History
Born in Minsk, the son of Russian nuclear physicist Sergei Krylov, Nikolai Krylenko (Russian: Николай Крыленко) and his fraternal twin sister Laynia Petrovna were taken from birth by the then-Soviet government to be trained as soldiers after their mutant natures manifested. Joining the KGB-sponsored Soviet Super-Soldiers, Nikolai adopted the identity of Vanguard while Laynia became Darkstar. The team came into conflict with many American heroes, including Iron Man.[4]
After Sergei was transformed into the Presence, the government sent Vanguard and Darkstar to murder him, who were unaware that their target was their father. When they learned this, Nikolai and Laynia turned against the Soviet regime. Vanguard, Darkstar, and Ursa Major became agents on their own, fighting for the good of the people.[5]
At one point, finally fed up with the communist system, the three heroes defected to the United States, only to be captured and returned to the Soviet states by the government-sponsored People's Protectorate. They were rendered comatose for some time, and held in a research facility for study.[6] They were rescued from there by Blind Faith and his band of mutant exiles in order to form an underground team that would fight for the people under a government that hated and feared them, and, ultimately, became members of the Siberforce.[7]
Later, Vanguard and Darkstar were asked by Quasar for help in defeating the threat of the alien Starblasters, who coveted the power of the mysterious Star Brand, hosted in the body of Quasar's girlfriend. Vanguard was killed in battle.[8] A grieving Darkstar blamed Quasar for her brother's death, and fled back to Russia. Later encountering her father again, Darkstar shared her feelings with him, and the Presence forced Quasar to flee Earth or risk his vengeance.[9] The Presence visited the memorial to his son and sought to revive him. He shifted his atoms to microscopically enter the body of his son and discovered a trace of his mutant energy remained, keeping him faintly alive. The Presence nearly exhausted his own power, but managed to resurrect his son.[10]
A staunch communist despite the fall of the Soviet Union, Vanguard once aided communist sympathizer General Tskarov in his efforts to undermine the American economy and replace it with communism, starting with its businesses on the East Coast. He also agreed to aid Tskarov in order that Tskarov would help him find his then-missing sister. When Ursa Major discovered Tskarov was actually hiding Darkstar from them, Vanguard joined with his friends and Daredevil and the Black Widow to defeat Tskarov.[11] Under circumstances yet to be revealed, Vanguard agreed to membership in the Russian Federation's newest super team, the Winter Guard. One of the first adventures of the Winter Guard consisted of stopping the Mandarin's giant dragon-shaped war machine with Iron Man's help.[12]
The Presence, in the meantime, had been cast adrift in the subatomic reality he had entered through his son upon resurrecting him. There, he discovered new aspects of his power and atomic particles, and, when he had sufficiently regenerated, resumed his normal size and returned to the Forbidden Zone. There, he embarked on a plan to unite all of the former Soviet Union by transforming its people into a race of zombie-like radioactive beings living under a communal mind. He managed to convert several Siberian scientists, Vanguard and the rest of the Winter Guard, and the Avengers, who investigated the disturbance. The Presence's companion, Starlight, ultimately offered a surrender and used her own power to revive those who had been transformed and remand herself and the Presence to Russian custody.[13]
After Darkstar was killed while serving with the X-Corporation in Paris,[14] Vanguard's desire to avenge or restore his sister led to a schism in the Winter Guard. Leading a new group called the Protectorate, Vanguard and his teammates made their way into Limbo, suffering losses and were betrayed by Fantasma, who regained her lost memories and was revealed as a Dire Wraith. Upon returning to normal space, the Protectorate joined forces with the Winter Guard against Fantasma and the Presence, who intended to spawn a new generation of Wraiths. Darkstar was indeed resurrected during this mission, but several members of the Protectorate and Guard were killed or lost in the conflict. Vanguard took up the shield and identity of the Red Guardian in the aftermath, becoming the eighth to use the name.[15] Nikolai would later take back the identity of Vanguard while keeping his Red Guardian equipment.[1]Attributes
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Powers
- Repulsion Field: Vanguard is a mutant who possesses an energy field that repels virtually all electromagnetic, kinetic and gravitonic energy. Originally he could only access his powers by crossing his hammer and sickle weapons in front of his body, whenever they left his side he'd be virtually defenseless.[16] With time, however, he would learn he can access his powers without need of a conduit, simply crossing his arms to engage its effect. The full potential of his powers had not been tested.
- Energy Redirection: Nikolai could also redirect any energy repelled by his natural force field back at its source.[17] This means that he can, for example, redirect bullets against their shooters.[7]
- Force Field: Nikolai can generate solid force fields.[18]
- Energy Projection: Nikolai can project his repulsion field in concussive beams of energy.[19]
- Flight: He has displayed the ability to fly by repelling the Earth.[7]
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Red Guardian / Vanguard's Shield: Krylenko wields a modified Vibranium shield that serves as a lens for his powers and intensifies the repulsion of energy. Inside the shield is a high-density computer that uses a laser gyroscope to track its flight path from its point of origin. Activating this mechanism can make the shield return to its take-off point.[3]
Red Guardian Suit: Adorning the Red Guardian's outfit since his introduction into the Winter Guard. The mesh lining of is suit has been outfitted with circuitry that allows Nikolai to channel the impact force directed at the shield into it, in order to bolster his natural powers. As demonstrated in his fight against Hyperion the shield and circuitry can be overwhelmed.[20]Weapons
- Hammer & Sickle (formerly): In the original version of his Vanguard identity, Nikolai often wielded a pair of technologically enhanced pole arms with which he could channel his energy field through.[2] The micromechanics within both of these weapons enabled a recall feature which, in tandem with Vanguards powers, enabled him to throw and return his weapons back to his hand at will.[16] useful as a ranged means of offense which gained in power and destructive capacity the further along they flew thanks to his kinetic repulsion field.
Transportation
See Also
- 70 appearance(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 9 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 9 minor appearance(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 39 image(s) of Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Nikolai Krylenko (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Avengers (Vol. 8) #10
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Incredible Hulk #258
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Darkstar and the Winter Guard #3
- ↑ Iron Man #109
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #265
- ↑ Captain America #352–353
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Soviet Super Soldiers #1
- ↑ Starblast #4
- ↑ Quasar #60
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 3) #43
- ↑ Daredevil #369–370
- ↑ Iron Man (Vol. 3) #9–10
- ↑ Avengers (Vol. 3) #41–43
- ↑ New X-Men #130
- ↑ Darkstar and the Winter Guard #1–3
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Incredible Hulk #259
- ↑ Winter Guard #4
- ↑ Wolverine: First Class #8
- ↑ Darkstar and the Winter Guard #2
- ↑ Age of Heroes #3
- ↑ Captain America: America's Avenger #1
- ↑ Captain America: America's Avenger Vol 1 1