Aleksander Lukin
| Aleksander Lukin | |
|---|---|
|
Aleksander Lukin Art by Steve Epting. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America (v5) #1 (2004) |
| Created by |
Ed Brubaker Steve Epting |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations |
Kronas Corporation Roxxon Oil KGB |
| Notable aliases | Red Skull |
| Abilities | Strategic genius, political mastermind |
Aleksander Lukin (Russian: Александр Лукин) is a fictional character in Marvel Comics.
Publication history
He first appeared in Captain America vol. 5 #1, and was created by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. The character serves as the main antagonist of the Winter Soldier storyline.
Fictional character biography
Born in the Soviet village of Kronas some time in the late 1930s, Lukin's village is used by the Red Skull as a base of operations during the Second World War.[1] Soviet troops attempt to retake the town, assisted by the Western Allies' Invaders superhero team which include Captain America and Bucky Barnes. Lukin's mother is killed in the course of the battle. The leader of the Soviet forces, Vasily Karpov, takes the orphaned Lukin under his wing.[2]
In the ensuing decades, Lukin became an important figure in the Soviet military and the KGB, rising to the rank of general.[3] When his mentor passes away, Lukin is left in custody of a large cache of special projects developed over the decades, including the Winter Soldier.[3] He sells some of these devices to the highest bidders to raise funds. In one instance, he sells weapons to the Red Skull himself, but refuses to part with Winter Soldier for anything less than the reality-altering Cosmic Cube (which the Red Skull was not in possession of and would not give up in any case).[4]
Five years after that meeting, the Red Skull finally recovers the Cosmic Cube, only to be assassinated by the Winter Soldier on Lukin's orders. However, the Red Skull used the Cube to transfer his mind right before death into Lukin's body, leaving the two men stuck together "like rats in a cage".[5]
Lukin uses the cube to enrich his legitimate business front Kronas Corporation. Unfortunately, in a fit of rage, the Cosmic Cube harms one of Lukin's friends. Lukin has the Cosmic Cube sent away. After the Winter Soldier destroys the Cosmic Cube and regains his own memories, Lukin and the Red Skull have worked uneasily together against their common foe Captain America, even as the Red Skull wages a campaign for control of Lukin's body; Lukin vows to kill himself before allowing that to happen.[6]
Upon the Winter Soldier's discovery of Lukin's connection with the Red Skull, the Red Skull and Lukin fake his death, and continue to operate from the shadows.[7] The pair contrive to abduct Sharon Carter, attaching Carter to a machine that will bring back the time-displaced Steve Rogers. Carter rebels, however, and destroys the machine. In a last-ditch maneuver, Arnim Zola transfers the Red Skull's consciousness into a robot. Lukin is free at last, but only for a few seconds, before being gunned down by Carter.[8]
In other media
Television
- Aleksander Lukin is alluded in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In the episode "Widow's Bite", Madame Hydra mentions that Lukin has pledged his allegiance to HYDRA.
Video games
- Aleksander Lukin's Kronas Corporation is featured in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, serving as the Vulture's hideout that constructed armor for Kingpin's forces.
- Aleksander Lukin's Kronas Corporation appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
References
External links
- Akelsander Lukin at Marvel Wiki