ROCKET RED BRIGADE	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Steve Englehart and Joe Staton

TEAM DATA

Status: Active
Current Members: Rocket Red #4 (Dmitri Pushkin),
Occupation: National heroes
Base of Operation: Russia (The former Soviet Union)
First Appearance: Green Lantern Corps #208 (January 1987)
Creators: Steve Englehart and Joe Staton

OVERVIEW

A group of heroes created by the Russian government, members of the Rocket Red have valiantly defended their nation and the Earth over the years. Recently, their technology has been corrupted by various criminal organizations.

MEMBERSHIP

Member	First Appearance	Joined	Status	Note
Rocket Red #1 (Josef Denisovich)			Deceased	The first Rocket Red
Rocket Red #7 (Vladimir Mikoyan)	(seen): Green Lantern Corps #208; (as a distinct individual): Justice League International #7 (November 1987)
Rocket Red #4 (Dmitri Pushkin)	(seen): Green Lantern Corps #208; (as a distinct individual): Justice League #3		Active
Rocket Red X (Misha)	New Guardians #5		Unknown

HISTORY

Disturbed by the rapid increase of superheroes in the USA, the Soviet government decided they had to create their own super-powered agents. The alien Green Lantern Kilowog had shown interest in Communism (since it reminded him of the constitution of his home planet Bolovax Vik) and agreed to cooperate with the Soviet Doctor Krenshikov to create the powerful Rocket Red technology. The first Rocket Red, Josef Denisovich, became good friends with Kilowog. Later, Kilowog realized that the Soviets abused his inventions, and in an ensuing battle, he was tragically forced to kill Josef.

The Brigade, however, grew in size, soon becoming the national super-guard of the Soviet Union. They defended their nation against foreign agression, bravely battled alien forces during the Millennium event and the Invasion!, and encountered American super-heroes such as the Green Lanterns, the Suicide Squad (II), and the Justice League. Indeed, when the League went International, a Rocket Red was admitted into their ranks. Rocket Red #7, Vladimir Mikoyan, later turned out to be a traitor and an agent of the alien Manhunters, and was replaced with the more trustworthy Rocket Red #4, Dmitri Pushkin. (Dmitri's armor was eventually destroyed by Lobo, and he got a new one on Apokolips, making him the most powerful Rocket Red of them all.)

When the evil Extremists (I) first appeared on Earth, many Rocket Reds were killed and their ranks decimated. New members were recruited later, but the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War made their future uncertain.

With Russia more vulnerable than before, the Modoran terrorist Sonar (I) hypnotized the remaining Rocket Reds – including Dmitri – and used them in an attempt to gain control over the Justice League and several European nations. The Brigade's suits were now updated, based on the design of Dmitri's Apokoliptan armor. Sonar was eventually defeated by the League and their allies, and the Rocket Reds were freed from his control.

Subsequently, the Rocket Red organization has become a veritable mess. Some of the more heroic members (like Dmitri) are still active or semi-active from time to time, while others have retired completely, or even gone rogue. Pieces of Rocket Red armour have been stripped and sold on the black market, and several of the original Rocket Reds are now working for the Russian mob.

A rogue version of the Rocket Red Brigade is led by Russian mob leader Sergei Vurskelyov, and has been encountered by metahuman investigator Cameron Chase and the Suicide Squad (II), while Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner) and Arsenal (IV) once battled a group of Quraci terrorists using their equipment.

Quite recently, four of the original Rocket Red suits were purchased by Vandal Savage, who used their nuclear capacity in an attempt to take over the world. Three of the missiles were stopped, but the fourth tragically destroyed the entire city of Montevideo.

Dmitri Pushkin has returned to the Ukraine. He sometimes acts as Rocket Red but is mostly retired.

POWERS AND WEAPONS

The Rocket Reds were all recruited from the best military men to be found in the Soviet Union at the time. The Rocket Red training also included bio-engineering to make their minds and bodies one with the suits. Kilowog's technology was extremely powerful and, although not quite in the class of Martian Manhunter or Captain Atom, it would give even them a match. Furthermore, the suits enabled the user to fly and fire powerful blasts with the capacity of a small atomic bomb.

Dmitri Pushkin's Apokoliptan armor is one of a kind. It is even more powerful than the original design and the extent of its abilities have not yet been explored.

The downsized suits used by the rogue Rocket Reds working for the mob are presumably less powerful than the originals.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Rocket Red Brigade in chronological order click here

PROFILE REFERENCES

Who's Who: Update '87 #5 (December 1987)