Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts film remains largely mysterious, but the recent Big Game trailer offers a glimpse into the MCU team-up. While plot details are scarce, the trailer provides a clearer look at Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds, aka The Sentry. This Superman-esque hero's MCU debut promises significant ramifications.
Who is The Sentry, and why is he both the Marvel Universe's greatest champion and its most terrifying threat? Let's explore this mentally unstable hero's history and his potential role in Thunderbolts. This article covers:
The Sentry's Identity, Powers, and OriginStoryThe Sentry's Avengers TenureThe Sentry's Role in Thunderbolts
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Lewis Pullman's Thunderbolts Character: The Sentry
The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most potent, yet perilous, superhero.
Once an ordinary individual named Bob Reynolds, he consumed a serum granting him "the power of a million exploding suns." This immense power, however, comes with a devastating price: a dark alter ego known as The Void. For every heroic act, The Void commits an equally evil 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 is arguably the Marvel Universe's most potent, yet perilous, superhero.
The Sentry's Powers and Abilities
The Sentry's abilities stem from an experimental serum, a post-World War II attempt to create a Super Soldier Serum alternative. The serum purportedly accelerates his molecules forward in time. This translates to incredible strength rivaling Hulk and Thor, flight, super-speed, enhanced senses, and near-invulnerability. He can also absorb and project energy, enabling feats like energy blasts, teleportation, and subduing the Hulk. In terms of power, The Sentry is Marvel's equivalent of Superman.
As The Void, Bob is arguably even more formidable and dangerous. The Void is a shapeshifting, demonic entity capable of weather manipulation and mental intrusion. The Void has withstood the combined force of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, and even solar confinement proves only a temporary solution.
The Sentry Cheat Sheet
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)
Recommended 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 The Sentry miniseries. The series portrays him as a forgotten hero from the Marvel Universe's past, even to Bob Reynolds himself – a middle-aged, overweight man who initially doesn't remember his heroic past.
Bob's recovered memories bring back The Sentry, along with his nemesis, The Void. The Sentry's history with figures like Hulk and the Fantastic Four is established, retroactively integrating him into Marvel continuity.
Ultimately, 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 is forced to repeat this act to contain his dark side, again wiping the world's memory of The Sentry, leaving ambiguous whether Bob himself remembers his superhuman identities.
The Sentry as an Avenger
While the original The Sentry miniseries was self-contained, the character later became a recurring figure in the Marvel Universe. He joined the New Avengers in 2004, alongside Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Luke Cage.
New Avengers depicts The Sentry as a self-imposed prisoner, intervening in a supervillain jailbreak and reluctantly joining the team. Despite his power, he struggles to maintain his sanity and control The Void.
During the 2006 Civil War, The Sentry sided with Iron Man's pro-registration faction, recognizing the dangers of unchecked power. He played a crucial role in countering the Hulk's rampage in 2007's World War Hulk.
His downfall began in 2009's Dark Reign, where Norman Osborn manipulated him into joining the "Dark Avengers." Osborn's gamble on controlling The Sentry failed, unleashing The Void in 2010's Siege. The Sentry's death followed, though he has since been resurrected and killed again. The 2023 The Sentry series explores a new host for The Sentry's power.
The Sentry's Role in the Thunderbolts Movie
Beyond a few appearances in mobile games, The Sentry has limited exposure outside Marvel comics. Lewis Pullman's casting marks his MCU debut.
While not starring in a solo film (yet), Pullman's Sentry will appear in 2025's Thunderbolts, alongside Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.
The Sentry's precise role remains unclear, but his comic book history suggests he'll be portrayed as both a powerful hero and a terrifying villain. Will he initially be a Thunderbolts member, only to become their ultimate nemesis? The relatively limited powers of the team make a confrontation with The Sentry a monumental challenge.
The Thunderbolts: A Tumultuous History
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Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine might manipulate The Sentry, mirroring Norman Osborn's actions in Dark Avengers. If Thunderbolts is a Marvel version of Suicide Squad, The Sentry could be the film's equivalent of Enchantress.
The film's handling of The Sentry's forgotten past and his connection to other heroes remains unknown. The extent to which he'll be presented as a Superman analogue is also uncertain. More details will emerge as the May 2025 release date approaches.
Note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2023 and updated on September 23, 2024 with the latest information about Thunderbolts.
