TheRed Barbarianis a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.The character is depicted as avillainand thealter egoofColonelAndre Rostov.First appearing inTales of Suspense#42 (June, 1963), the Red Barbarian was created byStan Lee,Robert BernsteinandDon Heck.[1]

Red Barbarian
Modern-era Red Barbarian
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales of Suspense#42 (June, 1963)
Created byStan Lee
Robert Bernstein
Don Heck
In-story information
Alter egoColonel Andre Rostov
PartnershipsThe Actor
Notable aliasesExcellency
Warden
AbilitiesNone

Fictional character biography

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1960s

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Tales of Suspense#42 (June 1963): Red Barbarian debuts. Cover art byDon Heck.

The Red Barbarian was aCommunistgeneralin an unnamed country, known for his brutality.[2]After an attempt to steal anatomic bombprototype fromStark Industriesis foiled byIron Man,the Red Barbarian is approached by another Soviet agent known as The Actor who is superior indisguisinghimself. The duo scheme to steal the secretdisintegrator rayblueprintsof Tony Stark. 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 thesecret identityof 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) isbooby-trappedand 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

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The Red Barbarian is missing in action for many years, until he is "revived" (without a priorback story),unagedand acting as awarden(under the name of Colonel Andre Rostov) in thegulagwhereBucky Barnesis serving time in for killing twoRussiancitizens many years back, and tortured Barnes for the information involving "Zephyr codes" for his own profit.[3]He is seen living a life of luxury in theBahamasuntil he is assassinated by the Winter Soldier.[4]

Other versions

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  • The Red Barbarian plays an essential role in theIron Man and the Armor Wars,a version of the classicArmor Warsstoryline.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^Tales of Suspense#42 (June, 1963)
  2. ^Paul Fellman (2010).Iron Man: America's Cold War Champion and Charm against the Communist Menace.Vol. 1. Chapman University Historical Review. pp. 14–15.
  3. ^Captain America#616-619 (March–June 2011)
  4. ^Winter Soldier Volume 1: The Longest Winter(Part 5 of 5; May 2012)
  5. ^Iron Man and the Armor Wars#2
  6. ^Iron Man and the Armor Wars#3

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