Fans wanting to know more about the supporting characters in Black Widow‘s solo film will get their wish in April. The month will see the debut of Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 by Devin Grayson and Michele Bandini. The comic will spotlight the characters played by David Harbour and Florence Pugh, respectively.
Yelena Belova has been both ally and nemesis to Natasha Romanoff aka the Black Widow, but now the past is catching up to her – and she’s not the original one struggling with ghosts. Alexi Shostakov aka the Red Guardian has an equally complicated past and was even married to Natasha at one point. As the series opens, however, Red Guardian is eager to wipe the slate clean at any cost.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
Both characters will make their feature film debut in Black Widow, which opens in theatres in May. Interestingly, the trailers so far make no mention of Red Guardian’s marriage to Natasha and instead depict a somewhat traditional family, with Red Guardian the father alongside Rachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff, and Natasha and Yelena as siblings. Yelena even refers to Natasha as her “sister” in the trailer.
The new series is exciting for a number of reasons. Devin Grayson, the creator of Yelena Belova, is a fan favorite for her work on titles including Gotham and Nightwing. This is the first new series from Grayson in quite some time, with the writer largely contributing back-up stories and single issues over the last couple of years. The series is interesting because it puts two of the most exciting characters in the new Black Widow movie in the spotlight. Much has been written online about Red Guardian and Yelena Belova – especially about the latter’s potential in the MCU as Natasha’s successor.
While details about the series are scant beyond the creative team and the teaser, the premise seems particularly dark for Red Guardian. While Harbour’s Red Guardian in the trailer is goofy and affably enthusiastic, the premise outlined in the solicitations bears ominous and potentially antagonistic for Red Guardian. While Yelena has sought redemption Black Widow’s supposed death in Secret Empire, the same can’t be said for Red Guardian. Whether Red Guardian and Yelena find themselves as allies or enemies in the series remains to be seen.
- WIDOWMAKERS: RED GUARDIAN AND YELENA BELOVA #1
- Written by DEVIN GRAYSON
- Art by MICHELE BANDINI
- Cover by MIKE MCKONE
- Devin Grayson, one of the creators of Yelena Belova — the Red Room recruit who once nearly killed Natasha Romanoff — returns with a brand–new story drawn by rising star Michele Bandini! Yelena has spent years trying to figure out who she is. Once she thought the Black Widow mantle was her destiny, but fate had other plans. Now the past is catching up with her — and with Alexi Shostakov, a.k.a. the Red Guardian! Alexi has worn many titles, including husband to Natasha, but while the Widow played her avenging games, the Red Guardian waited in the shadows. Now a new day is dawning — and this time, no one will stand in his way.
Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 hits stores in April.
