RED GUARDIAN

Real Name: Krassno Granitsky

Identity/Class: Human (Russian)

Occupation: Government operative

Group Membership: Red Room

Affiliations: Maverick (Christoph Nord), the Russian government

Enemies: A.I.M., Hammer, Ivan the Terrible, Aleksander Lukin, Omega Red, Sickle

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Pargolovo, Russia

First Appearance: Maverick II#10 (June, 1998)

Powers/Abilities: The Red Guardian was an excellent hand-to-hand combatant and was trained in covert operations.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dirty blond

History:

(Captain America V#1 (fb) - BTS) - Krassno Granitsky was a Russian man who was trained by the secret goverment service called the Red Room. He was appointed the identity of the Red Guardian, an agent of the Russian state.

(Maverick II#11 (fb) - BTS) - The Red Guardian investigated the Russian mobster Ivan the Terrible, learning he was going to make a major high-tech arms deal with the terrorist organization A.I.M. The Red Guardian discovered Ivan actually intended to enlist Omega Red to assist him in forming a raiding party and steal A.I.M.'s weapons behind their back. Before the Red Guardian could warn the authorities he was captured by Ivan. Uncertain whether the Red Guardian had been able to share information with the government, Ivan kept him alive, chaining him up in the Cooler, his underground dungeon.

(Maverick II#10) - The Red Guardian was joined in the Cooler by the mercenary Maverick, who had just been defeated by Ivan the Terrible.

(Maverick II#11) - Maverick revealed he knew Alexi Shostakov, Granitsky's predecessor as the Red Guardian and accused him of impersonating Shostakov. Granitsky explained that as the Red Guardian he was attempting to serve as a figure the Russian people could look up to and respect, someone who could stand and fight against oppression and injustice. The Red Guardian shared what he knew with Maverick. Maverick used his mutant powers to break himself and the Red Guardian free of their bonds and out of the Cooler. The Red Guardian showed Maverick the farmhouse on Ivan's property where Ivan had a secret hangar. Maverick planned for them to stow aboard Ivan's plane but first wanted to retrieve the equipment Ivan had taken off of him. This annoyed the Red Guardian, but he agreed he wouldn't stop Maverick; if an opening to stow aboard Ivan's plane came, the Red Guardian said he would take it alone. Fortunately, Maverick returned with his equipment before the plane took off. The two men discovered Ivan's agents were dressed in Hydra uniforms so they could frame Hydra for the heist they were about to attempt on A.I.M. Together they hid inside one of the trucks bringing supplies into Ivan's plane, hiding inside as it took off.

(Maverick II#12) - As the plane unleashed it's assault againt A.I.M., the Red Guardian found himself feeling a bit woozy from nerves and motion sickness. Maverick informed him he still didn't entirely trust him but the Red Guardian admitted he didn't fully trust Maverick either. Before they could start to set their plans in motion, Ivan's henchmen Sickle and Omega Red discovered them in the plane's hold and attacked them. The Red Guardian was stunned by one of Omega Red's coils but Maverick revived him and they bailed out of the plane. Entering the A.I.M. facility, Maverick and the Red Guardian found Ivan's forces had already killed most of the base's defenders. As Maverick suggested they split up, intended to face Sickle on his own, the Red Guardian suggested Maverick had a vendetta against Sickle and it was a liability, given the stakes of their mission. Maverick disputed this, saying someone had to distract Sickle while the other neutralized A.I.M.'s biogenics lab. Maverick departed to fight Sickle while the Red Guardian went to the lab. The Red Guardian found Ivan's agent Hammer overseeing the collection of weapons from the lab but he made a suicidal dash to a control panel to neutralize the biogenic weapons. Maverick arrived in time to halt Hammer while the Red Guardian activated the control panel. Angrily, Hammer smashed the Red Guardian's left leg with his hammer, crippling him. Maverick came to the Red Guardian's rescue and helped him escape the facility. The Red Guardian apologized for misjudging Maverick and Maverick replied that the Red Guardian had earned his respect. The Red Guardian shared his personal name - Krassno Granitsky - with Maverick and told him he owed him a debt of honor. He told Maverick to ask for him in Pargolovo if he ever needed his help.

(Captain America V#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Red Room sent the Red Guardian against the rogue Russian general Aleksander Lukin in Kazakhstan, but Lukin's men struck him with neural blasters.

(Captain America V#1) - Lukin's men brought the Red Guardian before their boss while Lukin was conducting a deal with the Red Skull. Lukin expressed surprise to see the Red Guardian, saying he thought the time of men like him had long since passed. Undaunted, the Red Guardian wearily informed Lukin he was placing him under arrrest for abandoning his post, stealing government secrets and weapons and for treason against "Mother Russia." Lukin replied that he was all that was left of "Mother Russia," then shot the Red Guardian in the head, killing him instantly. Lukin told his men to bury the Red Guardian, "as if he were one of our own."

Comments: Created by Jorge Gonzalez, Leandro Fernandez and Andrew Pepoy.

    His appearance in Captain America V#1 was "five years" before the main story - so, probably very shortly after Maverick II#12. He claimed to be working for President Boris Yeltsin, but that's a topical reference.

    His real name was given after a James Bond villain from the book From Russia, with Love.

    We never saw him unmasked. Also, he seemed in nearly every panel he appeared in to either have just had the tar beaten out of him or was about to have the tar beaten out of him. He wasn't so much a good fighter as he was a resilient punching bag.

    This profile was completed on 03/04/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Krassno Granitsky should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Maverick II#12, page 12, panel 1 (main)
Maverick II#12, page 5, panel 4 (face)

Appearances:
Maverick II#10 (June, 1998) - Jorge Gonzalez (writer), Leandro Fernandez (penciler), Andrew Pepoy (inker), Frank Pittarese (editor)
Maverick II#11 (July, 1998) - Jorge Gonzalez (writer), Jim Cheung (penciler), Andrew Pepoy (inker), Frank Pittarese (editor)
Maverick II#12 (August, 1998) - Jorge Gonzalez (writer), Jim Cheung (penciler), Leandro Fernandez (penciler), Andrew Pepoy (inker), Frank Pittarese (editor)
Captain America V#1 (January, 2005) - Ed Brubaker (writer), Steve Epting (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2026
Last updated: 03/04/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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