Red Guardian
Encyclopedia
The Red Guardian is the name of several comic book
superhero
es 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 is no longer officially used, though at least two people have claimed the name.
and the Sub-Mariner at the Potsdam Conference
, in July, 1945. He began his career during World War II and met the All-Winners Squad
(formerly the Invaders
) on only one recorded occasion, shortly after the war's end. Like the other crusaders of the same name, he was created as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America. His costume differed markedly from those of his successors.
He was later apparently killed during the purges of the 1950s, opposing the brutal experiments that would later create his successor.
and John Buscema
.
, and was the husband of Natasha Romanova. Both he and his wife became agents of the Soviets: she became the Black Widow, while he became a test pilot and KGB agent, and then trained as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America as the Red Guardian.
Alexei Shostakov was one of the Soviet Union's most acclaimed pilots. During World War II on the Eastern Front
, he shot down a large number of Luftwaffe
fighter planes in aerial battles and was credited for helping the Soviet Air Force
win air supremacy over the skies of Stalingrad and Kursk
. Because of his extraordinary skill, Shostakov was chosen for the most secret and dangerous tests and new aircraft for the Soviet Union. This included being the first pilot to test fly the Mig 15. The Soviet state controlled news media greatly publicized this and certain other missions of his such as his aerial battles against the USAF over MiG Alley
during the Korean War
. As a result, Shostakov was decorated as a hero of the Soviet Union. Shostakov was also successful in his private life, having married the equally famous ballerina Natalie (familiarly known as Natasha) Romanova.
As the Cold War flared up in the 1950s, Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev realized that the Soviet Union needed its own equivalent to Captain America. Nikita Kruschev chose Alexi Shostakov over Yuri Gagarin
who would later become the first man in space. The KGB faked his death and trained him in secret, keeping his survival a secret from Natasha. He became a master of hand-to-hand combat and an expert athlete. In addition, he carried a throwing disc on his belt which could be used against an opponent. Magnetic force returned the disc after throwing. The disc had the yellow hammer and sickle symbol on it and his costume was red with a star on his chest to symbolise the Soviet flag. While the Black Widow became disillusioned with her KGB masters and defected to the United States, the Red Guardian remained loyal and became more ruthless and vindictive. The Red Guardian battled the Avengers
with his Chinese ally Colonel Ling, to protect a Communist Chinese secret weapon located at a secret military base at an unrevealed location in the People's Republic of China, encountering the Black Widow and Captain America
. When the Black Widow noticed "something familiar" about him, he revealed his identity to her. He was shot and mortally wounded minutes later by Colonel Ling while saving the lives of the Black Widow and Captain America. He was buried under molten lava when the laser blast caused the eruption of a long-dormant volcano.
Some time later, an LMD
was patterned after Shostakov. It was destroyed in its first battle with the Black Widow.
Shostakov was much 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.
. Created by Steve Gerber
and Sal Buscema
, she first appeared in Defenders # 35 (May 1976).
and Kieron Dwyer
.
The character subsequently appears in Avengers #319-324 (July–October 1990), Incredible Hulk #393 (May 1992), and Soviet Super-Soldiers #1 (November 1992). The character subsequently appears as the Steel Guardian in Iron Man #9 (October 1998).
Red Guardian appeared as part of the "Supreme Soviets" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
#7.
. Alongside the Supreme Soviets, he attacked the Soviet Super-Soldiers
for defecting from the Soviet Union. Alongside Captain America, he later battled a bear-like creature composed of the Darkforce
. The Supreme Soviets later became known as the People's Protectorate. Alongside the People's Protectorate, he teamed with the Avengers
and Alpha Flight
to battle the Peace Corpse, the Atlantean
Army, and the Combine. Petkus later joined post-Soviet Russia
n super-team the Winter Guard
, now calling himself the Steel Guardian. While fighting off Dire Wraiths, he is killed in the line of duty.
The name "Krassno Granitsky" comes from the James Bond
novel, From Russia With Love; it is the Russianized name of the assassin Donovan "Red" Grant.
's Captain America, where he was executed by Aleksander Lukin
. The identity of this Red Guardian has not been revealed.
's Hulk
series as a member of the Winter Guard. Anton claims to be an engineer and a former Crimson Dynamo pilot, and was later revealed to be (at least partially) a Life Model Decoy
.
He was decapitated by a Dire Wraith
, although his head was kept in storage, seemingly still alive.
powers or abilities, with the exception of Tania Belinsky after her mutation by the Presence, the Ultimate version, and the seventh Red Guardian. All are highly skilled athletes. Shostakov was an expert pilot. 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 "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 powers and abilities of the seventh Red Guardian have not yet been fully revealed, though he is an expert engineer, former Crimson Dynamo pilot, and has some degree of enhanced cybernetic strength.
The character of the Colonel, leader of Liberators - while not distinctly based on the Red Guardian, is a character intended as a parallel to Captain America - wears a predominantly red costume and was transformed into a super-soldier by Russian scientists.
, Black Widow mentions to Punisher
that she'll take the "Red Guardian", a stolen Russian freighter, while he takes the "Igor Baltivsky". The connection (if any) to the any of the previous Red Guardians is unconfirmed.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. The Red Guardian is an identity that was created as the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
equivalent of Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
; since the fall of the Soviet Union, the name is no longer officially used, though at least two people have claimed the name.
Aleksey Lebedev
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 alongside Captain America (William Naslund)Spirit of '76 (comics)
The Spirit of '76 is the name of two fictional comic book characters, one each from Harvey Comics and Marvel Comics.-Harvey Comics:The first comics character by this name is a patriotic superhero created by writer Gary Blakey and artist Bob Powell in Harvey's Pocket Comics #1...
and the Sub-Mariner at the Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
The Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany, from 16 July to 2 August 1945. Participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
, in July, 1945. He began his career during World War II and met the All-Winners Squad
All-Winners Squad
The All-Winners Squad is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics universe. The company's first such team, it first appeared in All Winners Comics #19 , published by Marvel predecessor Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books.While the comic-book...
(formerly the Invaders
Invaders (comics)
The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the . The original team was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema in The Avengers #71 . A present-day incarnation was introduced by writer Chuck Austen and artist Scott Kolins in The Avengers vol...
) on only one recorded occasion, shortly after the war's end. Like the other crusaders of the same name, he was created as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America. His costume differed markedly from those of his successors.
He was later apparently killed during the purges of the 1950s, opposing the brutal experiments that would later create his successor.
Alexei Shostakov
This was the first character named Red Guardian, and was created by Roy ThomasRoy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and John Buscema
John Buscema
John Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate...
.
Fictional character biography
Alexei Alanovich Shostakov was born in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and was the husband of Natasha Romanova. Both he and his wife became agents of the Soviets: she became the Black Widow, while he became a test pilot and KGB agent, and then trained as a Soviet counterpart to Captain America as the Red Guardian.
Alexei Shostakov was one of the Soviet Union's most acclaimed pilots. During World War II on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, he shot down a large number of Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter planes in aerial battles and was credited for helping the Soviet Air Force
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
win air supremacy over the skies of Stalingrad and Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
. Because of his extraordinary skill, Shostakov was chosen for the most secret and dangerous tests and new aircraft for the Soviet Union. This included being the first pilot to test fly the Mig 15. The Soviet state controlled news media greatly publicized this and certain other missions of his such as his aerial battles against the USAF over MiG Alley
MiG Alley
"MIG Alley" is the name given by U.S. Air Force pilots to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. During the Korean War, it was the site of numerous dogfights between U.S. fighter jets and those of the Communist forces, particularly the Soviet...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. As a result, Shostakov was decorated as a hero of the Soviet Union. Shostakov was also successful in his private life, having married the equally famous ballerina Natalie (familiarly known as Natasha) Romanova.
As the Cold War flared up in the 1950s, Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev realized that the Soviet Union needed its own equivalent to Captain America. Nikita Kruschev chose Alexi Shostakov over Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961....
who would later become the first man in space. The KGB faked his death and trained him in secret, keeping his survival a secret from Natasha. He became a master of hand-to-hand combat and an expert athlete. In addition, he carried a throwing disc on his belt which could be used against an opponent. Magnetic force returned the disc after throwing. The disc had the yellow hammer and sickle symbol on it and his costume was red with a star on his chest to symbolise the Soviet flag. While the Black Widow became disillusioned with her KGB masters and defected to the United States, the Red Guardian remained loyal and became more ruthless and vindictive. The Red Guardian battled the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
with his Chinese ally Colonel Ling, to protect a Communist Chinese secret weapon located at a secret military base at an unrevealed location in the People's Republic of China, encountering the Black Widow and Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
. When the Black Widow noticed "something familiar" about him, he revealed his identity to her. He was shot and mortally wounded minutes later by Colonel Ling while saving the lives of the Black Widow and Captain America. He was buried under molten lava when the laser blast caused the eruption of a long-dormant volcano.
Some time later, an LMD
Life Model Decoy
A Life Model Decoy is fictional android appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is designed to function as an exact body double for VIPs...
was patterned after Shostakov. It was destroyed in its first battle with the Black Widow.
Shostakov was much later revealed to be alive and had risen very high up in power within Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. 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
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
and the Avengers.
Dr. Tania Belinsky
Dr. Tania Belinsky, a neurosurgeon from the USSR, later adopted the costumed identity of the Red Guardian and joined the DefendersDefenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
. Created by Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
and Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema
Silvio "Sal" Buscema is an American comic book artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk...
, she first appeared in Defenders # 35 (May 1976).
Josef Petkus
Publication history
Red Guardian first appeared in Captain America #352-353 (April–May 1989), and was created by Mark GruenwaldMark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
and Kieron Dwyer
Kieron Dwyer
Kieron Dwyer is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Dwyer is best known for his work on Captain America vol. 1 , Danger Unlimited , Action Comics , Avengers Kieron Dwyer (born March 6, 1967) is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Dwyer is best known for his...
.
The character subsequently appears in Avengers #319-324 (July–October 1990), Incredible Hulk #393 (May 1992), and Soviet Super-Soldiers #1 (November 1992). The character subsequently appears as the Steel Guardian in Iron Man #9 (October 1998).
Red Guardian appeared as part of the "Supreme Soviets" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#7.
Fictional character biography
The fourth Red Guardian, Josef Petkus, was a special operative for the intelligence agencies of the Soviet Union, and appeared as a member of the militant Supreme SovietsSupreme Soviets
-Fictional team history:The Supreme Soviets is a fictional team of Russian superheroes in the Marvel Universe. This team of costumed champions operated under the supervision of the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics...
. Alongside the Supreme Soviets, he attacked the Soviet Super-Soldiers
Soviet Super-Soldiers
The Soviet Super-Soldiers are a fictional super team in the Marvel Comics universe.-History:The Soviet Super-Soldiers were a superteam that was brought together by the Soviet government of Russia to be the counterpart of American teams like the Avengers and Fantastic Four. Professor Phobos founded...
for defecting from the Soviet Union. Alongside Captain America, he later battled a bear-like creature composed of the Darkforce
Darkforce
-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
. The Supreme Soviets later became known as the People's Protectorate. Alongside the People's Protectorate, he teamed with the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
and Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
to battle the Peace Corpse, the Atlantean
Homo mermanus
Homo mermanus is a fictional race of gilled aquatic humanoids that has appeared in numerous comic book series published by Marvel Comics. This race is best known as the people who live in the Atlantis of Marvel's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe...
Army, and the Combine. Petkus later joined post-Soviet Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n super-team the Winter Guard
Winter Guard
The Winter Guard is a fictional team of Russian superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe.The Winter Guard are noted for being "Russia's answer to the Avengers",.. Several members of the group formerly belonged to the Soviet Super-Soldiers, the People's Protectorate and the Supreme Soviets...
, now calling himself the Steel Guardian. While fighting off Dire Wraiths, he is killed in the line of duty.
Krassno Granitsky
Another Red Guardian, named Krassno Granitsky, appeared in Maverick # 10. He teamed up with the mercenary superhero Maverick to battle a crime lord.The name "Krassno Granitsky" comes from the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novel, From Russia With Love; it is the Russianized name of the assassin Donovan "Red" Grant.
The sixth Red Guardian
A Red Guardian appeared in the first issue of Ed BrubakerEd Brubaker
Ed Brubaker is an Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and cartoonist. Brubaker first early comics work was primarily in the crime fiction genre with works such as Lowlife, The Fall, Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives and Scene of the Crime...
's Captain America, where he was executed by Aleksander Lukin
Aleksander Lukin
Aleksander Lukin is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who exists in the Marvel Universe. He first appeared in Captain America #1, and was created by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.-Fictional character biography:...
. The identity of this Red Guardian has not been revealed.
Anton
The seventh Red Guardian, Anton, made his first appearance in the first issue of Jeph LoebJeph Loeb
Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, writer for the films Commando and Teen Wolf and was a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the NBC TV show Heroes from its...
's Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
series as a member of the Winter Guard. Anton claims to be an engineer and a former Crimson Dynamo pilot, and was later revealed to be (at least partially) a Life Model Decoy
Life Model Decoy
A Life Model Decoy is fictional android appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is designed to function as an exact body double for VIPs...
.
He was decapitated by a Dire Wraith
Dire Wraith
The Dire Wraiths are a fictional extraterrestrial species published by Marvel Comics. The Dire Wraiths first appeared in Rom #1 , and were created by Bill Mantlo and Al Milgrom. The Dire Wraiths are the main opponents of Rom the Spaceknight....
, although his head was kept in storage, seemingly still alive.
Powers and abilities
None of the Red Guardians have been revealed to possess superhumanSuperhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
powers or abilities, with the exception of Tania Belinsky after her mutation by the Presence, the Ultimate version, and the seventh Red Guardian. All are highly skilled athletes. Shostakov was an expert pilot. All of the Guardians but Alexei and Tania have used a steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
shield
Shield
A shield is a type of personal armor, meant to intercept attacks, either by stopping projectiles such as arrows or redirecting a hit from a sword, mace or battle axe to the side of the shield-bearer....
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
Buckle
The buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Usually overlooked and taken for granted, the invention of the buckle has been indispensable in securing two ends before the invention of...
. The powers and abilities of the seventh Red Guardian have not yet been fully revealed, though he is an expert engineer, former Crimson Dynamo pilot, and has some degree of enhanced cybernetic strength.
Marvel Zombies
A Red Guardian is seen as one of the many zombies roaming New York looking for victims.Ultimate Red Guardian
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 and uses a makeshift shield created partially from human remains, and possesses superhuman strength and durability.The character of the Colonel, leader of Liberators - while not distinctly based on the Red Guardian, is a character intended as a parallel to Captain America - wears a predominantly red costume and was transformed into a super-soldier by Russian scientists.
Video games
In The Punisher 2005 video gameThe Punisher (2005 video game)
The Punisher is a 2005 action game which stars the Marvel Comics antihero, The Punisher. After his family was murdered by the mafia, Frank Castle devoted his life to the punishment of criminals. Players take control of the vigilante hero to track down criminals and kill them...
, Black Widow mentions to Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
that she'll take the "Red Guardian", a stolen Russian freighter, while he takes the "Igor Baltivsky". The connection (if any) to the any of the previous Red Guardians is unconfirmed.