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The Red Guardian is the name of several comic book superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The Red Guardian is an identity that was created as the Soviet equivalent of Captain America; since the fall of the Soviet Union, the name has fallen into disuse.

Contents 1 Character history 1.1 Golden Age Red Guardian 1.2 Alexei Shostakov 1.3 Dr. Tania Belinsky 1.4 Josef Petkus 1.5 Krassno Granitsky 1.6 The sixth Red Guardian 1.7 Ultimate Red Guardian 2 Powers and abilities

Many people have taken up the mantle of Red Guardian:

A Golden Age version of the Red Guardian appeared first in Namor, The Sub-Mariner Annual # 1. Very little is known of him, but he fought along side Captain America (William Naslund) and the Sub-Mariner shortly after V-E Day. [1]

Alexei Alanovich Shostakov was the husband of Natasha Romanova. Both he and his wife became agents of the Soviets: she became the Black Widow, while he became the Red Guardian. He fought the Avengers, but was later thought to have died saving their lives. He first appeared in Avengers # 43 and was presumably killed in the next issue. Shostakov was later revealed to be alive and had risen very high up in power within Bulgaria. He became responsible for a plot to capture his former wife, the Black Widow, and try her for her crimes as a Soviet super soldier. Natasha foiled his plan with the help of Daredevil and the Avengers.

This was the first character named Red Guardian, and was created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.

Main article: Starlight (comics)

Dr. Tania Belinsky, a neurosurgeon from the USSR, later adopted the costumed identity of the Red Guardian and joined the Defenders. Created by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema, she first appeared in Defenders # 35 (May 1976).

The next Red Guardian Josef Petkus, who appeared as a member of the militant Supreme Soviets (later called the People's Protectorate) in Captain America # 353. He later joined post-Soviet Russian superteam the Winter Guard, now calling himself the Steel Guardian.

Another Red Guardian, named Krassno Granitsky, appeared in Maverick # 10. He teamed up with the mercenary superhero Maverick to battle a crime lord.

A Red Guardian appeared in the first issue of Ed Brubaker's Captain America, where he was executed by Aleksander Lukin.

A version of the character appeared in the mini-series Ultimate Nightmare. This version of the character is a Russian super soldier, meant to be their Captain America. After a fight between the two, Captain America defeats him, by stabbing him with splintered wood that acts as a stake through the chest, declaring "Fighting is about winning". This version is certifiably insane, using a makeshift shield created partially from human remains.

None of the Red Guardians have possessed superhuman powers or abilities, with the exception of Tania Belinsky after her mutation by the Presence. All are highly skilled athletes. All of the Guardians but Alexei and Tania have used a steel shield similar to that used by Captain America; Alexei and Tania used a throwing disc that was a part of their costume's belt buckle.