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Red Guardian Watch Order: Every MCU Appearance

The 2 titles below run in story order, starting with Black Widow and, for now, ending with Thunderbolts*. Alexei Shostakov is Russia’s super-soldier, Yelena’s father figure and the Thunderbolts’ muscle.

Set aside about 4h 21m for the full list, which came out from 2021 to 2025. Avengers: Doomsday is next.

Who is Red Guardian?

Alexei Shostakov is the best-known Red Guardian, created by writer Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema for The Avengers #43 in August 1967. The idea is tidy and very Cold War: a Soviet counterpart to Captain America, built as an answer to the American symbol. Before the costume he was a test pilot and a KGB agent, and he was married to Natasha Romanova. The KGB faked his death and kept the truth from her, which is the twist the comics hung the character on for years afterward.

David Harbour brought him into the MCU in Black Widow (2021), and the film reshaped the relationships. Here Shostakov is the adoptive father of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, a man who worked alongside General Dreykov and the Red Room and then ended up locked in the Seventh Circle Prison, where his daughters break him out. Harbour described him as a figure with tons of cracks all over him, a boastful has-been who cannot stop talking about a past nobody else rates. The comedy and the damage arrive together.

Thunderbolts* opened in the United States on May 2, 2025 and found him a year out of contact with Yelena, running a limousine service. Working as a freelance chauffeur is how he overhears Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's plot and gets pulled back into Yelena's life. Harbour returns as Shostakov in Avengers: Doomsday, due December 18, 2026.

Spoiler Spoilers for Red Guardian’s story: tap to reveal
  • In Thunderbolts* he rescues Yelena, John Walker and Ava, and the team he helps assemble is rebranded as the New Avengers at de Fontaine's press conference. He is listed as a New Avengers member in the Avengers: Doomsday cast.

Red Guardian in story order

  1. 1

    Black Widow

    First appearanceJuly 9, 20212h 14m

    StreamDisney+

  2. 2

    Thunderbolts*

    2nd appearanceMay 2, 20252h 7m

    StreamDisney+

  3. 3

    Avengers: Doomsday

    Next upReleases December 18, 20262h 45m

    StreamNot out yet

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Red Guardian FAQ

Is Red Guardian Yelena's real dad?

No. In the MCU he is the adoptive father of Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, assigned to them as part of the Ohio cover operation. Thunderbolts* leans on that bond, with Harbour noting Yelena cannot stand him but still needs him.

What is Red Guardian doing at the start of Thunderbolts?

He has been out of contact with Yelena for about a year and is running a limousine service. Driving as a freelance chauffeur is how he overhears de Fontaine's plan.

Is David Harbour in Avengers: Doomsday?

Yes. Harbour reprises Alexei Shostakov in Avengers: Doomsday, out December 18, 2026.

What order should I watch Red Guardian in?

Go top to bottom. For Red Guardian, story order and release order are the same, so there’s nothing to rearrange. Start with Black Widow (2021) and work forward.

How many titles feature Red Guardian?

2 so far, released from 2021 to 2025, covering Phases 4 to 5 of the MCU, with 1 more announced. That’s about 4h 21m of viewing.

How long does it take to watch every Red Guardian appearance?

About 4h 21m for both released titles. At two hours an evening, that’s roughly 3 sittings.

Do I need to watch the whole MCU to follow Red Guardian?

No. These 2 titles tell the character’s own story. One of them is graded Essential, so start there if you’re short on time.

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