RED GUARDIAN
The Red Guardian is Russia’s answer to Captain America—a symbol of strength and patriotism. While there is a proud lineage of those who have carried the mantle, the Red Guardian’s legacy tells its own story…
PATRIOT OF THE PROLETARIATS
Breakout
In Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova (2020) #1
Yelena Belova once thought that the Black Widow mantle was her destiny, but fate had other plans. Now the past is catching up with her—and with Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian. Alexei has worn many titles, including husband to Natasha, but while the Widow played her avenging games, the Red Guardian waited in the shadows. But now a new day is dawning...
Taking on Viper
In Black Widow (2020) #5
Red Guardian: Alexei Shostakov teams with Natasha Romanoff's allies to infiltrate the Hydra stronghold that is holding the Black Widow as a mental hostage. But this mission soon turns explosive, and not in a good way.
Alexei Shostakov
In Avengers (1963) #43
The first appearance of the Red Guardian! Chinese ally Colonel Ying finds the perfect superweapon in KGB agent Alexei Shostakov. Hawkeye and Hercules are the first to meet this “Communist comrade”, before it’s revealed that Shostakov is actually Black Widow’s ex-husband! Read through #44.
Alexei's Life Model Decoy
In Widow Maker (2010) #1
A new Ronin, (not Clint Barton), is targeting the world’s top spies. The trio of Black Widow, Hawkeye and Mockingbird cross oceans to find the masked man, all ending with a twist that reveals his deep ties to Natasaha Romanoff and the Red Room.
Dr. Tania Belinsky (Belinskaya)
In Defenders (1972) #35
Read through #65! The neurosurgeon would become one of the Defenders’ fiercest members (and later the hero Starlight), but at first she was just a lonely dissident with a costume and a cause.
Josef Petkus
In Captain America (1968) #352
After a handful of Russian super soldiers defect to the States, Cap wards off an attack by the enthusiastic “Supreme Soviets”, led by possibly the Red Guardian’s third or fourth hire, Josef Petkus. Read through #353!
Krassno Granitsky
In Captain America (2004) #1
This critical favorite actually opens with a Red Guardian! Granitsky meets the wrong end of a barrel when he accuses General Aleksander Lukin of high crimes against Mother Russia…
“Anton”
In Hulk: Winter Guard (2009) #1
Not much is known about “Anton”, other than he’s being an engineer and a partial LMD. This issue will have you saying “bozhe moi!” when the Winter Guard, Red Guardian, Crimson Dynamo, Ursa Major and Darkstar, take on nuclear mega-brain the “Presence”.
Nicolai Krylenko
In Darkstar and the Winter Guard (2010) #1
It’s hammer (and sickle) time as the Winter Guard rises under its seventh Red Guardian! Krylenko may be humorless, but he leads his collective well when a former Winter Guard member falls through a giant wormhole bearing a “death to us all” prophecy.