Alexei Shostakov
Alexei Shostakov is a male comic character who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Alexei Alanovich Shostako (Russian: Алексей Шостаков)
He came to be one of Russia's most famed test pilots. (Avengers v1 #44) Alexi Shostakov caught the attention of the KGB. (Avengers Assemble v1 #1) He would come to meet a young prodigy named Natalia Romanova whilst at the academy. (Marvel Fanfare v1 #10) The KGB arranged for Alexi and Natasha Romanoff to marry. (Black Widow: Deadly Origin v1 #2)
In 1957, Colonel Shostakov was invited to the office of General Pushkin where he was formally introduced to Natalia Romanova. She was one of 28 Black Widow agents who had trained in the Red Room. Alexi and Natalia had an arranged meeting in General Puhskin's office in Moscow. Pushkin left the two young lovebirds alone so they could get acquainted with each other. Alexi introduced himself to Natalia, whom he started calling Natasha. Due to her constant brainwashing she could hardly distinguish between her fake life as a ballerina and her life as one of the Black Widow agents trained in the Red Room. Alexi had a hard time believing her. (Black Widow: Deadly Origin v1 #2)
Due to his skill, he was assigned to test one of the country's most dangerous aircraft and its weapons for use against the nation's enemies. However, he was believed to had died when the experimental rocket had exploded with his widow being informed of his death. (Avengers v1 #44) Alexi took his bride to a mountain cabin where they made love next to the fire. (Black Widow: The Coldest War v1 #1) Natasha, who was the operative Black Widow, confided in Alexi about the Headmistress of the Red Room sending new operative Toma into action. He comforted her, complimenting her skills in combat and saying maybe Toma could learn from her. (Web of Black Widow v1 #3) Alexi was selected by the Soviet government to be their new super-soldier code name the Red Guardian. Needing to free him from his former life so he could enter intensive training, they faked his death. (Avengers v1 #44)
After Natasha was told about Alexi's alleged death, Alexi joined Krushchev in his office. Krushchev felt sorry for Alexi, but told him that it was the best for both of them. Alexi cried, but not because he would miss Natasha, but because it was so hard to live with her, a woman that wanted to be a mother but was unable to conceive a child as a result of experiments done on her by the government. Alexi and Krushchev had a drink afterward. (Black Widow: Deadly Origin v1 #2) The Red Guardian went through years of training. Wearing a bright red uniform with a red star on the chest, Alexi reached the peak of athleticism, and he learned to control a magnetic belt buckle that he could propel through the air to hit others, much like Captain America's shield. Alexi completed missions for Soviet intelligence, though the details of the remain unrevealed. (Avengers v1 #44) During the Cold War, Red Guardian crossed paths with Dracula multiple times. (Winter Guard v1 #3)
Around 17 years ago, he was part of a Russian team that included the Winter Soldier who were covertly deployed into Sin-Cong in order to secure their country's interests during the political strife afflicting the nation. Whilst there, they were tasked to find a powerful energy source, and they watched the Shi'ar from the woods. Red Guardian soon got involved in a complex battle, fighting some hybrid monsters and Deviants. (Marvels v2 #3) Shostakov was assigned by Yuri Brushov to keep Operation Snowblind buried. He destroyed intel and tech and killed certain operatives to ensure Snowblind was never discovered. One analyst had made four copies of Snowblind that could be decrypted together to expose the project, and Shostakov finally realized he was destroying criminal intel that protected the oligarchs. Shostakov turned fake copies over to Brushov to be destroyed, then he hid the four drives in different parts of Russia, giving the final one to Dracula for protection. (Winter Guard v1 #3)
Red Guardian
During a S.H.I.E.L.D. mission in China, the Black Widow was apprehended and placed in a stasis tube in Colonel Wai Ling's laboratory. Colonel Ling welcomed General Brushov to his base, where Brushov sought to obtain the Psychotron. Brushov was unimpressed with Alexi until Red Guardian threw his magnetically controlled belt emblem to knock Brushov out of his chair, then he rushed forward to catch Brushov before he could fall. Red Guardian further proved his skills by fighting off a group of Ling's armored soldiers. Brushov took over the operation and grew determined to lure Captain America there so that Red Guardian could defeat him. When Hawkeye and Hercules attacked, Red Guardian knocked Hawkeye out with his emblem, then he avoided blows from Hercules long enough to draw him into the chamber of the Psychotron, where Hercules was subjected to visions of monsters, distracting him from further battle. Hawkeye attacked again, demanding to know where the Black Widow was, saying he loved her, so Red Guardian knocked Hawkeye out again and placed him in a stasis tube next to the Widow. As Hawkeye awakened, Red Guardian finally unmasked, and Widow reacted with shock to see Alexi alive. Alexi boasted that they would both see the defeat of Captain America soon. (Avengers v1 #43)
As Red Guardian taunted Hawkeye and Black Widow, Ling and Brushov entered where they were pleased that Hercules had been fooled by the Psychotron. The men discussed their plans to use the Psychotron to achieve world domination, then submitted Black Widow to a lie detector test to determine her loyalty to Russia. Determining she as loyal, they let Black Widow free, and Red Guardian said he would be happy to have her as a wife again. The men reviewed Black Widow's stolen plans for an American submarine. When the Avengers attacked, the military forces working for Ling and Brushov briefly held them back, then Captain America was apprehended. Cap broke free and Red Guardian eagerly attacked him, determined to prove his superiority. Cap proved Red Guardian's best until Cap was knocked back by Ling and Brushov electrifying the floor, infuriating Red Guardian. When Ling fired at Black Widow, who was seeking to destroy the Psychotron, Red Guardian intercepted the bullet. The machine was destroyed, Hercules was freed, and the Avengers were escaping. When Ling tried killing the escaping Avengers, Red Guardian leapt on the gun and it misfired, causing an explosion that enveloped the entire base, and Red Guardian was believed killed. (Avengers v1 #44)
Ronin
Thunderbolts
In reality, he had survived but was captured by Dr. Durst who had taken over a former S.H.I.E.L.D. black-ops site in Antarctica. Initially, they attempted to recruit him for their mercenary outfit but he refused even when they were more aggressive in their efforts. Ultimately, he came to be locked away in a cell until Yelena Belova freed him after being tricked into conducting a mission at the facility. The two battled the horde of guards at the facility with Red Guardian holding them off whilst he gave Yelena an opportunity to escape. The facility later exploded during the battle though Alexei was shown to had survived and escaped from the rubble. (Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
After he faked his death, he underwent training to become the Red Guardian where he was said to had become crueller. (Avengers v1 #44)
He still believed in the ideals of Mother Russia and fought for it. (Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova v1 #1)
It was known that he was once the husband of the Black Widow Natasha Romanoff. (Avengers v1 #43) He noted that living with Natasha had been hard as she wanted to be a mother but was barren and unable to have children. (Black Widow: Deadly Origin v1 #2) Despite their separation, he still dreamed that she cared for him and would help rescue him from prison. (Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova v1 #1)
Alexi had given Natasha a photograph of the two of them and wrote on it, 'I still can't believe you said "Yes", my Natalia! Love always, Alexi'. (Black Widow v1 #1)
Powers and abilities
He was noted to had been a test pilot of extraordinary skill. (Avengers v1 #44)
As Red Guardian, it was said that he was trained to be the counterpart to Captain America. (Avengers v1 #44)
At some point, he was noted to had been given an anti-aging serum. (Widowmaker v1 #3)
This suit contained a magnetically controlled emblem that he could throw at a target and which returned to him. (Avengers v1 #43)
Notes
- Alexei Shostakov was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema where he made his first appearance in Avengers v1 #43 (August, 1967).
- The character as Red Guardian received an entry in Avengers Assemble v1 #1 (2010).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Avengers Assemble, Alexei Shostakov Red Guardian appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "Secret Avengers" where he was voiced by actor Troy Baker.
Films
- In Black Widow, Alexei Shostakov as the Red Guardian appeared in the setting of the 2021 live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor David Harbour. He was shown as being the Russian super-soldier counterpart to Captain America. Years ago, Shostakov allied himself with General Dreykov of the Red Room. They came to send him on an undercover mission to the United States alongside Melina Vostokoff, Natasha Romanoff, and Yelena Belova. The four disguised themselves as a famiyl where they operated in the U.S. for several years. After concluding the mission however, Dreykov had Shostakov incarcerated in the Seventh Circle Prison. In the present, Romanoff and Belova freed Shostakov to help them and Vostokoff destroy the Red Room.
Video games
- In Marvel Future Fight, Alexei Shostakov as Red Guardian appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Contest of Champions, Alexei Shostakov as Red Guardian appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Puzzle Quest, Alexei Shostakov as Red Guardian appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Strike Force, Alexei Shostakov as Red Guardian appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
- In Marvel Duel, Alexei Shostakov as Ronin appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Avengers v1: (1967)
- Black Widow: Deadly Origin v1:
- Widowmaker v1:
- Black Widow v8:
- Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova v1:
- Marvels v2: (2021)
- Thunderbolts v5: (2023)
External Links
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