Marvel Studios put the spotlight on one beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe hero in the animated Marvel Zombies series, proving he’s one of the MCU’s best new characters. Continuing the story first seen in What If…? season 1, episode 5, “What If… Zombies?!,” Marvel Zombies took us back to the alternate universe where Earth had been ravaged by a Quantum Virus that has turned many of the most notable superheroes into zombies. Removing the MCU’s most central heroes gave others their much-needed time to shine, including Russia’s answer to Captain America.
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David Harbour returned to voice the role of Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian in Marvel Zombies, proving that he is one of the best new additions to the MCU. Shostakov became the Red Guardian after being enhanced with a successful super-soldier serum in Russia, and, in the live-action MCU, he worked alongside General Dreykov and Melina Vostokoff in the Red Room. He is the father-figure to Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova’s Black Widow assassins, and this was pushed even further in Marvel Zombies.
Red Guardian Proved He’s the Best MCU Dad in Marvel Zombies
Throughout his appearances in the live-action MCU, Alexei Shostakov has proven how capable of a father he is trying to be to Romanoff and Belova. Black Widow (2021) featured Romanoff, Belova, Shostakov, and Vostokoff accept that their time masquerading as an American family was actually meaningful and formative for them all, which pushed Alexei to try and become a more dedicated, committed, and loving father. This continued in Thunderbolts* (2025), which brought Alexei and Yelena closer as members of the New Avengers team, and this has also been seen in the alternate universe of Marvel Zombies.
Kate Bishop, Kamala Khan, and Riri Williams meet Alexei, Melina, and Yelena in Marvel Zombies episode 1 when they arrive at the SHIELD base in Ohio. It’s not only this trio protecting this base, however, but several other Black Widow assassins also reside there and spring into action when a zombified and Wanda Maximoff-controlled Okoye leads an army of the dead to their gates. What makes this moment even more poignant is that the Red Guardian refers to all of the Black Widow assassins as his daughters, taking on the father role for them all.
Red Guardian calling the Black Widow assassins his daughters in Marvel Zombies is one of the MCU’s most adorable and heart-warming moments. It proves that Alexei has not only done the hard work to become a good father in Earth 616, but also in other alternate universes, including the one in Marvel Zombies. Even though Alexei Shostakov may not have survived the Queen of the Dead’s attacks in Marvel Zombies, he got some fantastic moments prior to meeting his tragic and emotional demise.
Marvel Zombies Finally Gave Red Guardian the Battle He’s Been Waiting For
When he was introduced to the live-action MCU in Black Widow, the Red Guardian regularly bragged about having fought Captain America in the 1980s. There’s a major hole in this story, which many characters caught, which is that Steve Rogers was still frozen in the arctic during the ’80s, so Shostakov couldn’t have fought him. The Red Guardian fought alongside Rogers’ childhood friend, Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier, in Thunderbolts*, but he still hasn’t come face-to-face with Captain America himself. This is no longer the case in animation, however, as Marvel Zombies finally pitted Shostakov and Rogers against each other.
What If…? season 1 revealed that Captain America was one of the Avengers who became a zombie early on during the apocalypse. The zombified Captain America was halved by Bucky, but not finished off, allowing him to return to face the Red Guardian at the SHIELD base in Marvel Zombies’ premiere. After years of waiting, the Red Guardian’s battle against Captain America finally culminated in the former succeeding in defeating his American counterpart – bringing his story from the live-action MCU to fruition.
2025 has been an incredible year for Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian, as he became a New Avenger in Thunderbolts* and won in battle against Captain America in Marvel Zombies. David Harbour has been confirmed to be returning as the Red Guardian in Avengers: Doomsday, and he’ll have a new look – as confirmed by Thunderbolts*’ end-credits scene. Red Guardian may just go from strength to strength in the MCU, which could see him become even more popular and iconic in the future.
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