| Red Guardian | |
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 The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of Red Guardian as depicted inThe Avengers #43 (August 1967). Art byJohn Buscema andGeorge Roussos. | |
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| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
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TheRed Guardian (Russian:Красный страж,Krasnyy Strazh) is the name of severalfictionalcharacters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics:Aleksey Lebedev,Alexei Shostakov,Tania Belinsky,Josef Petkus,Krassno Granitsky,Anton Ivanov, andNikolai Krylenko, as well as a villainousLife Model Decoy of Shostakov. The Red Guardian is an identity created as theSoviet equivalent toCaptain America, although its use has continued inpost-SovietRussia. In theUltimate Marvelcontinuity, the Red Guardian is adapted as two separate characters:Captain Russia andColonel Abdul al-Rahma.
Characters based on the Red Guardian have made scattered appearances in animated media and video games;Anton Ivanov andAlexei Shostakov feature in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, portrayed byZach McGowan andDavid Harbour, respectively.
Aleksey Lebedev (Russian:Алексей Лебедев), the Golden Age version of the Red Guardian, first appeared inNamor, The Sub-Mariner Annual #1 (June 1991) as aretcon of the history of the Red Guardian identity, establishing a version who appeared prior to the version first seen in 1967, created by writers Dana Moreshead and Mike Thomas, and artistPhil Hester. Very little is known of him, but he fought alongsideCaptain America (William Naslund) and theSub-Mariner at thePotsdam Conference, in July 1945.[1]
He began his career during World War II, and met theAll-Winners Squad (formerly theInvaders) on only one recorded occasion, clashing with them shortly after the war's end where he taunted Captain America (secretly thePatriot) that he was 'slowing down' after he was able to catch Captain America's shield.[2] Like the other crusaders of the same name, he was created as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America.[volume & issue needed] He was later apparently killed during the purges of the 1950s, opposing the brutal experiments that would later create his successor.[3]
Alexei Andreevich Shostakov is the first version of the Red Guardian, and was created byRoy Thomas andJohn Buscema, first appearing inAvengers #43 (August 1967).
Alexei Shostakov was born inMoscow, and was the husband of Natasha Romanova. Both he and Romanova were agents of the Soviets: the latter as theBlack Widow while the former became a test pilot and KGB agent and then trained as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America known as Red Guardian.[volume & issue needed]
DuringWorld War II on theEastern Front, Shostakov shot down a large number ofLuftwaffe fighter planes in aerial battles and was credited for helping theSoviet Air Forces win air supremacy over the skies ofStalingrad andKursk. Because of his skill, Shostakov was chosen for the most secret and dangerous tests and new aircraft for the Soviet Union. This included being the first pilot to test fly theMiG-15. The Soviet state controlled news media greatly publicized this and certain other missions of his such as his aerial battles against theU.S. Air Force overMiG Alley during theKorean War. As a result, Shostakov was decorated as a hero of the Soviet Union.
As the Cold War flared up in the 1950s, Soviet PremierNikita Khrushchev realized that the Soviet Union needed its own equivalent to Captain America. Khrushchev chose Alexei Shostakov overYuri Gagarin, who would later become the first man in space. The KGB faked his death and trained him in secret, keeping his survival a secret from Natasha. He became a master of hand-to-hand combat and a highly skilled athlete. In addition, he carried a throwing disc on his belt which could be used against an opponent. Magnetic force returned the disc after throwing. The disc had the yellow hammer and sickle symbol on it and his costume was red with a star on his chest to symbolise the Soviet flag. While the Black Widow became disillusioned with KGB masters and defected to the United States, the Red Guardian remained loyal and became more ruthless and vindictive. The Red Guardian battles theAvengers with his Chinese ally Colonel Ling, to protect a Communist Chinese secret weapon located at a secret military base. Shostakov is shot and mortally wounded by Colonel Ling while saving the lives of Black Widow and Captain America.[4]
Shostakov is later revealed to be alive and has risen to a high position of power inBulgaria. He attempts to capture and try Natasha Romanoff for crimes as a Soviet super soldier, but his plan was foiled with the help ofDaredevil and the Avengers.[5]
Alexei resurfaces as the newRonin and joins forces with theDark Ocean Society to instigate a war betweenJapan andRussia to restore the latter's former glory. He and the Society are defeated byHawkeye,Mockingbird and Black Widow with the help ofFantasma, and is taken intoS.H.I.E.L.D. custody.[6]
Shostakov is approached by a cadre of several of Black Widow's enemies, who implanted her with fake memories force her to live out a peaceful, simulated life as a married architect inSan Francisco. Having already moved on from his hatred towards his ex-wife, Shostakov reluctantly joins the cadre and plans to usurp the group to rescue Natasha. When Black Widow regains her memories and the cadre decides to have her killed, Alexei saves Natasha by taking a bullet meant for her.[7]
InThunderbolts (vol. 5),Bucky Barnes recruits Shostakov into theeponymous team.[8]
Tania Belinsky, a neurosurgeon from the USSR initially known as Starlight, later assumes the Red Guardian identity and joins theDefenders. Created bySteve Gerber andSal Buscema, she first appeared inThe Defenders #35 (May 1976).
Josef Petkus is the fourth Red Guardian, first appearing inCaptain America #352 (April 1989), and was created by writerMark Gruenwald and artistKieron Dwyer. The character subsequently appears inThe Avengers #319–324 (July–October 1990),The Incredible Hulk #393 (May 1992), andSoviet Super-Soldiers #1 (November 1992). Petkus later appeared as theSteel Guardian inIron Man (vol. 2) #9 (October 1998) and was included in the "Supreme Soviets" entry in theOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #7.
Josef Petkus is a special operative for the intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union and a member of the militantSupreme Soviets. Alongside the Supreme Soviets, he attacks theSoviet Super-Soldiers for defecting from the Soviet Union. Alongside Captain America, he later battled a bear-like creature made ofDarkforce.[9] The Supreme Soviets are later rebranded as a post-SovietRussian super-team called theWinter Guard.[10] Petkus later joins a Winter Guard splinter group called thePeople's Protectorate, now calling himself the "Steel Guardian".[11] He and his team search for the timelordImmortus, hoping to find a way to resurrect Vanguard's sister Lanyia. They agree to fight offDire Wraiths invading Immortus' realm in exchange for this favor; Petkus is killed in the ensuing battle.[12]
Krassno Granitsky, the fifth Red Guardian, appeared inMaverick #10 (June 1998), and was created by writer Jorge Gonzales and artist Leo Fernandez. The name "Krassno Granitsky" comes from theJames Bond novelFrom Russia With Love; it is the Russianized name of assassin Donovan Grant.[citation needed] He teamed up with the mercenary superheroMaverick to battle a crime lord. He also appears inEd Brubaker'sCaptain America, where he is executed byAleksander Lukin.[13]
Anton, the sixth Red Guardian, first appears inJeph Loeb'sHulk series as a member of the Winter Guard.[14] Anton claims to be an engineer and a former pilot of theCrimson Dynamo armor, and is later revealed to be a human who transferred his mind into aLife Model Decoy.[15] He is decapitated by a Dire Wraith, although his head survives and is kept in storage.[12]
Nikolai Krylenko (also known as Vanguard) is the seventh version of the Red Guardian, and leads the Winter Guard. Created byBill Mantlo andCarmine Infantino forIron Man #109 (April 1978), he was redeveloped as the Red Guardian byDavid Gallaher andSteve Ellis fromDarkstar and the Winter Guard #2 (July 2010) onward.[12]
None of the Red Guardian's various identity users have been revealed to possesssuperhuman powers or abilities, with the exception of Tania Belinsky after her mutation by the Presence,Ultimate Marvel versions, Krylenko, the seventh Red Guardian, and adaptations of the character to theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). All are highly skilled athletes. Shostakov was an expert pilot, a master hand-to-hand combatant, and was trained in espionage techniques by theKGB.[16]
All the Guardians but Tania have used a steel shield similar to that used by Captain America. Alexei and Tania used a "belt-buckle" disc, a hurling weapon which magnetically returned to the wearer's hand when thrown, and was a part of their costume'sbelt buckle. The fourth Red Guardian, Josef Petkus, often employed an energized sword as a secondary weapon alongside his shield.[17] The sixth Red Guardian was an LMD named Anton Ivanov, whose powers are cybernetic based. His falsified backstory was that he was an expert engineer and former Crimson Dynamo pilot; his real strength lies in his moderate degree of enhanced cybernetic physicality.
Nikolai Krylenko/Vanguard is a mutant who possesses a full-body force field that repels electromagnetic and kinetic energy.[18] He is able to direct his field through the technically advancedvibranium shield supplied to him by the Executive Security Committee.[12] He also directs this force against the earth itself to achieve flight. Nikolai wears a more advanced suit than previous Red Guardians, which is lined with circuitry that works in conjunction with the compact computer on his shield, not only enabling the guided flight and return through their digital connection, but the amplification of his energy field.[19]
An alternate universe version of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-70105 makes a minor appearance inBullet Points #5 as one of many heroes who battleGalactus.[20]
An unidentified alternate universe version of Red Guardian from Earth-58163 appears inCivil War: House of M #2 as a member of the Soviet Super Soldiers.[21]
An alternate universe version of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-3470 appears inExiles #84.[22]
Two original incarnations of Red Guardian from Earth-1610 appear in theUltimate Marvel imprint:
Captain Russia is a Russian super-soldier based on Alexei Shostakov who possesses superhuman strength and durability and wields a makeshift shield created partially from human remains. Captain Russia battlesCaptain America, who kills him by stabbing him through the chest.[23]
Further reading
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Colonel Abdul al-Rahman is anAzerbaijani teenager and the leader of theLiberators who was transformed into a super-soldier by Russian scientists and wields alightsaber-like weapon. As a member of the Liberators, al-Rahman operates as theColonel. He is later killed by Captain America andHulk.[24]
An alternate universe version of Alexei Shostakov from Earth-6160, simply known as Guardian, appears inUltimate Wolverine as a member of the Opposition, a resistance against the Rasputin family.[25]
Characters based on the Red Guardian appear in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU):
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