Fictional team history
The Winter Guard were originally known as the Soviet Super Soldiers and appeared in various comics from the mid-1970s. That name lost meaning following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. The Winter Guard made their debut with that name in Iron Man (vol. 3) #9, and fought alongside the Avengers during the "Maximum Security" and "Kang Dynasty" events.[7]
Whilst investigating the murder of the Abomination, Doc Samson, She-Hulk, and Thunderbolt Ross encounter the revitalized Winter Guard, consisting of Ursa Major, Red Guardian, Darkstar, and Crimson Dynamo.[8]
After teaming up with War Machine to fight the Skrulls,[9] the team was later seen clashing with She-Hulk and the Lady Liberators – and again with The Presence and Igor Drenkov.[6] This version of the team uses an old Dire Wraith ship as a headquarters.[10] They were mentioned by Storm as possible back-up while Rachel Summers was investigating in Madripoor.[11] The Winter Guard are apparently killed by the Intelligencia, but are later revealed to have survived.[12]
The Winter Guard is later reassembled with Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Red Guardian, Darkstar, Vostok, Perun, Chernobog, and Red Widow.[13]
During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, Winter Guard members Crimson Dynamo, Red Widow, Ursa Major, and Vanguard crash Tony Stark's meeting with Commander Hunyadi of the Latverian Patriotic Front where they plan to bring him to Doctor Doom. Hunyadi is told by Red Widow that Tony will betray him as Iron Man fights the Winter Guard. With help from Black Widow, Tony Stark gets away. Red Widow informs Hunyadi to leave Dagestan at once as she will not protect him if Doctor Doom plans to take vengeance on him.[14] The Winter Guard later captures Commander Hunyadi and Melinda May as Iron Man goes to rescue them. Black Widow and Bucky get to the Winter Guard first. Iron Man then arrives with Victorious and Vishte Taru where the Winter Guard is subdued. Victorios plans to take the Winter Guard to Doctor Doom.[15]
