MCU Thunderbolts: Sentry Connection Revealed!

Marvel's upcoming Thunderbolts film remains enigmatic, but the 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 terrifying threat? Let's explore this mentally unstable hero's history and his potential role in Thunderbolts.

The Sentry: A Closer Look

The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most powerful, yet most 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 at a steep price: a dark alter ego known as The Void. For every good deed The Sentry performs, The Void commits an equally evil act. Bob Reynolds' struggle against his inner darkness is a constant, losing battle. Yet, when a powerful hero is needed, none are better suited than The Sentry.

The Sentry's Abilities

The Sentry's powers originate from an experimental serum, a potential Super Soldier Serum replacement developed post-World War II. The serum reportedly accelerates his molecules forward in time, granting him immense strength comparable to 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 essence, The Sentry is Marvel's answer to Superman.

The Void, however, is arguably even more potent and dangerous. A shape-shifting, demonic entity, The Void controls weather, manipulates minds, and has withstood the combined might of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four. Even banishment to the sun proves only a temporary solution.

The Sentry Quick Facts

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 Untold Origin

Created by Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, and Jae Lee, The Sentry debuted in the 2000 miniseries. Initially presented as a forgotten hero, even Bob Reynolds—a middle-aged, overweight man—had no memory of his past as "The Golden Guardian of Good."

Upon regaining his memories, The Sentry confronts his nemesis, The Void. His history with the Hulk and Fantastic Four is revealed, retroactively integrating him 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: An Avenger's Journey

While the original miniseries was self-contained, 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 struggles to maintain sanity and control The Void.

During the Civil War, he sided with Iron Man's pro-registration faction, demonstrating his understanding of unchecked power's dangers. He played a crucial role in thwarting the Hulk in World War Hulk.

His downfall begins in Dark Reign (2009), where Norman Osborn manipulates him into joining the Dark Avengers. Osborn's gamble to control The Sentry fails, unleashing The Void in Siege (2010). The Sentry's death follows, 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 in Thunderbolts

Beyond comics and some mobile games, The Sentry's appearances have been limited. Lewis Pullman's casting marks his MCU debut in Thunderbolts (2025), alongside Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.

The Sentry's precise role remains unclear, but his comic book history suggests a portrayal as both powerful hero and terrifying villain. Will he initially be a Thunderbolts member, only to become their worst nightmare? His immense power presents a significant challenge to the team.

Thunderbolts: A Look at Marvel's Unstable Team

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Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine might exploit The Sentry's power, mirroring Norman Osborn's actions in Dark Avengers. If Thunderbolts resembles Suicide Squad, The Sentry could be the film's Enchantress equivalent.

The film's handling of The Sentry's forgotten past and his connection to other heroes remains uncertain. His portrayal as a twisted Superman analogue is also yet to be seen. More details will emerge closer to the May 2025 release date.

Note: This article was originally published on November 17, 2023, and updated on September 23, 2024, with the latest information about Thunderbolts.