Editing Red Guardian

{{short description|Marvel Comics character}}
{{Infobox comics character
| image          = Avengers-43.jpg
| caption        = The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of Red Guardian as depicted in ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #43 (June 1967). Art by [[John Buscema]] and [[George Roussos]].
| character_name = Red Guardian
| real_name      = {{ubl|Alexei Shostakov (Алексей Шостаков)|Dr. Tania Belinsky|Josef Petkus|Aleksey Lebedev|Krassno Granitsky|Abdul al-Rahma|Anton|Nikolai Krylenko|Alexei Shostakov L.M.D.}}
| species        = {{ubl|Human|'''Krylenko:''' Human mutate|'''Anton:''' [[Life Model Decoy]]}}
| publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut          = {{ubl|'''[[#Alexei|Alexei Shostakov]]:'''|''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #43 (August 1967)|'''[[#Tania|Dr. Tania Belinsky]]:'''|''[[Defenders (comics)|The Defenders]]'' #35 (May 1976)|'''[[#Nikolai|Nikolai Krylenko]]:'''|'''Original character:''' ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' #109 (April 1978)|'''As Red Guardian:''' ''[[Winter Guard#Publication history|Darkstar and the Winter Guard]]'' #2 (July 2010)|'''[[#Josef|Josef Petkus]]:'''|''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #352 (April 1989)|'''[[#Aleksey|Aleksey Lebedev]]:'''|''[[Namor, the Sub-Mariner|Namor, The Sub-Mariner Annual]]'' #1 (June 1991)|'''[[#Captain Russia|Captain Russia]]:'''|''[[Ultimate Nightmare]]'' #4 (December 2004)|'''[[#Krassno|Krassno Granitsky]]:'''|''[[David North (character)|Maverick]]'' #10 (June 1998]])|'''[[#Colonel|Colonel Abdul al-Rahma]]:'''|''[[The Ultimates 2]]'' #7 (July 2005)|'''[[#Anton|Anton]]:'''|[[Hulk (comic book)|''Hulk'']] (vol. 2) #1 (January 2008)}}
| creators       = {{ubl|'''Alexei Shostakov:'''|[[Roy Thomas]]|[[John Buscema]]|'''Tania Belinsky:'''|[[Steve Gerber]]|[[Sal Buscema]]|'''Nikolai Krylenko:'''|[[Bill Mantlo]] {{small|(original character)}}|[[Carmine Infantino]] {{small|(original character)}}|[[David Gallaher]] {{small|(as Red Guardian)}}|[[Steve Ellis (comics)|Steve Ellis]] {{small|(as Red Guardian)}}|'''Josef Petkus:'''|[[Mark Gruenwald]]|[[Kieron Dwyer]]|'''Aleksey Lebedev:'''|Dana Moreshead|Mike Thomas|[[Phil Hester (comics)|Phil Hester]]|'''Captain Russia:'''|[[Warren Ellis]]|[[Trevor Hairsine]]|'''Krassno Granitsky:'''|Jorge Gonzales|Leo Fernandez|'''Colonel Abdul al-Rahma:'''|[[Mark Millar]]|[[Bryan Hitch]]|'''Anton:'''|[[Jeph Loeb]]|[[Ed McGuinness]]}}
| alliances      = {{ubl|[[Winter Guard]]|[[Soviet Super-Soldiers]]|[[KGB]]|'''(Shostakov)'''<br />[[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]]}}
| aliases        = {{ubl|[[Ronin (Marvel Comics)|Ronin]]|[[#Josef|Steel Guardian]]|[[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Vanguard]]}}
| powers         = {{ubl|Highly skilled athlete|Master hand to hand combatant|Expert pilot|Use of "belt-buckle" disc}}
}}
The '''Red Guardian''' (Russian: '''Красный страж''', '''''Krasnyy Strazh''''') is the name of several [[fiction]]al [[Character (arts)|characters]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]: '''Aleksey Lebedev''', '''Alexei Shostakov''', '''[[Starlight (Marvel Comics)|Tania Belinsky]]''', '''Josef Petkus''', '''Krassno Granitsky''', '''Anton Ivanov''', and '''[[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Nikolai Krylenko]]''', as well as a villainous [[Life Model Decoy]] of Shostakov. The Red Guardian is an identity created as the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] equivalent to [[Captain America]], although its use has continued in [[dissolution of the Soviet Union|post-Soviet]] [[Russia]]. In the [[Ultimate Marvel]] [[Continuity (fiction)|continuity]], the Red Guardian is adapted as two separate characters: '''Captain Russia''' and '''Colonel Abdul al-Rahma'''.

Characters based on the Red Guardian have made scattered appearances in animated media and video games; [[Anton Ivanov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Anton Ivanov]] and [[Alexei Shostakov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Alexei Shostakov]] feature in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] (MCU) franchise, portrayed by [[Zach McGowan]] and [[David Harbour]], respectively.

==Fictional character biography==
===Aleksey Lebedev{{anchor|Aleksey|Lebedev|Алексей Лебедев}}===
'''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 (comics)|Phil Hester]]. Very little is known of him, but he fought alongside [[Spirit of '76 (Marvel Comics)|Captain America]] (William Naslund) and the [[Namor|Sub-Mariner]] at the [[Potsdam Conference]], in July 1945.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

He began his career during World War II, and met the [[All-Winners Squad]] (formerly the [[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]) on only one recorded occasion, clashing with them shortly after the war's end where he taunted Captain America (secretly the [[Jeffrey Mace|Patriot]]) that he was 'slowing down' after he was able to catch Captain America's shield.<ref>''Captain America: Patriot'' #2 (November 2010)</ref> 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.<ref>''[[Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe|The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A–Z Update 2010]]'' #4 (December 2010)</ref>

===Alexei Shostakov{{anchor|Alexei Andreevich Shostakov|Alexei|Andreevich|Shostakov}}===
'''Alexei Andreevich Shostakov''' is the first version of the Red Guardian, and was created by [[Roy Thomas]] and [[John Buscema]], first appearing in ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|Avengers]]'' #43 (January 1967).

Alexei Shostakov was born in [[Moscow]], and was the husband<!--Please do not change; this section is about the comics, not the MCU.--> of Natasha Romanova. Both he and Romanova were agents of the Soviets: the latter as the [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|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 (comics)|Avengers]] on numerous occasions, with one seeing him become the third [[Ronin (Marvel Comics)|Ronin]].<ref>''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #43–44 (August - September 1967)</ref><ref>''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' (vol. 2) #64 (November 2004)</ref><ref>''[[Widowmaker (Marvel Comics)|Widowmaker]]'' #1-4 (February 2011)</ref>

In ''[[Thunderbolts (comic book)|Thunderbolts]]'' (vol. 5), [[Bucky Barnes]] recruits Shostakov into the [[Thunderbolts (comics)|eponymous team]].<ref>''[[Thunderbolts (comic book)|Thunderbolts]]'' (vol. 5) #1 (December 2023)</ref>

===Tania Belinsky{{anchor|Tania Belinsky|Tania|Belinsky}}===
{{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 (comics)|Defenders]]. Created by [[Steve Gerber]] and [[Sal Buscema]], she first appeared in ''[[Defenders (comics)|The Defenders]]'' #35 (May 1976).

===Josef Petkus{{anchor|Josef|Petkus}}===
'''Josef Petkus''' is the fourth Red Guardian, first appearing in ''[[Captain America (comic book)|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 (comic book)|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|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 [[Soviet Super-Soldiers|Supreme Soviets]].<ref>''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' #352–353 (April - May 1989)</ref>

He later joins the [[Winter Guard]] and the Supreme Soviets splinter group the People's Protectorate, now calling himself the "Steel Guardian".<ref>''The Avengers'' #319–324 (July - October 1990)</ref><ref>''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' (vol. 3) #9 (October 1988)</ref>

In ''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'', Petkus is killed by [[Dire Wraith|Dire Wraiths]] while attempting to resurrect [[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Vanguard]]'s sister Lanyia.<ref>''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #2 (September 2010)</ref>

===Krassno Granitsky{{anchor|Krassno|Granitsky}}===
'''Krassno Granitsky''', the fifth Red Guardian, appeared in ''[[David North (character)|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 (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]].<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 5) #1 (January 2005)</ref>

===Anton{{anchor|Anton|Ivanov}}===
'''Anton''', the sixth Red Guardian,<ref>''[[She-Hulk]]'' (vol. 2) #35 (January 2009)</ref> debuted in ''[[Hulk]]'' (vol. 2) as a member of the Winter Guard.<ref>''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|Hulk]]'' (vol. 2) #1 (January 2008)</ref>

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]].<ref>''Hulk: Winter Guard'' #1 (December 2009)</ref>

He is decapitated by a Dire Wraith, although his head survives and is kept in storage.<ref name="Darkstar-2-3">''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #2–3 (September - October 2010)</ref>

===Nikolai Krylenko{{anchor|Nikolai|Krylenko}}===
{{Main|Vanguard (Marvel Comics)}}
'''Nikolai Krylenko''' (also known as Vanguard) is the seventh version of the Red Guardian, and leads the Winter Guard.<ref name="Darkstar-2-3" /> Created by [[Bill Mantlo]] and [[Carmine Infantino]] for ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' #109 (April 1978), he was redeveloped as the Red Guardian by [[David Gallaher]] and [[Steve Ellis (comics)|Steve Ellis]] from ''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #2 (July 2010) onward.<ref name="Darkstar-2-3" />

==Powers and abilities==
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]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marvel Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded}}</ref> 

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's [[Buckle|belt buckle]]. The fourth Red Guardian, Josef Petkus, often employed an energized sword as a secondary weapon alongside his shield.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' #393 (May 1992)</ref> 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.<ref>''Soviet Super Soldiers'' #1 (November 1992)</ref> 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.<ref name="Darkstar-2-3" /> 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.<ref>''[[Age of Heroes (comics)|Age of Heroes]]'' #3 (September 2010)</ref>

==Other versions==
===''Bullet Points''===
An alternate universe variant of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-70105 makes a minor appearance in ''[[Bullet Points (comics)|Bullet Points]]'' #5 as one of many heroes who battle [[Galactus]].<ref>''[[Bullet Points (comics)|Bullet Points]]'' #5 (May 2007)</ref>

===''Civil War: House of M''===
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.<ref>''[[Civil War: House of M]]'' #2 (December 2008)</ref>

===''Exiles''===
An alternate universe variant of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian from Earth-3470 appears in ''[[Exiles (comic book)|Exiles]]'' #84.<ref>''[[Exiles (comic book)|Exiles]]'' #84 (September 2006)</ref>

===Ultimate Marvel===
Two original incarnations of Red Guardian from Earth-1610 appear in the [[Ultimate Marvel]] imprint:

====Captain Russia====
'''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 (Ultimate Marvel character)|Captain America]], who kills him by stabbing him through the chest.<ref>''[[Ultimate Nightmare]]'' #1–4 (October 2004 - January 2005)</ref>

====Colonel Abdul al-Rahman{{anchor|Colonel|Abdul|al-Rahma}}====
{{Comics character list header
| name       = Colonel
| Marvelwiki = 
| CBDBid     = 4345
| GCDid      = Colonel
}}
'''Colonel Abdul al-Rahman''' is an [[Azerbaijan|Azerbaijani]] teenager and the leader of the [[Masters of Evil|Liberators]] who was transformed into a super-soldier by Russian scientists and wields a [[lightsaber]]-like weapon. As a member of the Liberators, al-Rahman operates as the '''Colonel'''. He is later killed by Captain America and [[Hulk (Ultimate Marvel character)|Hulk]].<ref>''[[The Ultimates 2]]'' #7–12 (September 2005 - August 2006)</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
* The Nikolai Krylenko incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in the ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' episode "Secret Avengers", voiced by [[Troy Baker]].<ref name="btva2">{{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.</ref> 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 the original Japanese version and by [[Fred Tatasciore]] in the English dub.<ref name="btva2" /> 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]].<ref name="btva2" />

===Marvel Cinematic Universe===
{{Further|Anton Ivanov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Alexei Shostakov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)}}
[[File:Zach McGowan by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|185px|[[Zach McGowan]] promoting the [[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5|fifth season]] of ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' at the 2018 [[WonderCon]].]]
[[File:David Harbour by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|185px|[[David Harbour]] promoting ''[[Black Widow (2021 film)|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 [[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4|fourth]] and [[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5|fifth seasons]] of ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' (2016–2018), portrayed by [[Zach McGowan]].<ref>{{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]]}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref> This version is a reclusive Russian industrialist known as "The Superior" who believes [[Inhumans (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Inhumans]] to be monsters. He works with the [[Watchdogs (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Watchdogs]], their benefactor Senator [[Ellen Nadeer]], and later [[Holden Radcliffe (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Holden Radcliffe]] to fight [[S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|S.H.I.E.L.D.]] until he is crippled by [[Daisy Johnson (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Daisy Johnson]]. Following this, Ivanov is decapitated by [[Aida (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|AIDA]], who keeps him alive as a [[brain in a vat]] and gives him a series of [[Life Model Decoy|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]],<ref name="Gowan" /> before [[Marvel Studios]] retracted access to the latter for use in the ''[[New Warriors (TV pilot)|New Warriors]]'' pilot (2018) and the film ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania]]'' (2023).<ref name="Gowan">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
* The Alexei Shostakov incarnation of the Red Guardian appears in ''[[Black Widow (2021 film)|Black Widow]]'' (2021), portrayed by [[David Harbour]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=[[Nerdist|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}}</ref> This version is the adoptive father of [[Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Natasha Romanoff]] and [[Yelena Belova (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Yelena Belova]].<ref name="SDCCDetails">{{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]]}}</ref><ref name="Harbour">{{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]]}}</ref> 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".<ref name="HarbourWrap">{{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]]}}</ref> For Harbour's portrayal, he and ''Black Widow'' director [[Cate Shortland]] discussed [[Ricky Gervais]]' performance in ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]'' and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]]'s in ''[[The Savages (film)|The Savages]]'', "comedy that comes out of real domestic need".<ref name="EmpireMagazineMay2020">{{Cite magazine |last=O'Hara |first=Helen |title=Against the Odds |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]] |issue=May 2020 |pages=58–65}}</ref>
** In ''Black Widow'', years prior to the film's main events, Shostakov allies with General [[Dreykov (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Dreykov]] of the [[Red Room (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Red Room]], who sends him on an undercover mission to the United States alongside [[Melina Vostokoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|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.<ref name="EmpireMagazineMay2020" />
** Alternate timeline variants of Shostakov appear in the [[What If...? season 3|third season]] of ''[[What If...? (TV series)|What If...?]]'' (2024), voiced by Harbour.<ref name="btva2" /><ref>{{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]]}}</ref><ref>{{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 (website)|Collider]]}}</ref><ref>{{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 (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>
** Shostakov appears in ''[[Thunderbolts*]]'' (2025). While having not contacted Yelena for a year, Shostakov has started a limousine service. He would later come to the aid of Yelena, [[U.S. Agent]], and [[Ava Starr|Ghost]]. Red Guardian becomes a founding member of the [[Thunderbolts (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|titular team]],<ref>{{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 (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 10, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022}}</ref> which is later rebranded as the [[New Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|New Avengers]] by [[Valentina Allegra de Fontaine]] following Void's defeat.
** A separate variant of Shostakov will appear in ''[[Marvel Zombies (miniseries)|Marvel Zombies]]'' (2025).<ref name="UpcomingAnimation">{{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]]}}</ref>
** Harbour will reprise his role as Shostakov in ''[[Avengers: Doomsday]]'' (2026).<ref>{{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]]}}</ref>

===Video games===
* 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* The MCU incarnation of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel Puzzle Quest]]''.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* The MCU incarnation of Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian appears as a playable character in ''[[Marvel Strike Force]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://marvelstrikeforce.com/updates/blog-update-12-11|title = ''Marvel Strike Force: Winter Storm'' Warning}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [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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