Meet the Winter Guard, Russia's National Super Hero Team

From the Agents of Atlas to Alpha Flight, the Marvel Universe is home to various super hero teams that exist to defend national and regional interests. In Russia, the government formed the Winter Guard to advance and defend its national agenda, both domestically and abroad.

The national Russian super hero team consists of several members who share contentious histories with Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Some of these old feuds between the Winter Guard and their non-Russian rivals still endure to this day.

While the Winter Guard features a rotating roster, not unlike the Avengers, several heroes have remained as staples on the team across its extensive history. Here’s everything you need to know about the Winter Guard and each of its principal team members. 

WHO ARE THE WINTER GUARD?

Originally known as the Soviet Super Soldiers, the Winter Guard made its debut in INCREDIBLE HULK (1962) #258 when the Hulk found himself in an irradiated territory within Russia. The Soviet government formed the ensemble as a countermeasure against the Avengers.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the team rebranded as the Winter Guard and reintroduced themselves in IRON MAN (1998) #9. One of their first missions involved assisting the Russian military in battling mercenaries hired by the Mandarin. During this encounter, the Winter Guard and Iron Man set aside their differences to take on a mutual enemy as tensions eased after the Cold War.

In the wake of the Abomination's murder, a new Winter Guard formed in HULK (2008) #1, which saw revisions to its usual lineup. Since then, the Winter Guard has alternated between friend and foe to the American-based heroes of the Marvel Universe, notably lending valuable assistance during SECRET INVASION (2008) and MONSTERS UNLEASHED (2017).

The most recent iteration of the Winter Guard assembled in AVENGERS (2018) #10, initially as direct rivals to the Avengers, before the two groups tentatively became frenemies in the face of a mutual threat. 

CRIMSON DYNAMO

The Crimson Dynamo frequently rivaled and faced off against Tony Stark's Iron Man. Over the years, several individuals took on the moniker and scarlet armored suit of the Crimson Dynamo, starting with Anton Vanko.

However, the first Crimson Dynamo to join the Russian-sponsored super-team was the fifth person to don the armor: Dimitri Bukharin. Debuting in IRON MAN (1968) #109, Dimitri started out as Iron Man’s bitter enemy before extending his feud to other American super heroes, like the Fantastic Four.

Despite his contentious relationships with American heroes, Dimitri’s loyalties to the Russian government often came into question. The military subsequently alternated between confiscating and relinquishing the Crimson Dynamo armor to him depending on his perceived allegiance.

Several people temporarily followed in Dimitri’s footsteps and served as the Crimson Dynamo on the Winter Guard. Though Dimitri retired, his old teammates on the Winter Guard eventually  convinced him to return as the team’s Crimson Dynamo. 

RED GUARDIAN

Russia found its answer to Captain America in the Red Guardian. Similarly to Crimson Dynamo, the mantle of Red Guardian originated during the Cold War. While the first Red Guardian, Aleksey Lebedev, fought alongside Captain America and the Invaders against the Axis Powers in World War II, subsequent characters under this costumed alias had a more complicated relationship with non-Russian heroes.  
 
The first modern Red Guardian, Alexei Shostakov, appeared as an adversary to the Avengers in AVENGERS (1963) #43. However, his allegiance to Russia shifted over time. He briefly married Natasha Romanoff and later opposed the Winter Guard in WINTER GUARD (2021).

The first Red Guardian on Russia’s super hero team was Josef Petkus, introduced in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #352. When political changes swept through Russia, he rebranded himself as the Steel Guardian.  
 
A second Red Guardian, known simply under his civilian name Anton, joined the Winter Guard to take on a super-powered team led by Jennifer Walters in SHE-HULK (2005) #35.

Eventually, the Russian hero formerly known as Vanguard, Nikolai Kyrylenko, claimed the mantle of Red Guardian in DARKSTAR AND THE WINTER GUARD (2010), remaining an active member of the team in this new capacity.

RED WIDOW

Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova were not the only superspies trained by the Red Room. The Soviet program produced many fearsome agents, with the mysterious Red Widow among the black ops program’s most ruthless trainees. In addition to her rigorous combat and espionage training, the Red Widow also received a version of the Super-Soldier Serum that significantly enhanced her physical abilities to superhuman levels.

Though Crimson Dynamo serves as the Winter Guard’s field leader, Red Widow secretly leads the team from behind the scenes with her contacts within the Russian government.

The Red Widow absolutely trusts the Russian government, willing to sacrifice herself and her teammates for her country. She once destroyed one of her arms to escape Avengers custody.

When She-Hulk and Namor rampaged through Moscow, Red Widow developed a special animosity towards them both. She consequently plotted to destroy Atlantis and frame She-Hulk for the incident. With her plans exposed in AVENGERS (2018) #50, Red Widow was labeled a traitor and went on the run before quietly working her way back into Russia's good graces.  

DARKSTAR

Over the years, three different people used the Darkstar moniker while on the Winter Guard. Each of these individuals wielded the powerful energies of the Darkforce Dimension. 
 
The first Darkstar was Laynia Petrovna, introduced in CHAMPIONS (1975) #7 as a Soviet agent dispatched to bring Black Widow back to Russia. She later joined Russia's super hero team after a failed defection attempt. When Fantomex killed a possessed Laynia in NEW X-MEN (2001) #130, Sasha Roerich became the new Darkstar.

Sasha’s tenure as Darkstar was tragically short. When Sasha lost control of her Darkforce energy, the Red Guardian killed her in HULK: WINTER GUARD (2009) #1. In the same issue, Reena Stanicoff replaced Sasha as the new Darkstar, only to be killed by a Dire Wraith shortly thereafter.

In DARKSTAR AND THE WINTER GUARD (2010) #3, the original Darkstar returned, with Laynia reclaiming her super hero mantle and place on the Winter Guard.

URSA MAJOR

Born as Mikhail Ursus, Ursa Major is a mutant whose unique powers let him transform into an anthropomorphic bear with superhuman strength and speed, as well as an accelerated healing factor. With these abilities, Ursa Major single-handedly took on foes like the Hulk, giving the Jade Giant a hairy run for his money.

As a founding member of the Winter Guard, Ursa Major’s tenure on the team extends back to when it operated under its original name, the Soviet Super Soldiers. Despite his good standing with the Russian military, the government temporarily incarcerated Ursa Major on doctored charges of treason, only offering him a full pardon if he agreed to serve on the reformed Winter Guard. 

Throughout his history, Ursa Major fought everyone from the X-Men to the Avengers, usually alongside the Winter Guard. He developed a particular animosity towards Black Panther over the years. After rejecting orders from Red Widow, Ursa Major was nearly killed in AVENGERS (2018) #46, but eventually recovered from his grievous injuries and rejoined the team. 

VOSTOK

When a Soviet scientist named Anatoly accidentally got caught in an industrial accident, he permanently merged with an alien device. His body transformed into a synthesis of organic and technological matter.

Taking on the codename Vostok, the synthetic being was tasked with ensuring that superhumans within the Soviet bloc did not defect to other countries, especially the United States, in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #352.

Vostok enforced this directive with his augmented speed and strength, as well as his ability to phase through solid matter and temporarily transform himself into liquid metal. His new powers also granted him the ability to interface with electronic devices remotely.

As part of the reformed Winter Guard, Vostok apprehended She-Hulk when she and Namor wrecked significant parts of Moscow in AVENGERS (2018) #44. After gaining access to Avengers Mountain due to the traitorous Gorilla-Man, Vostok subdued She-Hulk by overwhelming her with liquid metal.

This victory proved to be short-lived, however. When her captors attempted to brainwash her into joining their cause, She-Hulk destroyed Vostok and escaped custody in AVENGERS (2018) #47.  

CHERNOBOG

Just like the Avengers had deities such as Thor and Hercules among their ranks, several Slavic demigods joined the Winter Guard. One such deity was Chernobog, the Slavic God of Chaos and Darkness, who fought alongside Perun to defend their pantheon for millennia.

Introduced in INCREDIBLE HULKS (2010) #621, Chernobog preyed on tourists disrespecting Russia, by draining their life force to regain his strength and recover from his weakened state. In addition to absorbing souls, Chernog can manipulate Darkforce energy, making him especially dangerous.

When the Russian government revamped the Winter Guard in the face of renewed tensions with the Avengers, they recruited both Chernobog and Perun as new members. The old rivalry between Chernobog and Perun reignited, with both the demigods looking to outdo the other in the battlefield. 

PERUN

Alongside Chernobog, Perun is the other Slavic deity among the Winter Guard. As the Slavic God of Thunder, he serves a role on the team not dissimilar to Thor’s on the Avengers.

Perun’s powers and abilities largely align with Thor’s, including the ability to summon lightning and control the weather. Though Perun occasionally uses war hammers, he prefers to wield a battle axe in combat.

Perun and Chernobog fought side by side for millennia, from ancient conflicts in the region to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. When Perun resurfaced in the modern era in CAPTAIN AMERICA (1968) #352, he worked in service to the Russian government, sharing their hostility towards the Avengers.

Though one of the strongest members of the Winter Guard, Perun was reckless by nature and his tumultuous rivalry with Chernobog made him something of a wildcard on the team.

Catch up with the Winter Guard as they enforce Doctor Doom's global rule in IRON MAN (2024) #6 by Spencer Ackerman and Julius Ohta, available now. 

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