Editing Winter Guard

{{short description|Fictional comic book group}}
{{About|the comic book characters|indoor color guard|winter guard}}
{{notability|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox comics organization <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image        = Darkstarwinterguard.png
|imagesize    = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption      = Textless cover of<br>''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #1 (June 2010).<br>Art by [[Clayton Henry]]
|publisher    = [[Marvel Comics]]
|debut        = ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' (vol. 2) #9 (October 1998)
|creators     = [[Kurt Busiek]]<br>[[Sean Chen (artist)|Sean Chen]]
|team         = y
|base         =
|owners       =
|employees    =
|members      = [[Crimson Dynamo]]<br>[[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]]<br>[[Red Guardian]]<br>[[Ursa Major (character)|Ursa Major]]<br>[[Fantasia (comics)|Fantasma]]<br>Powersurge<br>[[Sibercat]]<br>Sputnik<br>[[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Vanguard]]<br>Red Widow
|fullroster   =
|cat          = teams
|subcat       = Marvel Comics
|altcat       =
|hero         = y
|villain      =
|sortkey      = Winter Guard
}}
The '''Winter Guard''' ({{langx|ru|Зимняя Гвардия|Zimnyaya Gvardiya}}) is a fictional team of [[Russian people|Russian]] [[superhero]]es appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]].

The Winter Guard are noted for being "Russia's answer to the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]".<ref name="she-hulk34">''She-Hulk'' (vol. 2) #34 (December 2008)</ref> Several members of the group formerly belonged to the [[Soviet Super-Soldiers]], the [[People's Protectorate]], and the [[Supreme Soviets]]. Unlike those teams, which were often adversarial towards other costumed superheroes, the Winter Guard is much more heroic and representative in nature.

Unlike other superhero teams, the Winter Guard currently has a rotating pool of candidates to fill one of three roles on the team: [[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]], [[Crimson Dynamo]], and [[Red Guardian]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Publication history==
{{Expand section|date=May 2010}}
The Winter Guard first appeared during the [[Kurt Busiek]] run of ''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' in (vol. 2) #9 (October 1998), where they had several guest appearances.<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=409}}</ref> They would later appear in Busiek's stint on the ''Avengers''.

The team made infrequent appearances in the Marvel Universe before being featured in [[Jeph Loeb]]'s ''[[The Incredible Hulk (comic book)|Hulk]]'' (vol. 2). The Winter Guard soon appeared in ''She-Hulk'' and ''War Machine: Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D.''.

[[David Gallaher]] brought the team back in ''Hulk: Winter Guard'' which first appeared as a [[Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited|Marvel Digital Comic]] and was later reprinted as a [[comic book]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Beard |first=Jim |date=November 4, 2009 |title=Winter Guard: Cold Warriors |url=http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10171.Winter_Guard~colon~_Cold_Warriors |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091107223516/http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10171.Winter_Guard~colon~_Cold_Warriors |archive-date=November 7, 2009 |access-date=May 19, 2010 |publisher=Marvel.com}}</ref> Gallaher returned to writing the team with a three-issue limited series called ''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Gourley |url=http://swordandscript.com/general/the-sword-and-script-interview-david-gallaher |title=The Sword and Script Interview: David Gallaher |publisher=Sword and Script |date=April 20, 2010 |access-date=May 19, 2010 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521012134/http://swordandscript.com/general/the-sword-and-script-interview-david-gallaher |archive-date=May 21, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mahadeo |first=Kevin |date=May 21, 2010 |title=Gallaher Thaws Out the Winter Guard |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26323 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523155140/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26323 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref name="Rogers">{{cite web |last=Rogers |first=Vaneta |date=May 25, 2010 |title=From High Moon to DARKSTAR: Zuda Alums Talk Russian Heroes |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622064743/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2010 |website=[[Newsarama]] |publisher=}}</ref>

==Fictional team history==
The Winter Guard were originally known as the [[Soviet Super Soldiers]] and appeared in various comics from the mid-1970s. That name lost meaning following the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]] in 1992. The Winter Guard made their debut with that name in ''Iron Man'' (vol. 3) #9, and fought alongside the Avengers during the "[[Maximum Security (comics)|Maximum Security]]" and "[[Kang Dynasty]]" events.<ref>''Iron Man'' (vol. 3) #9 (October 1998). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Whilst investigating the murder of the [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]], [[Doc Samson]], [[She-Hulk]], and [[Thunderbolt Ross]] encounter the revitalized Winter Guard, consisting of Ursa Major, Red Guardian, Darkstar, and Crimson Dynamo.<ref name="hulk1">''Hulk'' (vol. 2) #1 (March 2008). Marvel Comics.</ref>

After teaming up with [[War Machine]] to fight the [[Skrull]]s,<ref>''Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' #34 (December 2008)</ref> the team was later seen clashing with [[She-Hulk]] and the [[Lady Liberators]] – and again with [[Presence (Marvel Comics)|The Presence]] and [[Igor Drenkov]].<ref name="Rogers"/> This version of the team uses an old [[Dire Wraith]] ship as a headquarters.<ref>''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #1 (August 2010). Marvel Comics.</ref> They were mentioned by [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]] as possible back-up while [[Rachel Summers]] was investigating in [[Madripoor]].<ref>''Wolverine and the X-Men'' #27 (May 2013). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Winter Guard are apparently killed by the [[Intelligencia (comics)|Intelligencia]], but are later revealed to have survived.<ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' #676 (February 2012). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Winter Guard is later reassembled with Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Darkstar, Vostok, [[Perun (comics)|Perun]], [[Chernobog]], and Red Widow.<ref name=":0">''Avengers'' (vol. 8) #10 (January 2019). Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[One World Under Doom]]" storyline, Winter Guard members Crimson Dynamo, Red Widow, Ursa Major, and Vanguard crash Tony Stark's meeting with Commander Hunyadi of the Latverian Patriotic Front where they plan to bring him to [[Doctor Doom]]. Hunyadi is told by Red Widow that Tony will betray him as Iron Man fights the Winter Guard. With help from Black Widow, Tony Stark gets away. Red Widow informs Hunyadi to leave Dagestan at once as she will not protect him if Doctor Doom plans to take vengeance on him.<ref>''Iron Man'' Vol. 7 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Members==
'''Current members'''

* '''[[Ursa Major (character)|Ursa Major]]''' ('''Mikhail Ursus''') – A [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] who can transform into a humanoid bear.
* '''[[Crimson Dynamo]]''' ('''Dmitri Bukharin''') – Russia's answer to the [[Iron Man]] armor. Bukharin is the current leader of the Winter Guard.<ref name=":0" />
* '''[[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]]''' ('''Laynia Petrovna''') – A mutant who can manipulate the [[Darkforce]].
* '''[[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Red Guardian]]''' ('''Nikolai Krylenko''') – Also known as Vanguard, Krylenko formerly led the Winter Guard as Red Guardian.<ref>''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #2–3 (September - October 2010)</ref> He is Darkstar's brother and possesses the mutant ability to generate force fields.
* '''Vostok''' – A robot who can manipulate other machines. Also known as '''Sputnik'''.
* '''[[Chernobog]]''' - The Slavic god of chaos and the night.
* '''[[Perun (comics)|Perun]]''' - The Slavic god of thunder and lightning.
* '''Red Widow''' - The product of the same [[Red Room (comics)|Red Room]] as [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)|Black Widow]], Red Widow is the team's contact with the Russian government and has been known to overrule Crimson Dynamo's leadership on this basis.

===Previous members===
* '''[[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]]''' ('''Sasha Roerich''') – A short-lived replacement for Darkstar who was given her powers.
* '''[[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]]''' ('''Reena Stancioff''') – The third Darkstar, who was killed by a Dire Wraith.
* '''[[Red Guardian#Josef Petkus|Steel Guardian]]''' ('''Josef Petkus''') – Russia's counterpart to [[Captain America]].
* '''[[Fantasia (comics)|Fantasma]]''' – A sorceress and illusion-caster. Also known as '''Fantasia'''. She is later revealed to be a Dire Wraith.
* '''Powersurge''' ('''Illarion Ramskov''') – A nuclear-fueled giant who sacrificed his life to destroy the Russian supervillain [[Presence (Marvel Comics)|Presence]].
* '''[[Sibercat]]''' ('''Illich Lavrov''') – A feline mutant.
* '''[[Crimson Dynamo]]''' ('''Galina Nemirovsky''') – The thirteenth Crimson Dynamo and a graduate of the Federal Dynamo program.
* '''[[Crimson Dynamo]]''' ('''Boris Vadim''')

==Collected editions==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title !! Material collected !! Published date !! ISBN
|-
| ''Darkstar and the Winter Guard''
| ''Darkstar and the Winter Guard'' #1–3, ''Hulk: Winter Guard'' #1, ''X-Men Unlimited'' #28
| November 2010
| {{ISBNT|978-0785148678}}
|-
|''Winter Guard: Operation Snowblind''
|''Winter Guard'' #1-4, ''Widowmakers: Red Guardian and [[Yelena Belova]]'' #1
|January 2022
|{{ISBNT|978-1302928759}}
|}

==In other media==
===Television===
* The Winter Guard appears in the ''[[Avengers Assemble (TV series)|Avengers Assemble]]'' episode "Secret Avengers", consisting of [[Red Guardian]], [[Darkstar (Marvel Comics)|Darkstar]], [[Crimson Dynamo]], [[Ursa Major (character)|Ursa Major]], and [[Radioactive Man (comics)#Igor Stancheck|Radioactive Man]]. This version of the group work for Central Command, [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'s Russian counterpart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Glenn |date=May 11, 2015 |title=''Avengers Assemble'' S02 E18: Secret Avengers |url=https://biffbampop.com/2015/05/11/avengers-assemble-s02-e18-secret-avengers/ |access-date=March 9, 2025 |website=Biff! Bam! Pop! |language=en-US}}</ref>
* The Winter Guard appears in ''[[Marvel Future Avengers]]'', consisting of Red Guardian, Darkstar, Crimson Dynamo, and Ursa Major.
* The Winter Guard appears in the ''[[X-Men '97]]'' episode "Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3", consisting of Darkstar, Crimson Dynamo, and [[Omega Red]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonomolo |first=Cameron |date=May 15, 2024 |title=''X-Men '97'': Every Marvel Cameo in the Season Finale |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/x-men-97-episode-10-finale-marvel-cameos-explained-spider-man-daredevil-mutants/ |access-date=March 9, 2025 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref>

===Video games===
The Winter Guard appear as playable characters in ''[[Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2]]''.

=== Miscellaneous ===
*The Winter Guard appears in ''[[The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes]]'' #2, consisting of [[Vanguard (Marvel Comics)|Vanguard]], Darkstar, Ursa Major, and [[Titanium Man]].
*The Winter Guard appears in ''[[X-Men '92]]'', consisting of Ursa Major, Omega Red, Darkstar, Vostok, and Red Guardian.<ref>''X-Men '92'' #1–4 (August - October 2015)</ref>

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

==External links==
* {{Marvelwiki|Winter_Guard|Winter Guard}}
* [[marveldatabase:Winter_Guard_(Earth-616)|Winter Guard]] at Marvel Wiki
* {{comicbookdb|type=team|id=423|title=Winter Guard}}

{{Winter Guard}}
[[Category:Characters created by Kurt Busiek]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1998]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics superhero teams]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics titles]]
[[Category:Russian superheroes]]
[[Category:Soviet Union-themed superheroes]]