Marvel's Red Guardian and Yelena Belova have reunited as the Black Widow characters are about to co-star in the upcoming comic miniseries Winter Guard. In a new preview, the White Widow and Red Guardian will put aside their differences and come face-to-face with Russia's new Winter Guard. Along the way, they'll battle the mysterious Red Widow and learn they're being hunted by those who ultimately replaced them.
Red Guardian and Yelena Belova recently debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with David Harbour and Florence Pugh bringing the characters to life in Cate Shortland's Black Widow. Both Russian heroes stole scenes in the film, and following the characters' live-action success, Marvel is releasing a new miniseries starring the heroes. Winter Guard will feature Yelena and Red Guardian returning to Russia and discovering the country has new heroes making up the Winter Guard - including Red Widow, who's becoming a massive problem in the Marvel Universe. In addition, the series is set to connect with Jason Aaron and Javier Garron's current World War She-Hulk event in Avengers.
In Marvel's new preview for Winter Guard #1 by Ryan Cady and Jan Bazaldua, Yelena talks with Black Widow about the new threat of the Red Widow. Natasha asks for Yelena's help in stopping the Red Widow before she kills more people. The White Widow says she'll tell her everything she knows, as the story flashes back three weeks to when Yelena was in Russia.
In the preview pages, Yelena Belova arrives near the Russia/Ukraine border, taking down a handful of security guards. As she's about to choke out one of the guards, Red Guardian arrives and tells her to leave him, as he will make sure all of Russia knows about the return of the Red Guardian.
Red Widow briefs the team on Red Guardian's return to Russia in the Winter Guard's base. She fills them in on Alexei Shostakov's history and how he went missing and was later found "rotting away for years in prison" in the United States. Red Widow informs them the Red Room's "second biggest mistake," Yelena Belova, has been seen with him. Red Widow makes it clear to her subordinates tracking down Red Guardian and Yelena Belova isn't an investigation but a manhunt.
While it's going to be fun to see Red Guardian and Yelena Belova together for the first time since Black Widow, the Red Widow is going to do everything in her power to ensure the reunion is short-lived. Yelena Belova and Red Guardian will take on the Winter Guard when Winter Guard #1 by Marvel Comics comes to comic book stores Wednesday.