Red Guardian by Eric Canete

Alexei Shostakov (Russian: Алексей Шостаков) was a test pilot turned super-soldier, best known as the second Red Guardian (Russian: Красный страж) and the estranged husband of Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow.^[6] Celebrated as a national hero by the Soviet Union, Shostakov was secretly recruited by the KGB and subjected to covert training and armed with a shield to become the USSR’s answer to Captain America. While Natasha was told her husband had died, Alexei was transformed into a ruthless operative whose identity and past were erased by the state.^[7]

As Red Guardian, Alexei served Russia’s interests abroad, including a mission to China that brought him into conflict with the Avengers. There, he revealed his identity to Natasha and later sacrificed himself to save her, perishing in an explosion during a failed operation involving a mind-altering device. Despite being presumed dead, a Life Model Decoy created in his image was used to manipulate Natasha, and his image was exploited by supernatural forces as part of the Legion of the Unliving.

Years later, Alexei resurfaced under the alias Ronin, leading the Dark Ocean Society and clashing with Black Widow and her allies. After being imprisoned, he was rescued by Yelena Belova.Alexei later joined a conspiracy to manipulate Natasha’s memories but ultimately protected her from an assassination attempt, showing a lingering loyalty. Alexei was later recruited into Bucky’s Thunderbolts, fighting to dismantle fascist legacies across the globe.^[14] This included the defeat of the Red Skull and narrowly survived the destruction of his base.