Winter Guard
Encyclopedia
The Winter Guard is a fictional team of Russian superhero
es 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
. 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
, Crimson Dynamo
, and Red Guardian
.
run of Iron Man, where they had several guest appearances. They would later appear in Busiek's stint on the Avengers.
The team made infrequent appearance in the Marvel Universe until Jeph Loeb brought them to attention in Hulk #1. The Winter Guard soon appeared in She-Hulk and War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD.
David Gallaher brought the team back in Hulk: Winter Guard which first appeared as a Marvel Digital Comic
and was later reprinted as a comic book
. Gallaher returned to writing the team with a 3-issue limited series called Darkstar and the Winter Guard in 2010.
".
Whilst investigating the murder of the Abomination
, a Russian supervillan, Doc Samson
, She-Hulk
and Thunderbolt Ross
encounter the revitalized Winter Guard, consisting of Ursa Major, Red Guardian, Darkstar and the Crimson Dynamo. When She-Hulk points out that Darkstar and Red Guardian were dead, Iron Man tells her that they were replaced with new people. It is unknown if the other members of the team are new as well. After teaming up with War Machine
to fight the Skrulls, the team was later seen clashing with She-Hulk
and the Lady Liberators - and again with The Presence
and Igor Drenkov
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 Winter Guard are noted for being "Russia's answer to 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...
",.. Several members of the group formerly belonged to 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...
, the People's Protectorate and the Supreme Soviets
Supreme 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...
. 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
Darkstar (comics)
Darkstar is a fictional character, a mutant superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. She has been a member of various super-teams in her career, including X-Corporation and Champions of Los Angeles.-Fictional character biography:...
, Crimson Dynamo
Crimson Dynamo
The Crimson Dynamo is the name of several fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe, most of whom have been supervillains. The various Crimson Dynamos have been powered armor-wearing Russian or Soviet agents who have clashed with the superhero Iron Man over the course of his heroic career...
, and Red Guardian
Red Guardian
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 is no longer officially used, though at least two people have...
.
Publication history
The Winter Guard first appeared during the Kurt BusiekKurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
run of Iron Man, where they had several guest appearances. They would later appear in Busiek's stint on the Avengers.
The team made infrequent appearance in the Marvel Universe until Jeph Loeb brought them to attention in Hulk #1. The Winter Guard soon appeared in She-Hulk and War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD.
David Gallaher brought the team back in Hulk: Winter Guard which first appeared as a Marvel Digital Comic
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is an online service by Marvel Comics which distributes past issues of their comics via the Internet. Launching on November 13, 2007, the service has thousands of issues in its archive.-History:...
and was later reprinted as a comic book
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...
. Gallaher returned to writing the team with a 3-issue limited series called Darkstar and the Winter Guard in 2010.
Fictional team history
The Winter Guard made their debut in Iron Man vol. 3, #9, and fought alongside the Avengers during both the "Maximum Security" crossover and the "Kang WarKang Dynasty
"Kang Dynasty", sometimes called "Kang War", was a 16 part comic book storyline which ran through Avengers #41 - 55 and Avengers Annual 2001 between June, 2001 and August, 2002. It was written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by a number of artists including Alan Davis, Kieron Dwyer, Ivan Reis and...
".
Whilst investigating the murder of the Abomination
Abomination (comics)
The Abomination is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, a Russian supervillan, Doc Samson
Doc Samson
Doc Samson is a fictional character, a superhero and psychiatrist in the Marvel Comics universe, known as a supporting character in stories featuring the Hulk.-Publication history:...
, She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
and Thunderbolt Ross
Thunderbolt Ross
General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross is a fictional character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually as an adversary of the Hulk, sometimes as a supervillain. Ross is a United States military officer, the father of Betty Ross, ex-father in-law of Glenn Talbot and the father in-law...
encounter the revitalized Winter Guard, consisting of Ursa Major, Red Guardian, Darkstar and the Crimson Dynamo. When She-Hulk points out that Darkstar and Red Guardian were dead, Iron Man tells her that they were replaced with new people. It is unknown if the other members of the team are new as well. After teaming up with War Machine
War Machine
War Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
to fight the Skrulls, the team was later seen clashing with She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
and the Lady Liberators - and again with The Presence
Presence (Marvel Comics)
Sergei Krylov is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Fictional character biography:As a younger man, Sergei was a Russian nuclear physicist born in Minsk, U.S.S.R...
and Igor Drenkov
Members
Their current membership is:- Ursa MajorUrsa Major (comics)Ursa Major is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics universe, and a former member of the Soviet Super-Soldiers...
- A mutant who can transform into a giant bear - Crimson DynamoCrimson DynamoThe Crimson Dynamo is the name of several fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe, most of whom have been supervillains. The various Crimson Dynamos have been powered armor-wearing Russian or Soviet agents who have clashed with the superhero Iron Man over the course of his heroic career...
V - Russia's answer to the Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
armor. - DarkstarDarkstar (comics)Darkstar is a fictional character, a mutant superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. She has been a member of various super-teams in her career, including X-Corporation and Champions of Los Angeles.-Fictional character biography:...
- Laynia Petrovna, a mutant who can draw power from the DarkforceDarkforce-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...
Dimension. She has died once and was later resurrected. - Vanguard - A mutant with the power to reflect energy at his attackers. The original Darkstar's brother, he has also died once already and was later resurrected.
Previous members
- DarkstarDarkstar (comics)Darkstar is a fictional character, a mutant superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. She has been a member of various super-teams in her career, including X-Corporation and Champions of Los Angeles.-Fictional character biography:...
II - Sasha Roerich, a red-haired & short-lived replacement for Petrovna who was bestowed Darkstar's power. - DarkstarDarkstar (comics)Darkstar is a fictional character, a mutant superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. She has been a member of various super-teams in her career, including X-Corporation and Champions of Los Angeles.-Fictional character biography:...
III - Reena Stancioff, who was killed by a Dire Wraith - Steel GuardianRed GuardianThe 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 is no longer officially used, though at least two people have...
- Russia's counterpart to Captain AmericaCaptain AmericaCaptain 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...
. The third Red Guardian (Josef Petkus) briefly used the name Steel Guardian. - FantasmaFantasia (comics)Fantasia is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She is a Russian soldier with super-powers.-Publication history:Fantasia first appeared in Captain America #352-353 , and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Kieron Dwyer....
- A sorceress and illusion-caster. Also known as Fantasia. Revealed to be a Dire Wraith. - Powersurge - A nuclear-fueled giant, who sacrificed his life to destroy the Russian supervillain, The PresencePresence (Marvel Comics)Sergei Krylov is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Fictional character biography:As a younger man, Sergei was a Russian nuclear physicist born in Minsk, U.S.S.R...
- SibercatSibercatSibercat is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in X-Factor Annual vol...
- A ferocious feline mutant. - Vostok - A robot with the power to control machines. Also known as SputnikSputnik (comics)Sputnik is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Sputnik first appeared in Captain America #352-353 , and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Kieron Dwyer....
. - Crimson DynamoCrimson DynamoThe Crimson Dynamo is the name of several fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe, most of whom have been supervillains. The various Crimson Dynamos have been powered armor-wearing Russian or Soviet agents who have clashed with the superhero Iron Man over the course of his heroic career...
XIII - The identity formerly worn by Galina Nemirovsky.
Video games
- The Winter Guard is mentioned in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. In the briefing that follows the Wakanda incident, Captain America and Iron Man mention that the Winter Guard has been absorbed into The Fold.
External links
- Winter Guard at the Marvel Universe
- Winter Guard at the Marvel Database Project