In Winter Guard #2, a hero from the Marvel Cinematic Universe gains a pair of wings that look awfully similar to those worn by the Falcon.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Winter Guard #2, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Black Widow, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian are on the run from the Russian version of the Avengers, the Winter Guard. While avoiding the Guard, the Widow unveils a piece of equipment that appears to have been inspired by another MCU hero. Yelena flew into Moscow with her own version of Falcon’s wings, and this could radically change the way she deals with her opposition.
Winter Guard #2 (by Ryan Cady, Jan Bazaldua, Federico Blee and VC’s Ariana Maher) begins with the Winter Guard chasing White Widow and Red Guardian through Russia after they stole secret data from the Guardian’s old base. Before escaping, the Guardian informed the Guard that there was a traitor in their midst, planting seeds of distrust among the team. After their escape, Yelena and Red Guardian elected to split up to throw off the Winter Guard, and the White Widow unveiled her new high-flying accessory.
As she left their plane, she revealed that her replica wings had a significant tradeoff. They weren’t as fast or durable as Falcon’s, but they were lighter and quieter. More importantly, her wings cost half the price of the original. Meanwhile, the villainous Red Widow led her team through the streets of Moscow in search of a decommissioned KGB facility that were the base of operations for the long-forgotten “Snowblind” project. Red Widow told them that there was little information left about the project but that it involved data collection and destruction. When they reached the facility, Yelena was waiting for them.
She attacked the villains with a non-lethal smoke grenade, which earned the Red Widow’s ire, who called it “pathetic.” The two dueled through a set of fire escapes that eventually led them to Moscow’s rooftops. Vanguard attacked her with his own “knockoff” copy of Captain America’s shield but she dodged it with ease. Yelena then confronted Ursa Major with the “Snowblind” data she had stolen and tried to convince them that it was the key to turning the tables on the monsters that controlled them. Vanguard interrupted their conversation, and the Widow fled using her new flying equipment. The issue ends with Dracula contacting the Winter Guard’s handlers and telling them to come to Chernobyl if they want the data Yelena and Red Guardian stole.
Self-contained flight technology is fairly commonplace in the Marvel universe. The Spider-Man villain the Vulture and the Avengers’ Wasp fly using wings they designed themselves, while SHIELD agents use jet packs as standard equipment. But Falcon’s wings are special because they were originally designed by Black Panther alongside a group of Wakandan scientists specifically so he could engage in aerial combat. Falcon’s wings have been the key to his fighting style since his debut, so much so that he still uses them in his role as Captain America.
The Winter Guard have been gearing up for all-out war against the Avengers after kidnapping She-Hulk and turning her into Winter She-Hulk, so it makes perfect sense that Yelena is gearing herself up for a serious fight with new equipment. Yelena’s new wings could be a game changer for the White Widow because they allow her to quickly travel from place to place and literally fly circles around her enemies.
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