Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Winter Guard
open-in-new
<h2 id="publication-history">Publication history</h2> <p>The Winter Guard first appeared during the <a href="/facts/Kurt_Busiek/xXHEQIyx">Kurt Busiek</a> run of <i><a href="/facts/Iron_Man_(comic_book)/ly5ao6A8">Iron Man</a></i> in (vol. 2) #9 (October 1998), where they had several guest appearances.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> They would later appear in Busiek's stint on the <i>Avengers</i>. </p><p>The team made infrequent appearances in the Marvel Universe before being featured in <a href="/facts/Jeph_Loeb/gfDD7RYp">Jeph Loeb</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/The_Incredible_Hulk_(comic_book)/JzMjFaHg">Hulk</a></i> (vol. 2). The Winter Guard soon appeared in <i>She-Hulk</i> and <i>War Machine: Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D.</i>. </p><p><a href="/facts/David_Gallaher/xQk7lgbu">David Gallaher</a> brought the team back in <i>Hulk: Winter Guard</i> which first appeared as a <a href="/facts/Marvel_Digital_Comics_Unlimited/rsogkuun">Marvel Digital Comic</a> and was later reprinted as a <a href="/facts/Comic_book/xGFkPrMT">comic book</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> Gallaher returned to writing the team with a three-issue limited series called <i>Darkstar and the Winter Guard</i> in 2010.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="fictional-team-history">Fictional team history</h2> <p>The Winter Guard were originally known as the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Super_Soldiers/hBCcky5H">Soviet Super Soldiers</a> and appeared in various comics from the mid-1970s. That name lost meaning following the collapse of the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a> in 1992. The Winter Guard made their debut with that name in <i>Iron Man</i> (vol. 3) #9, and fought alongside the Avengers during the "<a href="/facts/Maximum_Security_(comics)/youzMB5u">Maximum Security</a>" and "<a href="/facts/Kang_Dynasty/wLrlXNGN">Kang Dynasty</a>" events.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Whilst investigating the murder of the <a href="/facts/Abomination_(character)/SHY5Hd8y">Abomination</a>, <a href="/facts/Doc_Samson/9SN9MeWr">Doc Samson</a>, <a href="/facts/She-Hulk/YNaPJNHT">She-Hulk</a>, and <a href="/facts/Thunderbolt_Ross/MaMQBIfh">Thunderbolt Ross</a> encounter the revitalized Winter Guard, consisting of Ursa Major, Red Guardian, Darkstar, and Crimson Dynamo.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>After teaming up with <a href="/facts/War_Machine/XUYDx4av">War Machine</a> to fight the <a href="/facts/Skrull/PnaQK9Ih">Skrulls</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> the team was later seen clashing with <a href="/facts/She-Hulk/YNaPJNHT">She-Hulk</a> and the <a href="/facts/Lady_Liberators/dQ5tYC0Y">Lady Liberators</a> – and again with <a href="/facts/Presence_(Marvel_Comics)/bVvu2Xd3">The Presence</a> and <a href="/facts/Igor_Drenkov/CyGhwHEu">Igor Drenkov</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> This version of the team uses an old <a href="/facts/Dire_Wraith/FqYpWwlu">Dire Wraith</a> ship as a headquarters.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> They were mentioned by <a href="/facts/Storm_(Marvel_Comics)/X6vMxoru">Storm</a> as possible back-up while <a href="/facts/Rachel_Summers/WryHvWeL">Rachel Summers</a> was investigating in <a href="/facts/Madripoor/apmyLWhK">Madripoor</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> The Winter Guard are apparently killed by the <a href="/facts/Intelligencia_(comics)/dj8WeRLY">Intelligencia</a>, but are later revealed to have survived.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> The Winter Guard is later reassembled with Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Darkstar, Vostok, <a href="/facts/Perun_(comics)/bzAQ1h8n">Perun</a>, <a href="/facts/Chernobog/6gR1HPGE">Chernobog</a>, and Red Widow.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="members">Members</h2> <p>Current members </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Ursa_Major_(character)/q2KCrR9G">Ursa Major</a> (Mikhail Ursus)– A <a href="/facts/Mutant_(Marvel_Comics)/lyqPWNgy">mutant</a> who can transform into a humanoid bear.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Crimson_Dynamo/bv8s3Xq9">Crimson Dynamo</a> (Dmitri Bukharin) – Russia's answer to the <a href="/facts/Iron_Man/tzonnpAd">Iron Man</a> armor. Bukharin is the current leader of the Winter Guard.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Darkstar_(Marvel_Comics)/rSIsK1yx">Darkstar</a> (Laynia Petrovna) – A mutant who can manipulate the <a href="/facts/Darkforce/XXTKqqUy">Darkforce</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Vanguard_(Marvel_Comics)/zTU6yox0">Red Guardian</a> (Nikolai Krylenko) – Also known as Vanguard, Krylenko formerly led the Winter Guard as Red Guardian.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> He is Darkstar's brother and possesses the mutant ability to generate force fields.</li> <li>Vostok – A robot who can manipulate other machines. Also known as Sputnik.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Chernobog/6gR1HPGE">Chernobog</a> - The Slavic god of chaos and the night.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Perun_(comics)/bzAQ1h8n">Perun</a> - The Slavic god of thunder and lightning.</li> <li>Red Widow - The product of the same <a href="/facts/Red_Room_(comics)/ezvt3eYf">Red Room</a> as <a href="/facts/Black_Widow_(Natasha_Romanova)/27NHeQBV">Black Widow</a>, Red Widow is the team's contact with the Russian government and has been known to overrule Crimson Dynamo's leadership on this basis.</li></ul> <h3>Previous members</h3> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Darkstar_(Marvel_Comics)/rSIsK1yx">Darkstar</a> (Sasha Roerich) – A short-lived replacement for Darkstar who was given her powers.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Darkstar_(Marvel_Comics)/rSIsK1yx">Darkstar</a> (Reena Stancioff) – The third Darkstar, who was killed by a Dire Wraith.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Red_Guardian/jLnobUnP">Steel Guardian</a> (Josef Petkus) – Russia's counterpart to <a href="/facts/Captain_America/RKUWvzYg">Captain America</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Fantasia_(comics)/mKwPK8xV">Fantasma</a> – A sorceress and illusion-caster. Also known as Fantasia. She is later revealed to be a Dire Wraith.</li> <li>Powersurge (Illarion Ramskov) – A nuclear-fueled giant who sacrificed his life to destroy the Russian supervillain <a href="/facts/Presence_(Marvel_Comics)/bVvu2Xd3">Presence</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sibercat/DqCRnboq">Sibercat</a> (Illich Lavrov) – A feline mutant.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Crimson_Dynamo/bv8s3Xq9">Crimson Dynamo</a> (Galina Nemirovsky) – The thirteenth Crimson Dynamo and a graduate of the Federal Dynamo program.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Crimson_Dynamo/bv8s3Xq9">Crimson Dynamo</a> (Boris Vadim)</li></ul> <h2 id="collected-editions">Collected editions</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Title</th><th>Material collected</th><th>Published date</th><th>ISBN</th></tr><tr><td><i>Darkstar and the Winter Guard</i></td><td><i>Darkstar and the Winter Guard</i> #1–3, <i>Hulk: Winter Guard</i> #1, <i>X-Men Unlimited</i> #28</td><td>November 2010</td><td>978-0785148678</td></tr><tr><td><i>Winter Guard: Operation Snowblind</i></td><td><i>Winter Guard</i> #1-4, <i>Widowmakers: Red Guardian and <a href="/facts/Yelena_Belova/5hjyRp5W">Yelena Belova</a></i> #1</td><td>January 2022</td><td>978-1302928759</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="in-other-media">In other media</h2> <h3>Television</h3> <ul><li>The Winter Guard appears in the <i><a href="/facts/Avengers_Assemble_(TV_series)/2W0713LT">Avengers Assemble</a></i> episode "Secret Avengers", consisting of <a href="/facts/Red_Guardian/jLnobUnP">Red Guardian</a>, <a href="/facts/Darkstar_(Marvel_Comics)/rSIsK1yx">Darkstar</a>, <a href="/facts/Crimson_Dynamo/bv8s3Xq9">Crimson Dynamo</a>, <a href="/facts/Ursa_Major_(character)/q2KCrR9G">Ursa Major</a>, and <a href="/facts/Radioactive_Man_(comics)/PhbefbLQ">Radioactive Man</a>. This version of the group work for Central Command, <a href="/facts/S.H.I.E.L.D./aAg2QHer">S.H.I.E.L.D.</a>'s Russian counterpart.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></li> <li>The Winter Guard appears in <i><a href="/facts/Marvel_Future_Avengers/cgW8mVfN">Marvel Future Avengers</a></i>, consisting of Red Guardian, Darkstar, Crimson Dynamo, and Ursa Major.</li> <li>The Winter Guard appears in the <i><a href="/facts/X-Men_%2797/BAwQ4o8w">X-Men '97</a></i> episode "Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3", consisting of Darkstar, Crimson Dynamo, and <a href="/facts/Omega_Red/vnlpm41c">Omega Red</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Video games</h3> <p>The Winter Guard appear as playable characters in <i><a href="/facts/Lego_Marvel_Super_Heroes_2/Ekkjvbb1">Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2</a></i>. </p> <h3>Miscellaneous</h3> <ul><li>The Winter Guard appears in <i><a href="/facts/The_Avengers:_Earth%27s_Mightiest_Heroes/MY5TuBfQ">The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes</a></i> #2, consisting of Vanguard, Darkstar, Ursa Major, and <a href="/facts/Titanium_Man/KgwjmjXI">Titanium Man</a>.</li> <li>The Winter Guard appears in <i><a href="/facts/X-Men_%2792/2RTLep8M">X-Men '92</a></i>, consisting of Ursa Major, Omega Red, Darkstar, Vostok, and Red Guardian.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.marvel.com/characters/winter_guard">Winter Guard</a> at <i><a href="/facts/Marvel.com/xlnAcRHd">Marvel.com</a></i></li> <li>Winter Guard at Marvel Wiki</li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/2018010101/http://comicbookdb.com/team.php?ID=423">Winter Guard</a> at the Comic Book DB (archived from <a href="http://comicbookdb.com/team.php?ID=423">the original</a>)</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>She-Hulk (vol. 2) #34 (December 2008) <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 409. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0. <a href="978-1-4654-7890-0" target="_blank">978-1-4654-7890-0</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Beard, Jim (November 4, 2009). "Winter Guard: Cold Warriors". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091107223516/http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10171.Winter_Guard~colon~_Cold_Warriors" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20091107223516/http://marvel.com/news/comicstories.10171.Winter_Guard~colon~_Cold_Warriors</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Gourley, Jim (April 20, 2010). "The Sword and Script Interview: David Gallaher". Sword and Script. Archived from the original on May 21, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100521012134/http://swordandscript.com/general/the-sword-and-script-interview-david-gallaher" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100521012134/http://swordandscript.com/general/the-sword-and-script-interview-david-gallaher</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Mahadeo, Kevin (May 21, 2010). "Gallaher Thaws Out the Winter Guard". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100523155140/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26323" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100523155140/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=26323</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Rogers, Vaneta (May 25, 2010). "From High Moon to DARKSTAR: Zuda Alums Talk Russian Heroes". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110622064743/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110622064743/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Iron Man (vol. 3) #9 (October 1998) <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Hulk (vol. 2) #1 (March 2008) <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #34 (December 2008) <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Rogers, Vaneta (May 25, 2010). "From High Moon to DARKSTAR: Zuda Alums Talk Russian Heroes". Newsarama. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110622064743/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110622064743/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Darkstar-Ellis-Gallaher-100525.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Darkstar and the Winter Guard #1 (August 2010) <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Wolverine and the X-Men #27 (May 2013) <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Amazing Spider-Man #676 (February 2012) <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Avengers (vol. 8) #10 (January 2019) <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Avengers (vol. 8) #10 (January 2019) <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2–3 (September - October 2010) <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Walker, Glenn (May 11, 2015). "Avengers Assemble S02 E18: Secret Avengers". Biff! Bam! Pop!. Retrieved March 9, 2025. <a href="https://biffbampop.com/2015/05/11/avengers-assemble-s02-e18-secret-avengers/" target="_blank">https://biffbampop.com/2015/05/11/avengers-assemble-s02-e18-secret-avengers/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Bonomolo, Cameron (May 15, 2024). "X-Men '97: Every Marvel Cameo in the Season Finale". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 9, 2025. <a href="https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/x-men-97-episode-10-finale-marvel-cameos-explained-spider-man-daredevil-mutants/" target="_blank">https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/x-men-97-episode-10-finale-marvel-cameos-explained-spider-man-daredevil-mutants/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>X-Men '92 #1–4 (August - October 2015) <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>