Arm Is More Powerful Than You Thought
Bucky Barnes is famously known for his metal arm, but there’s more to his story: he was also injected with the Super Soldier Serum, the same one given to Captain America, by HYDRA.
Despite his preference for using a rifle in combat, Bucky’s strength is comparable to Steve Rogers’.
The defining feature that transformed Bucky into the Winter Soldier is his prosthetic arm—a titanium cybernetic implant attached to his left shoulder, replacing his missing arm.
After his titanium arm was destroyed by Iron Man, Bucky was fitted with a vibranium one. His prowess with the titanium arm in the later Captain America sequels showcases his exceptional abilities.
Bucky’s tactical capabilities as a super soldier are enhanced by the prosthetic arm, which supports feats such as punching through solid objects, lifting heavy weights, and fighting on par with other enhanced individuals.
Moreover, the arm aids Bucky by absorbing or amplifying force, whether catching Captain America’s shield or enhancing his punches.
When he eliminates feelings, Bucky’s combat concentration mindset could boost his fighting capabilities, enabling him to knock Captain to the ground as shown in the “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
All these details highlight one clear fact: when Bucky puts his full force into a punch, the damage can be physically devastating (evidenced by the hole he left in the road!)
But Spider-Man Always Pulls His Punches. He Is WAY Stronger!
Absolutely. Up until “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” there were only 3 times where Peter Parker didn’t pull his punches, providing clear evidence that this Spider-Man is far more powerful than he appears.
According to his Marvel profile, Spider-Man possesses level 4 strength and can lift almost 10 tons, affirming his superhuman strength.
However, unlike muscular superheroes, Spider-Man’s power isn’t about muscle mass but about explosive force, which is arguably as potent as Hulk’s or Thor’s when fully unleashed.
In the MCU, during “Avengers: Infinity War,” Peter effortlessly caught a full-force hammer swing from Cull Obsidian—who is comparable in size to Hulk—making it look easy.
Then, in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” during a climactic encounter with the Green Goblin, Peter unleashes a series of powerful punches without holding back.
At one point, a particularly forceful punch, when dodged by the Green Goblin, leaves a significant crater in the ground, showcasing the intensity of Spider-Man’s strength (the sound effects here were notably impressive).
These instances conclusively prove that while Spider-Man may appear unassuming, his full-scale strength is unpredictable and immensely powerful.
In This Case, Who Is Pulling His Punch?
So, what about the case we’re discussing? Is it a matter of “Spider-Man was so strong” or “Bucky Barnes pulled his punch”?
Interestingly, in the Marvel fandom community, both the Winter Soldier and Spider-Man are considered to be on the same tier of strength.
However, the comparison purely based on the strength might be missing some critical details. Let’s examine the posture of both characters as they prepare to strike in this case.
Both fighters are clearly aware of their opponent: Bucky had time to concentrate his power, whereas Spider-Man was initially attacking Falcon before switching to the Winter Soldier.
In other words, they had already gauged the other’s power to decide how much force to use in their punch, not merely reacting spontaneously.
Interestingly, while Bucky is delivering a punch, Spider-Man simply opens his hand to catch it.
In terms of momentum and tactics, a punch is generally harder than a catch, even if both moves originate from similar positions.
However, was Bucky’s punch his best shot? The clear answer is no; he had no reason to fully unleash his power.
As discussed, Bucky Barnes’s explosive power is tremendous, but he restrained himself during the Civil War, focusing on redemption rather than elimination.
Just a reminder: even though it was a “normal” punch, Bucky’s superhuman strength is still exceptional, meaning Spider-Man could have been pushed away had he not blocked effectively.
Therefore, in this instance, even though Spider-Man was clearly holding back initially, he managed to stop Bucky’s powerful punch with a single catch.
Consequently, we can conclude that, whether or not it was Bucky’s most powerful punch: Spider-Man was stronger than Bucky Barnes in this encounter.
What do you all think? If there’s another showdown between these two characters, who do you think would have the upper hand? Share your thoughts!