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Alexei Alanovich Shostakov (Russian: Алексей Андреевич Шостаков) is a super soldier known as Red Guardian (Russian: Красный страж) is one of the titular two main protagonists (alongside Winter Soldier) of the What If...? episode "What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?"
He is a dim and patriotic soldier for the villainous organization known as the Red Room. In 1991, he traveled to the United States to stop the Winter Soldier from killing Howard and Maria Stark, feeling he was unworthy of the mission.
He was voiced by David Harbour, who also portrayed Paul Devildis in Law & Order: Criminal, District Attorney Frank Scanlon in The Green Hornet, Gregg Beam in Quantum of Solace, Jay Carlin in Law & Order, Terry Jessup in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Ray in A Walk Among the Tombstones and Eric Frankenstein in Creature Commandos.
Personality[]
Alexei is not a very intelligent man. He uses his brute strength to solve problems and it not one for complex thoughts. He also embodies the typical depiction of a Communist. He aggressively anti-Capitalist and encourages people to remove themselves break free from it. He has great pride in his Russian origin, and was deeply offended that Winter Soldier was sent to kill the Starks, as he was not technically a Russian. While he is a villain, he doesn't want to outright kill his enemies, preferring to "dance" with them.
Like Winter Soldier, there is also a human side to Alexei. He is kind to most people he meets and genuinely believes that Capitalism is an evil that must be destroyed. He also forms a deep friendship with Winter Soldier, who's perhaps the only friend Alexei has ever had. He is also insecure deep down, as he only became the Red Guardian because he believed that he would have never amounted to anything otherwise.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Genetic augmentation by Super Serum: A volunteer in the Red Room program, Alexei was injected with the Russian-created Super-Serum, increasing his physical abilities far above the human peak, making him a Super-Soldier.
- Superhuman strength: Alexei is much stronger than an ordinary human, and at least as strong as his fellow Super-Soldier, Winter Soldier. He was able to make a giant like Goliath flabbergast by throwing his shield at his face. His physical strength was also in his legs, allowing him to jump about ten meters high. When Goliath tried to punch him in giant form, Alexei was able to block his vertical punch using his shield, albeit with great effort.
- Superhuman durability: Alexei survived the car crash into a canyon with only a bruise on his forehead. Earlier, he fought Winter Soldier and escaped with no serious injuries despite his opponent being a seasoned killer.
- Superhuman stamina: Alexei was able to chase both the Stark car and the Winter Soldier's motorcycle without losing ground or showing fatigue after the chase.
- Enhanced reflexes: Although he is very slow to react, Alexei possesses superhuman reflexes, capable of disarming Winter Soldier on sight.
- Accelerated Healing Factor: Alexei heals faster than an ordinary human.
- Longevity: Alexei is aging at a slower rate, having not changed physically from 1991 to 2012.
- Skilled fighter: Although slow and sometimes clumsy, Alexei is a skilled enough fighter to match even the more skilled and experienced Winter Soldier. He specializes in shield fighting.
History[]
Alexei grew up in a modest home in Russia. He loved his family but felt that he would never accomplish anything. Thus, he joined the Red Room and became Russia's first super soldier.
In 1991, the Red Room's leader, General Dreykov, told the Red Guardian to go undercover in Ohio, something Alexei saw as a waste of his talents. He also told Alexei about Hydra's plan to send the Winter Soldier to assassinate Howard and Maria Stark. Furious that a Winter Soldier was getting a better mission than him, Alexei went to America to confront the assassin.
Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier fought, and the authorities arrived on the scene before Winter Soldier could kill the Starks. The pair fled to a nearby restaurant, where they stole a car. The reluctant duo planned on driving to Las Vegas to find Rook, the main who ordered Hydra to kill the Starks, though they first had to get across a barricade set up by S.H.E.I.L.D. Alexei attempted to charm Bill Foster, the head of the science division, though Winter Soldier tried to shoot Foster, resulting in a carchase. Winter Soldier tries to take down their opponents but Alexei tries to move the car to prevent it from causing any casualties. Quickly chased by a giant Foster thanks to his Goliath costume, Alexei switches his driver's seat and confronts Goliath head-on by jumping on his face until the giant falls to the ground. Alas, the chase ends with the two super-soldiers falling into a canyon.
Luckily, the duo survive and escape the crash site, taking refuge in a veterinary clinic. While tending to the bullet wound Winter Soldier sustained in the chase, Alexei begins to recount the reason he became the Red Guardian; because he came from nowhere and because he was nobody. He then tried to help Winter Soldier recover his lost memories, bringing back an image of Coney Island that Alexei misinterprets. With a more amicable atmosphere established, Alexei leaves to find another car.
Arriving in Las Vegas, the duo, dressed in their uniforms, enter the hotel where Rook is staying. They eventually meet the undercover agent who turns out to be Obadiah Stane, a jealous colleague of Howard Stark. Stane is confused by their presence, even more so when Alexei starts ranting about the overthrow of American capitalism. Once Winter Soldier explains that their mission has been compromised and that they need him to return to Russia, Stane reveals that he is not involved with Russia, having only exchanged information on Howard Stark's super-serum in exchange for his elimination, the failure of which he severely blames on the incompetence of Red Guardian and Winter Soldier. Alexei is distraught, realizing that he has been working for American capitalism all along, to which Stane lectures him on the importance of capitalism as a system that works to allow everyone to enjoy life, just like everywhere else. Stane then prepares to execute the duo so that no one can trace him, only for Winter Soldier to deflect the bullets meant for Alexei and throw Alexei's shield at Stane, throwing the American out the window and killing him. As Alexei laments how Stane was right about their superiors not caring about them, Winter Soldier retorts that Alexei is a good man after all. The police later arrive in the hotel's parking lot, just as the Red Room forces confront the duo, forcing them to jump out the window.
Pursued once again, Red Guardian and Winter Soldier flee through the streets of Las Vegas, managing to take Goliath down with their combined forces, but soon find themselves cornered in a building under construction where the Red Room ambushes them. Cornered, the two super soldiers receive another call, this time a reprimand for Winter Soldier since he disobeyed Dreykov's order to kill Alexei, causing Winter Soldier to break the phone while Alexei destroys the last bag of super-serum. One of Winter Soldier's direct superiors, Vasily Karpov, arrives and begins to recite the words of indoctrination to regain control of Winter Soldier. Alexei's influence prevents the programming from succeeding, Winter Soldier remains in control of himself. The two friends then throw themselves body and soul into the battle with the Red Room and Goliath's forces.
Although Winter Soldier is captured by the Red Room, Alexei manages to escape. Afterwards, he remains in America and becomes a sports teacher. Foster is soon to meet him again, returning his shield that he had lost during his escape. Initially believing that Foster has come to stop him, Alexei is further surprised by Foster's offer of recruitment, which Alexei cannot name.
Years later, when the Chitauri attack New York, Red Guardian is present as a member of the Avengers to combat the alien menace.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Red Room (formerly)
- General Dreykov
- Winter Soldier
- Avengers
- Captain America
- Iron Man
- Thor
- Black Widow
- Hulk
- Hawkeye
Enemies[]
- Red Room
- General Dreykov (archenemy)
- Winter Soldier (formerly)
- Hydra
- Rook
- S.H.E.I.L.D. (formerly)
- Goliath
- Ranger Morales
Quotes[]
“ | These fries are pretty good. They must be made from Russian potatoes. Ha! Russia's the best. | „ |
~ Alexei eating fries. |
“ | Alexei: The most recent communiqué has him in Last Vey-gas. Winter Soldier: It's Las Vegas. Alexei: That's what I said. It's very rude to correct my English. Obviously, they forgot to program any manners into you. |
„ |
~ Alexei to Winter Soldier about Rook. |
“ | Winter Soldier: I think I murdered that guy. I'm sorry. Red Guardian: He was not a nice man. |
„ |
~ Red Guardian to Winter Soldier, after Rook's death. |
Trivia[]
- Unlike his main counterpart, Alexei does not have a beard and is physically in peak physical condition due to not having been imprisoned for years. He is also not the adoptive father of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova nor the husband of Melina Vostokoff, due to having refused the cover mission.
- He is convinced that Russia won the Second World War and that the Americans only helped them to win.
External Links[]
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Comics Television See Also |