Red Guardian#Aleksey Lebedev

Aleksey Lebedev (Russian: Алексей Лебедев), the Golden Age version of the Red Guardian, first appeared in Namor, The Sub-Mariner Annual #1 (June 1991) as a retcon 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 artist Phil Hester. Very little is known of him, but he fought alongside Captain America (William Naslund) and the Sub-Mariner at the Potsdam Conference, in July 1945.{{cite web |title=Red Guardian (Russian, World War II, Captain America ally) |url=http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/redgrd.htm |access-date=January 12, 2011 |publisher=Marvunapp.com}} He began his career during World War II, and met the All-Winners Squad (formerly the Invaders) on only one recorded occasion, clashing with them shortly after the war's end where he taunted Captain America (secretly the Patriot) that he was 'slowing down' after he was able to catch Captain America's shield.Captain America: Patriot #2 (November 2010) Like the other crusaders of the same name, he was created as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=March 2013}} He was later apparently killed during the purges of the 1950s, opposing the brutal experiments that would later create his successor.The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A–Z Update 2010 #4 (December 2010)

Alexei Andreevich Shostakov is the first version of the Red Guardian, and was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, first appearing in Avengers #43 (January 1967).

Alexei Shostakov was born in Moscow, and was the husband of Natasha Romanova. Both he and Romanova were agents of the Soviets: the latter as the Black 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 needed|c=y|date=July 2021}} While Black Widow becomes disillusioned with the KGB and defects to the United States, Red Guardian remains loyal to his country and becomes more ruthless and vindictive. He battles the Avengers on numerous occasions, with one seeing him become the third Ronin.The Avengers #43–44 (August - September 1967)Daredevil (vol. 2) #64 (November 2004)Widowmaker #1-4 (February 2011)

In Thunderbolts (vol. 5), Bucky Barnes recruits Shostakov into the eponymous team.Thunderbolts (vol. 5) #1 (December 2023)

{{Main|Starlight (Marvel Comics)}}

Tania Belinsky, a neurosurgeon from the USSR initially known as Starlight, later assumes the Red Guardian identity and joins the Defenders. Created by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema, she first appeared in The Defenders #35 (May 1976).

Josef Petkus is the fourth Red Guardian, first appearing in Captain America #352 (April 1989), and was created by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Kieron Dwyer. The character subsequently appears in The Avengers #319–324 (July–October 1990), The Incredible Hulk #393 (May 1992), and Soviet Super-Soldiers #1 (November 1992). The character subsequently appears as the Steel Guardian in Iron Man (vol. 2) #9 (October 1998). Petkus appeared as part of the "Supreme Soviets" entry in the Official 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 Supreme Soviets.Captain America #352–353 (April - May 1989) He later joins the Winter Guard and the Supreme Soviets splinter group the People's Protectorate, now calling himself the "Steel Guardian".The Avengers #319–324 (July - October 1990)Iron Man (vol. 3) #9 (October 1988) In Darkstar and the Winter Guard, Petkus is killed by Dire Wraiths while attempting to resurrect Vanguard's sister Lanyia.Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2 (September 2010)

Krassno Granitsky, the fifth Red Guardian, appeared in Maverick #10 (June 1998), and was created by writer Jorge Gonzales and artist Leo Fernandez. The name "Krassno Granitsky" comes from the James Bond novel From Russia With Love; it is the Russianized name of assassin Donovan Grant.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} In Captain America (2004), Granitsky is killed by Aleksander Lukin.Captain America (vol. 5) #1 (January 2005)

Anton, the sixth Red Guardian,She-Hulk (vol. 2) #35 (January 2009) debuted in Hulk (vol. 2) as a member of the Winter Guard.Hulk (vol. 2) #1 (January 2008) Anton claims to be an engineer and a former pilot of the Crimson Dynamo armor, and is later revealed to be a human who transferred his mind into a Life Model Decoy.Hulk: Winter Guard #1 (December 2009) He is decapitated by a Dire Wraith, although his head survives and is kept in storage.Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2–3 (September - October 2010)

{{Main|Vanguard (Marvel Comics)}}

Nikolai Krylenko (also known as Vanguard) is the seventh version of the Red Guardian, and leads the Winter Guard. Created by Bill Mantlo and Carmine Infantino for Iron Man #109 (April 1978), he was redeveloped as the Red Guardian by David Gallaher and Steve Ellis from Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2 (July 2010) onward.

None of the Red Guardian's various identity users have been revealed to possess superhuman 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 the Marvel 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 the KGB.{{Cite book|title=Marvel Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded}} All of 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's belt buckle. The fourth Red Guardian, Josef Petkus, often employed an energized sword as a secondary weapon alongside his shield.The Incredible Hulk #393 (May 1992) 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. The latest Red Guardian is Nikolai Krylenko/Vanguard, brother to Laynia Petrovna, whose powers are derived from his mutation.Soviet Super Soldiers #1 (November 1992) which stems to a fullbody force field that repels electromagnetic and kinetic energy, forces he can best guide and direct through a medium like the technically advanced vibranium shield supplied to him by the Executive Security Committee. He also directs this force against the earth itself to obtain 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 the effects of his own energy field.Age of Heroes #3 (September 2010)

An alternate universe variant of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-3470 appears in Exiles #84.Exiles #84 (September 2006)

An unidentified alternate universe variant of Red Guardian from Earth-58163 appears in Civil War: House of M #2 as a member of the Soviet Super Soldiers.Civil War: House of M #2 (December 2008)

Two original incarnations of Red Guardian from Earth-1610 appear in the Ultimate 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 battles Captain America, who kills him by stabbing him through the chest.Ultimate Nightmare #1–4 (October 2004 - January 2005)

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Colonel Abdul al-Rahman is an Azerbaijani teenager and the leader of the Liberators who was transformed into a super-soldier by Russian scientists and wields a lightsaber-like weapon. He is later killed by Captain America and Hulk.The Ultimates 2 #7–12 (September 2005 - August 2006)

An alternate universe variant of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-70105 makes a minor appearance in Bullet Points #5 as one of many heroes who battle Galactus.Bullet Points #5 (May 2007)

• The Nikolai Krylenko incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "Secret Avengers", voiced by Troy Baker.{{cite web |title=Red Guardian Voices (Marvel Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/Red-Guardian/ |access-date=January 30, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a member of the Winter Guard.
• The Nikolai Krylenko incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced by Satoshi Mikami in Japanese and Fred Tatasciore in English. This version is a member of the Winter Guard.
• The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in Lego Marvel Avengers: Code Red, voiced by Trevor Devall.

{{Further|Anton Ivanov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Alexei Shostakov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}

File:Zach McGowan by Gage Skidmore.jpg promoting the fifth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at the 2018 WonderCon.]]

File:David Harbour by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg promoting Black Widow at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.]]

Characters based on the Red Guardian appear in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU):

• Anton Ivanov appears in the fourth and fifth seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016–2018), portrayed by Zach McGowan.{{Cite web|last=Blossom|first=Aaron|date=March 1, 2020|title=Black Widow: Which Red Guardian Comics Marvel Fans Should Read|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-red-guardian-comics-black-widow|access-date=March 1, 2020|website=Screen Rant}}{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEhzXp6-wDI|title=The MCU's Other M.O.D.O.K.|date=February 17, 2023|author=Pillar of Garbage|access-date=February 17, 2023|via=YouTube|work=Pillar of Garbage}} This version is a reclusive Russian industrialist known as "The Superior" who believes Inhumans to be monsters. He works with the Watchdogs, Senator Ellen Nadeer, and Holden Radcliffe to fight S.H.I.E.L.D. until he is crippled by Daisy Johnson. Following this, Ivanov is decapitated by AIDA, who keeps him alive as a brain in a vat and gives him a series of Life-Model Decoys Designed Only for Killing (L-MODOKs) for his mind to remotely control. Series producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeffrey Bell introduced Ivanov with the intention of turning him into MODOK, before Marvel Studios retracted access to the latter for use in the New Warriors pilot (2018) and the film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).{{cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/08/18/agents-of-shield-almost-introduced-modok|title=Yep, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Was Going to Introduce Crazy-Looking M.O.D.O.K.|last=Mitovich|first=Matt Webb|work=TVLine|date=August 18, 2020|access-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818171647/https://tvline.com/2020/08/18/agents-of-shield-almost-introduced-modok/|archive-date=August 18, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-showrunners-reveal-the-plan-1844694196|title=The Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. showrunners reveal the plan behind that grand series finale|last=McLevy|first=Alex|work=The A.V. Club|date=August 12, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813193807/https://tv.avclub.com/the-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-showrunners-reveal-the-plan-1844694196|archive-date=August 13, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/modok-mcu-ant-man-quantumania|title=MODOK's Long Road to the MCU|last=Fink|first=Richard|work=MovieWeb|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=January 11, 2023}}
• The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in Black Widow (2021), portrayed by David Harbour.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/red-guardian-black-widow-explained|title=Red Guardian: David Harbour's Black Widow movie role, Explained|work=Comic Book Resources|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722164511/https://www.cbr.com/red-guardian-black-widow-explained/|archive-date=July 22, 2019|url-status=live|date=July 21, 2019|access-date=August 24, 2019|last=Hayes|first=Jackson}}{{Cite web|author=Nerdist Staff|url=https://nerdist.com/article/everything-we-know-about-black-widow|title=Everything We Know About Black Widow|website=Nerdist|access-date=March 23, 2021|date=March 23, 2021}} This version is the adoptive father of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova.{{Cite magazine|last=Coggan|first=Devan|date=July 20, 2019|title=Black Widow hits Comic-Con with first details of Scarlett Johansson film|url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/black-widow-movie-first-look-scarlett-johansson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721020135/https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/black-widow-movie-first-look-scarlett-johansson/|archive-date=July 21, 2019|access-date=July 20, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web|last=N'Duka|first=Amanda|date=April 3, 2019|title=David Harbour Set For Disney/Marvel {{'}}Black Widow{{'}} Standalone|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/david-harbour-disney-marvel-black-widow-movie-1202587737|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403183112/https://deadline.com/2019/04/david-harbour-disney-marvel-black-widow-movie-1202587737/|archive-date=April 3, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2019|website=Deadline Hollywood}} Harbour said Shostakov has "tons of cracks all over him. And he's not the heroic, noble man that [people] want him to be. He both comically and tragically has a lot of flaws".{{Cite web|last1=Gonzales|first1=Umberto|last2=Mass|first2=Jennifer|date=January 12, 2020|title=David Harbour Says Red Guardian in {{'}}Black Widow{{'}} 'Was the Captain America of His Day for Russia'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/david-harbour-says-red-guardian-in-black-widow-was-the-captain-america-of-his-day-for-russia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111010002/https://www.thewrap.com/david-harbour-says-red-guardian-in-black-widow-was-the-captain-america-of-his-day-for-russia/|archive-date=January 11, 2020|access-date=January 12, 2020|website=TheWrap}} For Harbour's portrayal, he and Black Widow director Cate Shortland discussed Ricky Gervais' performance in The Office and Philip Seymour Hoffman's in The Savages (2007), "comedy that comes out of real domestic need".{{Cite magazine |last=O'Hara |first=Helen |title=Against the Odds |magazine=Empire |location=United Kingdom |publisher=Bauer Media Group |issue=May 2020 |pages=58–65}}
• In Black Widow, years prior to the film's main events, Shostakov allies with General Dreykov of the Red Room, who sends him on an undercover mission to the United States alongside Melina Vostokoff, Romanoff, and Belova. After concluding the mission however, Dreykov has Shostakov incarcerated in the Seventh Circle Prison. In the present, Romanoff and Belova free Shostakov to help them and Vostokoff destroy the Red Room.
• Alternate timeline variants of Shostakov appear in the third season of What If...? (2024), voiced by Harbour.{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |date=December 29, 2023 |title=What If...? Season 3 Gets First Look Trailer From Marvel |url=https://www.cbr.com/what-if-season-3-first-clip/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231230001737/https://www.cbr.com/what-if-season-3-first-clip/ |archive-date=December 30, 2023 |access-date=December 29, 2023 |website=Comic Book Resources}}{{Cite web |last=Amin |first=Arezou |date=December 23, 2024 |title='What If...?' Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: Invasion of the Hulkzillas |url=https://collider.com/what-if-season-3-episode-1-recap/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=December 23, 2024 |website=Collider}}{{Cite web |last=Amin |first=Arezou |date=December 24, 2024 |title='What If...?' Season 3 Episode 3 Recap: Bucky and Alexei's Excellent Adventure |url=https://collider.com/what-if-season-3-episode-3-recap/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=December 24, 2024 |website=Collider}}
• Shostakov appears in Thunderbolts* (2025) as a founding member of the titular team,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/thunderbolts-cast-florence-pugh-julia-louis-dreyfus-1235364635|title= Marvel's {{'}}Thunderbolts{{'}} Recruits Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and More|last=Panaligan|first=EJ|website=Variety|date=September 10, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022}} which is later rebranded as the New Avengers.
• A separate variant of Shostakov will appear in Marvel Zombies (2025).{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Liam|date=July 22, 2022|title=SDCC Live: Marvel Studios Animation Panel Reveals Future of X-Men '97, What If and Marvel Zombies|url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-studios-animation-x-men-what-if-zombies-sdcc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722212921/https://www.cbr.com/marvel-studios-animation-x-men-what-if-zombies-sdcc/|archive-date=July 22, 2022|access-date=July 22, 2022|website=Comic Book Resources}}
• Harbour will reprise his role as Shostakov in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).{{Cite web |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |date=March 26, 2025 |title=Marvel Unveils 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast with MCU Mainstays and 'X-Men', 'Fantastic Four' Stars |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-doomsday-cast-announced-1236172556/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326205542/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-doomsday-cast-announced-1236172556/ |archive-date=March 26, 2025 |access-date=March 26, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

• The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}
• The MCU incarnation of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight as part of the Black Widow film tie-in update.{{cite web|url=https://futurefightflair.github.io/tierlist/|title=Tier List for Marvel Future Fight|access-date=2020-05-19|archive-date=2020-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726204316/https://futurefightflair.github.io/tierlist/|url-status=dead}}
• The MCU incarnation of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.{{Cite web |url=https://d3go.helpshift.com/hc/en/3-marvel-puzzle-quest/faq/876-new-character---red-guardian-alexei-shostakov/ |title=New Character – Red Guardian (Alexei Shostakov) |access-date=2021-12-24 |archive-date=2021-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224230739/https://d3go.helpshift.com/hc/en/3-marvel-puzzle-quest/faq/876-new-character---red-guardian-alexei-shostakov/ |url-status=dead }}
• The MCU incarnation of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian appears as a playable character in Marvel Strike Force.{{Cite web|url=https://marvelstrikeforce.com/updates/blog-update-12-11|title = Marvel Strike Force: Winter Storm Warning}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Red_Guardian_(Alexei_Shostakov) Red Guardian (Alexei Shostakov)] at Marvel.com
• {{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/redgrd.htm|Red Guardian}}

{{Winter Guard}}

{{Black Widow}}

{{Thunderbolts}}

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