Aleksander Lukin
Aleksander Lukin (Russian: Александр Лукин) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America vol. 5 #1 (January 2005), and was created by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. He serves as the main antagonist of the first Winter Soldier storyline.
Aleksander Lukin | |
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Aleksander Lukin Art by Steve Epting. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Captain America vol. 5 #1 (January 2005) |
Created by | Ed Brubaker (writer) Steve Epting (artist) |
In-story information | |
Team affiliations | Kronas Corporation Roxxon Oil KGB Power Elite |
Notable aliases | General Lukin, Red Skull |
Abilities | Strategic genius, political mastermind |
Fictional character biography
Aleksander Lukin was born in the Soviet village of Kronas some time in the late 1930s. His village was used as the Red Skull's 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; Aleksander's mother was killed during the battle's course. The Soviet forces' leader Vasily Karpov takes the orphaned Lukin under as a protege.[2] In the ensuing decades, Lukin became an important figure in the Soviet military and the KGB, rising to the General rank.[3] After Karpov's passing, Lukin is left in custody of a large cache of his mentor's special projects developed over the decades.[3] He sells some of these devices to the highest bidders to raise funds, including to the Red Skull but refuses to part with the 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 Cosmic Cube to transfer his own mind right before death into Lukin's body, leaving the two men stuck together "like rats in a cage".[5] Lukin uses the Cosmic Cube to enrich his legitimate business front Kronas Corporation. But when, in a fit of rage, the Cosmic Cube harms one of his 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 'their' death to continue to operate from the shadows.[7] With his former enforcer as Captain America, the pair contrive to abduct Sharon Carter to attach to a machine that will bring back the time-displaced Steve Rogers, however, their captive rebels and destroys the machine. In a last-ditch maneuver, Arnim Zola transfers the Red Skull's consciousness into a robot while Lukin is free at last before being gunned down by Carter only a few seconds afterwards.[8]
It was later revealed that Lukin was brought back from the dead by his wife Alexa Lukin, with the help of Rasputin and Selene. The Lukins join the Power Elite. As a side effect of his revival, the fragment of Red Skull's mind within Lukin was also revived.[9]
In other media
Television
Aleksander Lukin is mentioned in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. In "Widow's Sting", he has been contacted for his organized crime connections (along with Count Nefaria's connections) by Black Widow at Baron Strucker's behest for HYDRA.
Film
The character himself does not appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but the 2014 film Captain America: The Winter Soldier features Alexander Pierce (portrayed by Robert Redford) taking the character's place as the Winter Soldier's handler,[10] and the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War briefly features Vasily Karpov (portrayed by Gene Farber).[11]
Video games
- The Kronas Corporation is featured in Spider-Man: Web of Shadows as the Vulture's hideout to construct armor for the Kingpin's forces.
- The Kronas Corporation appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
References
- Captain America vol. 5 #1
- Captain America vol. 5 #5. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 5 #6. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 5 #9. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 5 #12-15. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 5 #18. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 5 #25. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America Vol. 5 #42. Marvel Comics.
- Captain America vol. 9 #6. Marvel Comics.
- http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/Alexander_Pierce
- Tilly, Chris (April 29, 2016). "10 Coolest Captain America: Civil War Easter Eggs, References And Trivia". IGN. Archived from the original on May 1, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
External links
- Akelsander Lukin at Marvel Wiki