The Marvel character known as The Sentry is one of the most complex and powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee, he first appeared in The Sentry #1 in 2000.
Robert Reynolds, a seemingly ordinary man with a troubled past, gains the power of “a million exploding suns” after ingesting an experimental serum. This serum transforms him into The Sentry, imbuing him with Superman-like abilities, including super strength, flight, invulnerability, and energy manipulation.
Alongside his heroic abilities, The Sentry’s plagued by a darker, more malevolent force known as The Void—a being that represents his inner darkness and fears.
The Sentry’s backstory’s unique because Marvel initially framed him as a “forgotten” hero who’s been erased from everyone’s memories due to his unstable powers and The Void’s destructive nature. Reynolds, fearing the devastation The Void could bring, allowed his existence to be wiped from the memories of heroes and civilians alike.
This aspect of his story makes him not only a formidable powerhouse but also a tragic character battling mental health issues, particularly agoraphobia and dissociative identity disorder. His constant struggle with The Void creates a moral and psychological challenge, as The Sentry is both a hero and a potential villain within himself.
As he reintegrates into the Marvel Universe, The Sentry aligns himself with the Avengers and various superhero teams, although his allegiance is often precarious. His overwhelming power and volatile mental state make him both a valuable asset and a potential threat to those around him.
Despite his abilities, The Sentry’s often depicted as deeply human, grappling with insecurities, guilt, and trauma. His duality as both savior and destroyer resonates throughout his story arcs, presenting a recurring theme of redemption and self-acceptance in Marvel Comics.
It’s all speculation at the moment, but The Sentry is the big villain in the Thunderbolts movie. How Marvel interacts with all of these characters could be interesting. I have a feeling that although the Sentry is the potential protagonist of the film, the overarching villain is government oversight and control.
This could be the ‘snake in the grass’ buildup Marvel goes with to lead into the events of Captain America: New World Order.
