Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts film remains largely mysterious, but a recent Big Game trailer offers a glimpse into the MCU team-up. While plot details remain scarce, the trailer provides a clearer view of Lewis Pullman as Bob, aka The Sentry. This Superman-esque hero's MCU debut promises significant repercussions.
Who is The Sentry, and why is he both the Marvel Universe's greatest champion and its most formidable threat? Let's explore this mentally unstable hero's history and his potential role in Thunderbolts.
The Sentry: Unveiling Lewis Pullman's Character
The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most potent, yet perilous, superhero. Once an ordinary man, Bob Reynolds, he consumed a serum granting him "the power of a million exploding suns." This power, however, comes with a devastating price: a dark alter ego known as The Void. For every heroic act, The Void commits an equally malevolent deed. Bob Reynolds' struggle against his inner darkness is a constant, losing battle. Yet, when a powerful hero is needed, none surpass The Sentry.
The Sentry's Powers and Abilities
The Sentry's abilities originate from an experimental serum, a post-World War II attempt to replicate the Super Soldier Serum. This serum purportedly accelerates his molecules forward in time, granting him near-limitless powers.
As The Sentry, Bob possesses strength comparable to Hulk and Thor, flight, superhuman speed, enhanced senses, and near invulnerability. He can absorb and project energy, enabling feats like energy blasts, teleportation, and subduing the Hulk. He is, in essence, Marvel's equivalent of Superman.
The Void, however, is arguably even more powerful and dangerous. This shape-shifting, demonic entity controls weather patterns, manipulates minds, and has withstood the combined forces of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four. Even banishing it to the sun proved only a temporary solution.
The Sentry Quick Reference
First Appearance: The Sentry #1 (2000)
Creators: Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, & Jae Lee
Aliases: The Void, Golden Man, The Golden Guardian of Good
Current Team: None (formerly New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers)
Essential Reading: The Sentry Vol. 1, Age of the Sentry, Dark Avengers, Siege
The Sentry's Secret Origin
Created by Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, and Jae Lee, The Sentry debuted in the 2000 miniseries. The story presents him as a forgotten hero from the Marvel Universe's past, even to Bob Reynolds himself. Bob recovers his memories and becomes The Sentry, only to find his nemesis, The Void, has also returned. His history with characters like the Hulk and Fantastic Four is retroactively integrated into Marvel continuity.
The Sentry and The Void are revealed as two sides of the same coin. The world's collective memory of The Sentry was erased to protect it from The Void. Bob repeats this act to contain his dark side, leaving the question of his own memory ambiguous.
The Sentry as an Avenger
While initially a self-contained story, The Sentry became a recurring Marvel character. He joined the New Avengers in 2004, alongside Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Luke Cage. Despite his power, he constantly battles to maintain his sanity and control The Void.
During the Civil War (2006), he sided with Iron Man's pro-registration faction. He played a crucial role in thwarting the Hulk in World War Hulk (2007). However, his downfall began in Dark Reign (2009) when Norman Osborn recruited him for the Dark Avengers. Osborn's attempt to control him failed, leading to The Void's release in Siege (2010). The Sentry's death followed, though he has since been resurrected and killed again. The 2023 The Sentry series explores a new host for his power.
The Sentry's Role in Thunderbolts
The Sentry's appearances outside of comics have been limited, but Lewis Pullman's casting marks his MCU debut. He will appear in Thunderbolts (2025), alongside Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.
His precise role remains unclear, but his comic book history suggests he will be both a powerful hero and a terrifying villain. Will he initially be a Thunderbolts member, only to become their greatest threat? His presence significantly alters the power dynamic within the team.
The film might mirror Norman Osborn's manipulation of the Dark Avengers, with Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine exploiting The Sentry's power. The Sentry could be the film's equivalent of Suicide Squad's Enchantress. The extent to which his past and his Superman-like nature will be explored remains to be seen.
The Thunderbolts: A History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team
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Note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2023, and updated on September 23, 2024.
