Sentry is often referred to as Marvel’s Superman, known for his immense power described as “the power of a million exploding suns.” But who exactly is Sentry? Robert “Bob” Reynolds, aka Sentry, is a character that no one had heard of until the year 2000, not even the most famous superheroes. Hulk respects him, and he was once close friends with Reed Richards. Interestingly, Sentry himself didn’t always remember these things about his past, which is a core part of what makes his character so fascinating.
Sentry in the MCU
Robert “Bob” Reynolds is set to make his MCU debut in the upcoming Thunderbolts* movie, portrayed by Louis Pullman. In the MCU, Sentry’s abilities could easily rival those of Hulk and Thor, and in some scenarios, he might even surpass them. His story is captivating, and Sentry was created by Paul Jenkins with the intention of introducing a new character deeply connected to Marvel’s history. However, for reasons unknown, Sentry seems to be a forgotten character today.
Sentry’s Unique Origin Story
Sentry’s origin story is unlike that of any other Marvel character. He first appeared in the year 2000 in the miniseries “The Sentry,” where we meet Bob Reynolds, a middle-aged, overweight man who suddenly recalls that he is Sentry, a superhero with the power of a million exploding suns, granted by a special serum. As memories flood back, he realizes that his enemy, Void, has returned. Bob tries to warn his old friends but discovers that nobody remembers him or Sentry. It is only through piecing together his own memories that he begins to recall his history as Sentry, including his battles with Void.
Forgotten by the World
Sentry had a significant impact on the Marvel Universe: he removed Angel’s fear of falling, helped Peter Parker achieve fame by taking the Pulitzer-winning photo, and maintained a unique friendship with Bruce Banner, who always remembered Sentry as the “Golden Man.” Mr. Fantastic recalls Sentry as his best friend, with whom he embarked on numerous adventures. Yet, the mystery of why everyone, including Sentry’s sidekick Scout, who was severely injured by Void, had forgotten him, remained. Both Sentry and Mr. Fantastic embarked on investigations from different angles, while Void’s threat to Earth continued to grow.
Discovery of Sentry’s Past
Robert Reynolds tries to access his AI companion, Clock, located at his watchtower above Stark Tower, to uncover what happened. However, Clock doesn’t respond to Robert and instead reveals that Reed Richards was the last to give it commands. Reed, with the assistance of Doctor Strange, then remembers the true story. Back in 1947, a Canadian operation called Operation Rebirth was initiated to develop the Super Soldier Serum and to amplify its effects a hundredfold. Although the project went dormant for years due to departmental shifts, a scientist eventually succeeded in creating the Golden Sentry Serum.
Around this time, Robert Reynolds, a meth addict, broke into the lab, found the serum, and injected it into himself, gaining unparalleled powers. But the effects of the serum didn’t last, requiring repeated use. The scientist warned that with each dose, the amount required for the same effects would grow, posing a serious danger. Ignoring these warnings, Robert used his newfound powers to become a celebrated superhero, making friends with other heroes like the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, and Professor X.
The Rise of Void
Sentry’s greatest enemy, Void, was a monstrous entity who almost killed Scout, drove Hulk to madness, and caused the deaths of a million people in Manhattan. However, it was later revealed that Void was actually another side of Sentry himself, a result of the serum’s side effects, which fractured his mind into three personas: Robert Reynolds, Sentry, and Void. Although Sentry saved millions of lives, Void was responsible for taking hundreds of thousands.
Faced with this grim reality, Sentry decided to erase his presence from the world. With help from Reed Richards and his AI Clock, he wiped everyone’s memory of him. This is why, when his memories returned, nobody in the world remembered Sentry. But as Void threatened to resurface, Sentry knew it was time for everyone to forget once more. With assistance from Reed and Doctor Strange, Robert disappeared from the world’s memory again, though this time, he didn’t completely erase his own memories.
Sentry’s Powers and Abilities
Sentry’s powers come from the Golden Sentry Serum, which drastically enhances his strength, speed, and durability, making him hundreds of thousands of times stronger than Captain America. He has fought Thor and even Galactus, demonstrating his near-limitless power. When Iron Man scanned him, he couldn’t find any physical weaknesses. Sentry’s powers have also been described as including probability manipulation, cementing his reputation as Marvel’s version of Superman—one who is almost impossible to defeat.
Sentry possesses superhuman strength and is one of the strongest superheroes, capable of sinking an island and carrying a SHIELD Helicarrier. He has proven to be stronger than Thor and the Hulk and was able to lift the dead body of a Celestial and fly it into space. Sentry also possesses super speed and is able to fly from Earth to Saturn in moments. He is insanely durable, capable of surviving a nuclear explosion at point-blank range with no injuries, and he has a regenerative healing factor that allows him to heal from damage instantaneously, even after being completely destroyed. Additionally, Sentry has a range of other powers, including telepathy, energy absorption, and the ability to manipulate matter on a molecular level, making his powers effectively limitless.
Thunderbolts* and the Future of the MCU
As we prepare to see Sentry in the Thunderbolts*, played by Louis Pullman, his introduction brings a wealth of possibilities to the MCU, including the potential for storylines like Dark Avengers and Siege. Fans also speculate about the possibility of Sentry being involved in future adaptations of “World War Hulk,” where Hulk, in his World Breaker form, returns from Sakaar, unleashing a level of destruction even Earth’s mightiest heroes struggle to contain. Sentry, as one of the few beings capable of standing against Hulk in this form, could play a pivotal role.
