Marvel's The Sentry Explained: Who Is Lewis Pullman's \"Bob\" In Thunderbolts?

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 remain scarce, the trailer provides a clearer look at Lewis Pullman as Bob, aka The Sentry. This Superman-esque hero's MCU debut promises significant, potentially terrifying, consequences.

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: A Powerful, Perilous Hero

The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most powerful, yet most dangerous, superhero. Formerly an ordinary man named Bob Reynolds, he gained "the power of a million exploding suns" from an experimental serum. This immense power comes at a terrible cost: a dark alter ego, The Void. The Void mirrors The Sentry's good deeds with equally destructive acts of evil. 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 Abilities and Powers

The Sentry's abilities originate from a post-World War II experimental serum, designed as a potential Super Soldier Serum alternative. This serum reportedly accelerates his molecules forward in time, granting him near-limitless powers.

As The Sentry, Bob possesses strength rivaling Hulk and Thor, alongside flight, super-speed, enhanced senses, and near-invulnerability. He can absorb and project energy, enabling feats like energy blasts, teleportation, and subduing a rampaging Hulk. Essentially, he's Marvel's version of Superman.

The Void, however, is arguably even more potent and dangerous. This shapeshifting, demonic entity controls weather, invades minds, and has withstood the combined forces of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four; even banishment to the sun proves only a temporary solution.

The Sentry: Key Facts

• First Appearance: The Sentry #1 (2000)
• Creators: Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, & Jae Lee
• Aliases: The Void, Golden Man, The Golden Guardian of Good
• Teams: Formerly New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Dark Avengers
• Essential Reading: The Sentry Vol. 1, Age of the Sentry, Dark Avengers, Siege

The Sentry's Mysterious Origin

Created by Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, and Jae Lee, The Sentry debuted in the 2000 The Sentry 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, Bob becomes The Sentry, only to discover The Void's return. The miniseries reveals his past encounters with Hulk and the Fantastic Four, 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 ambiguous whether he truly forgets his superhuman identities.

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 immense power, he struggles to maintain sanity and control The Void.

During the Civil War (2006), he sided with Iron Man's pro-registration faction, understanding the dangers of unchecked power. He also played a crucial role in countering Hulk's rage in World War Hulk (2007).

However, his downfall began in Dark Reign (2009), where Norman Osborn manipulated him into joining the Dark Avengers. Osborn's gamble to control The Sentry ultimately failed.

The Void's unleashing in Siege (2010) led to a battle against Asgard, resulting in The Sentry's death (though he's been resurrected and killed multiple times since). The 2023 The Sentry series explores a new host for The Sentry's power and the enduring burden of The Void.

The Sentry's Role in Thunderbolts

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

His 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 ultimate nemesis? The Thunderbolts' relatively limited powers make a confrontation with The Sentry a monumental challenge.

The Thunderbolts: A History of Chaos

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

The film's handling of The Sentry's forgotten past and his connection to other heroes remains unknown. His portrayal as a twisted 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*.