If I am to accomplish my purpose -- by destroying Captain America -- I must surpass him in every way! 
Appearing in "Color Him... the Red Guardian!"
Avengers #43
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Bruiser Bates (First appearance)
- Colonel Ling
- Red Guardian (First appearance)
- General Brushov (First appearance)
Other Characters:
- Zeus (Mentioned)
- Ebeneezer Wallaby (First appearance)
- Vernon Van Dyne (Mentioned)
- Dragon Man (Mentioned)
- NYPD (Mentioned)
- Numerous unnamed clientele
- Odysseus (Referenced)
- Robin Hood (Referenced)
- FBI (Referenced)
- Dionysus (Mentioned)
- Prometheus (Mentioned)
- Apollo (Mentioned)
- The Hydra (First appearance; illusion)
- Thor (Odinson) (Mentioned)
- Pan (Invoked)
- Jarvis (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Human-Olympian Hybrids
- Gods (Mentioned)
- Sheep (Mentioned)
- Dogs (Mentioned)
- Fleas (Mentioned)
- Hydras (First appearance; illusion)
- Demons (Mentioned)
- Ghosts (Mentioned)
- Titans (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth
- United States
- Asia
- Unnamed Eastern power
- Secret Base
- China (Mentioned)
- Unnamed Eastern power
- Soviet Union (Mentioned)
- Poland (Mentioned)
- Finland (Mentioned)
- Hungary (Mentioned)
- Heavens (Invoked)
Items:
- Hawkeye's Bow and Trick Arrows
- Captain America's Shield
- Iliad (Topical Reference)
- Goliath's Suit
- Wasp's Suit and Wings
- Black Widow's Gauntlets
- Psychotron
- Visi-projector
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Color Him... the Red Guardian!"
Avengers #43
Sometime later, while most of the Avengers are away from the mansion, Hawkeye gets information about the Black Widow's whereabouts. Anxious to help her, Hawkeye cannot wait for his team mates to return. He sets out to rescue her immediately, with only Hercules in tow.
Meanwhile, Colonel Ling shows a general his newest asset: The Red Guardian. He has been trained and conditioned to be the equal of Captain America in every way but to stand for communism.
Hercules and Hawkeye invade Ling's base. Hercules is lured into the Psychotron. Hawkeye is captured by the Red Guardian, who is dramatically revealed to be the Black Widow's husband whom she thought was dead.
Back in the States, The Avengers learn about Hawkeye's rescue mission and depart to rescue their compatriots.Appearing in "The Valiant Also Die!"
Avengers #44
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (Main story and flashback)
- Black Widow (Natasha) (Main story and flashback)
- Hercules
Antagonists:
- Red Guardian (Alexi) (Main story and flashback; first name revealed) (Apparent death)
- Colonel Ling (Death)
- General Brushov
- Numerous unnamed enemy soldiers
Other Characters:
- The Hydra (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Zeus (Referenced)
- Nick Fury (Mentioned)
- Unnamed medical personnel
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Human-Olympian Hybrids
- Hydras (Illusion or holographic simulation)
- Ants (Mentioned)
- Cats (Referenced)
- Horses (Mentioned)
- Mammoths (Mentioned)
- Demons (Mentioned)
- Rats (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Asia
- Unnamed Eastern power
- Secret Base
- Unnamed Eastern power
- United States
- Hawaii (First appearance)
- Soviet Union (Only in flashback) (Topical Reference)
- Earth Orbit (Only in flashback)
- Asia
- Heavens (Invoked)
- Olympus (Referenced)
Items:
- Hawkeye's Suit
- Black Widow's Gauntlets
- Psychotron (Destruction)
- Goliath's Suit
- Captain America's Shield
- Bio-Synthetic Wings
- Hawkeye's Bow and Trick Arrows
- Para-sonic thermo-ray
- Stun-ray
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "The Valiant Also Die!"
Avengers #44
The rest of the Avengers arrive at the base and attack. They gradually make headway through the communist troops. Hawkeye manages to escape and joins in the fighting.
Captain America is separated from his team mates and challenged to a one-on-one fight with the Red Guardian. In the midst of the duel, Cap loses his shield but gains the upper hand, until Colonel Ling electrocutes him. The Red Guardian is unhappy that Captain America was defeated so dishonorably.
While her opponents are distracted, the Black Widow tries to disable the Psychotron, but is caught in the act and shot at by the Colonel. The Red Guardian leaps in the way and takes the shot, however, and the Black Widow completes her task. She is then shot just as Hawkeye runs in and catches her.
With the Psychotron disabled, Hercules breaks free. He, Cap and Hawkeye (carrying an injured Black Widow) follow. United once more, the entire Avengers team retreat from the base.
Colonel Ling tries to kill the Avengers one last time with a rocket launcher but is stopped again by the Red Guardian. The rocket blows up the base and the Avengers barely escape. Back in the U.S., the Black Widow is rushed to the hospital. The Avengers, and especially Hawkeye, are relieved to learn she is expected to make a full recovery.