Nomad: Girl Without a World #1-4 (2009)

Rikki Barnes aka Bucky from the Onslaughtverse is now on Earth 616 working as a dishwasher and trying to stay hidden.  She knows Steve Rogers is dead, but when the news pops up about a replacement Captain America, she rushes off to see him–but is stopped by Black Widow, who tells her not to try to see New Cap.  

Rikki is resistant, but obeys Widow. There’s a way that she’s very different from her Earth 616 counterpart, who never follows orders. Probably because of the past trauma of having been brainwashed.

Widow knows that Rikki Barnes is an alternate version of Bucky Barnes, the new Cap.  Not sure why it’s so important to Natasha that they not meet–it’s not like matter meeting anti-matter or anything–but I’m gonna say it’s because Widow is sleeping with Bucky Barnes and doesn’t want him to get upset.  To be fair, James Barnes is a pretty high-maintenance boyfriend.  I get it, Natasha.  I get it.

Widow does give Rikki a new Nomad costume, though, so that’s cool.

Rikki is also enrolled in High School with the Earth 616 version of her brother who crosses paths with local gang.  They turn out to be all riled up by Flag Smasher as part of a Secret Empire plot.  Mad Dog Baxter works for them.

I’d forgotten that Baxter is now a werewolf-type.  I remember when he was just Patsy Walker’s jerky boyfriend.  And speaking of blasts from the past…

Professor Power is a leader in the Secret Empire.  I thought he was dead.

Rikki gets to team up with Falcon for a bit before the Empire captures her and tries to brainwash her, but Rikki is too strong.

For the big finale, Bucky finally finds a Captain America to partner with…

…Patriot!

Sadly, Nomad doesn’t join the Young Avengers team.  That would have been cool.

Her 616 brother dies in the final battle, and she visits his gravesite where, finally, Bucky Captain America visits her and gives her a pep talk.  Then, she gets her “running of to new adventures” final panel.

She promises that she’ll keep fighting the Secret Empire, blaming them for her “brother’s” death.

This mini was a lot better than I thought it would be.  So little about the days of the Onslaught Event is worth remembering, but I’d recommend this book.  It was a solid story.