From the creative minds of Ryan Cady, Jan Bazaldua, Federico Blee, and Ariana Maher, Russia's answer to Avengers, The Winter Guard, are taking center stage in Winter Guard #1. Led by Red Widow, the all-star team of  Russia's mightiest heroes has been cropping up in the main Avengers (2018) comics a lot recently. Winter Guard #1 offers the first glimpse into the workings of the mysterious super-team and opens up a world of intriguing potential.

Winter Guard wastes no time in establishing itself in the current Avengers continuity, picking up between Avengers #46 and #47, with the Avengers scrambling to retrieve She-Hulk after she is taken captive by the Winter Guard. The issue opens with Captain Marvel grilling Yelena Belova for any information she has on the whereabouts of Jennifer Walters, despite Belova's protests that she is no longer affiliated with the Russian state. Soon afterward, the Avengers compound is attacked and Belova is rescued by Natasha Romanoff. The original Black Widow reiterates the importance of recovering She-Hulk and also asks about her recent Russian mission -- with the added intel that she knows that she was there with the Red Guardian, her ex-husband. Flashing back to three weeks ago, Red Guardian and Belova break into a checkpoint in the Russian Federation to seize information. However, the Winter Guard intercepts their exit with destructive, tragic, and potentially traitorous results.

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Cady's writing has a strong clarity of purpose and captures the characters and their dynamics really impressively -- especially considering how much of this comic is dedicated to framing the Winter Guard's story. That isn’t a criticism really as the exposition is well-handled and creates a natural entry-point for regular and new Marvel readers. The full roster of the Winter Guard is Vostok, Vanguard, Perun, Ursa Major, Dark Star, Chernobog, Red Widow, and the Crimson Dynamo. It's fair to say that most people are probably not picking up this comic out of name-brand pull for any of those characters, so some introduction is definitely necessary.

The quality of Cady's writing allows the exposition, and subsequent development of Winter Guard members, to feel organic by simultaneously builds on their natural intrigue. The conclusion of Winter Guard's debut issue is so punctuated that it feels like the real beginning of the Winter Guard's story arc. That being said, the groundwork needed to get to such an effective conclusion shouldn't be underestimated.

Bazaldua's art in Winter Guard #1 is bold, but, occasionally lacks detail. Some panels are visually simplistic, whereas others are difficult to decipher. The colors and letters are what really sell the tone of the comic, with Federico Blee and Ariana Maher respectively doing masterful work to capture a distinctive grittiness that still feels at home in the Marvel canon. Blee has an exceptional eye for light, as well as contrast, with expressive and vibrant color choices that tell a story in each and every panel.

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Maher's creative use of color to indicate speech through time and space is a nice touch. Maher's letters do massive work to bring the cut-throat aura of Red Widow to life. The stark white sound effects for Belova are novel and elevate her fight sequences. Also, the stylish incorporation of sound effects within their environment in elaborate panels is fantastic.

The Winter Guard #1 is a satisfying and well-constructed introduction to a new series, especially in its second half, when it gets out from underneath the weight of canon continuity. Once the Winter Guard themselves are in the spotlight, the comic really takes off and doesn't stop until its final dramatic crescendo. The issue ends on a high note that promises that the next issue will be thick with intrigue and more satisfying character beats.

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