Steel Guardian
Previously known as Red Guardian, Josef Petkus was an agent of several intelligence agencies, and was also a member of The Supreme Soviets and Winter Guard.
Name:
Steel Guardian
Publisher:
Real name:
Josef Petkus
Aliases:
- Josef Petkus
- Red Guardian
Birth date:
None
Gender:
Male
Powers:
- Agility
- Leadership
- Stamina
- Unarmed Combat
- Weapon Master
First issue:
Origin
As the Red Guardian, he was a member of Supreme Soviets, where he battled the Soviet Super-Soldiers for defecting from mother Russia. Later, with the aid of Captain America, he battled a bear-like creature composed of the Darkforce, managing to defeat and disperse the creation.
Mayor Story Arcs
Hero of the People
In an effort to enhance their PR, The Supreme Soviets later became known as the People's Protectorate, and Petkus stayed on as one of the team members.While in the People's Protectorate, he teamed with the Avengers and Alpha Flight and battled the Peace Corpse, the Atlantean Army, and the Combine. He and the Protectorate also battled against the Hulk and Igor Drenkov.
Winter Guard
When the team were again rebranded as The Winter Guard, Petkus renamed himself Steel Guardian and remained on the team. However, when the original Darkstar died in battle, the Government planned to replace her with a doppleganger without informing the public. As a result, Steel Guardian, Powersurge, Vanguard and several others left the team in disgust. They formed The Protectorate and travelled to Limbo, seeking Immortus to plead for the return of Darkstar to the timestream. Immortus agreed to the demand, on the proviso that the team remained in Limbo for a year, helping to fight off a Dire Wraith invasion. During this year, Steel Guardian was stabbed through the chest by a Wraith and killed in action.
Other Media
Captain America Civil War (2016 Film)
Josef Petkus was played by Jackson Spidell. Josef Petkus is one of five candidates chosen by Hydra's Russian branch to be a part of a new generation of Winter Soldiers who will be enhanced by a new strain of the Super Soldier serum designed by Howard Stark. Unfortunately, Stark's reinvented serum had dangerous side effects. As Dr. Erskine had predicted: the serum enhances the best and worst qualities in each individual. Each of the Winter Soldiers became violently uncontrollable as their adrenaline escalated during training. The Winter Soldiers were then placed into cryo stasis and written off as a failed experiment. When Zemo found the HYDRA base in Siberia, he eliminated each Winter Soldier by shooting them in the head.
