Publisher Marvel Comics Partnerships The Actor Abilities None | Alter ego Colonel Andre Rostov Notable aliases Excellency
Warden | |
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Created by Stan Lee
Robert Bernstein
Don Heck First appearance Tales of Suspense #42 (June, 1963) Creators Stan Lee, Don Heck, Robert Bernstein Similar Kala, Wong‑Chu, Unicorn, Melter, Brothers Grimm | ||
The Red Barbarian is a fictional Marvel Comics villain and the alter ego of Colonel Andre Rostov. First appearing in Tales of Suspense #42 (June, 1963), the Red Barbarian was created by Stan Lee, Robert Bernstein and Don Heck.
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1960s
The Red Barbarian was a Communist general in an unnamed country, known for his brutality. After an attempt to steal an atomic bomb prototype from Stark Industries is foiled by superhero Iron Man, the Red Barbarian is approached by another Soviet agent known as The Actor, who is superior in disguising himself. The duo scheme to steal the secret disintegrator ray blueprints of Tony Stark, who is actually Iron Man. The Actor is sent to impersonate Stark and get the plans. The Actor succeeds in doing so, through the means of changing from disguise to disguise, and even learns the secret identity of Iron Man. However, Iron Man manages to get back the classified papers from The Actor and he in return impersonates The Actor impersonating Iron Man and rushes to meet the Red Barbarian. The general is tricked and believes that Iron Man is The Actor in disguise. When he demands for the blueprints, Iron Man replies that the suitcase (in which the blueprints are supposedly in) is booby-trapped and it can only be opened four hours later, and then leaves. Just then, The Actor returns. The Red Barbarian thinks he is the imposter and shoots him, before he can tell the general Iron Man's secret identity.
2010s
The Red Barbarian is missing in action for many years, until he is "revived" (without a prior back story) in Captain America #616, unaged, where his is acting as a warden (under the name of Colonel Andre Rostov) in the gulag Bucky Barnes is serving time in for killing two Russian citizens many years back.
The Red Barbarian's last appearance is in Winter Soldier: The Longest Winter (Part 5 of 5; May 2012). The Soviet general is seen living a life of luxury, in the Bahamas with the money he received from the illegal sale of the "Zephyr codes" he obtained. Suddenly, he is assassinated by a mysterious sniper.