Often referred to as the Marvel version of Superman, the Sentry is one of the publisher’s most powerful heroes. A relatively new character in the grand scope of comics, he debuted in The Sentry #1 in 2000 as part of the Marvel Knights publishing line. Created by Paul Jenkins, Jae Lee, and Rick Veitch, the idea was to introduce a hero who had supposedly existed for years but had been forgotten over time. The Sentry’s fictional history even included past adventures within the Marvel Universe.

Despite his relatively short existence, the Sentry and his dark counterpart, the Void, have made a significant impact on both stories and readers. The character is set to appear in the MCU film Thunderbolts, which brings together morally ambiguous heroes and villains to take down a greater threat.

The Secret History of the Sentry

The Sentry Has Been a Part of the Marvel Universe This Whole Time

In an attempt to recreate the super-soldier serum that created Captain America, a joint operation between Canada and the U.S. not only succeeded but amplified its power a hundred thousand times over. More than a decade later, Robert “Bob” Reynolds broke into a compound containing the serum and ingested it, granting him the power of a million exploding suns. The government attempted to contain and study him, but Reynolds broke free and chose a life of heroism. After his escape, he crafted his own suit and became the Sentry.

In his early days, the Sentry was one of the few heroes active before the debut of the Fantastic Four and a close ally of theirs. As newer and younger heroes emerged, he became a role model for figures like Spider-Man and an ally to the X-Men. Eventually, a dark force called the Void appeared, wreaking havoc on an unimaginable scale, nearly killing Sentry’s sidekick, Scout, driving the Hulk insane, and murdering millions.

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Reynolds discovered that the Void was a dark manifestation of his own powers and realized that the only way to stop it was to forget about it entirely. Without the Sentry, there is no Void. Working with Doctor Strange and Mister Fantastic, Bob Reynolds devised a system that erased all memory of the Sentry from everyone on Earth, including themselves.

Years later, the Void returned, which forced the Sentry to gather all of Earth’s heroes for another battle. In the process, he realized he had to make the same sacrifice once again. All was forgotten, and both he and the Void disappeared once more. Sentry eventually returned and took part in some of Marvel’s biggest events like Civil War and Secret Invasion. He was last seen in the battle against Knull during King in Black. During that fight, the Sentry was brutally ripped apart by the symbiote god, who absorbed the Void into himself. In the aftermath, Jane Foster carried Reynolds’ soul to Valhalla.

More recently, the Sentry was resurrected, but not as Bob Reynolds. The Blasphemy Cartel acquired the Sentry’s body and used it to create a dangerous monster that they referred to as “Revenant Prime.” After the entity was defeated, the Sentry’s powers were transferred to people who had been harmed by The Blasphemy Cartel.

The Sentry’s Powers And Abilities

The Sentry Is More Than a Little Overpowered

Sentry’s powers are, at their core, derived from the super-soldier serum he consumed. This serum was based on the original formula used on Steve Rogers and later enhanced by the Weapon X program. In The Age of Sentry miniseries, it’s suggested that Sentry’s powers come from a sentient entity from another universe that merged with the serum while the entity was searching for a new home. Regardless of his exact origin, Sentry wields a staggering array of abilities that make him one of Marvel’s most powerful beings.

Some of the Sentry’s powers can warp reality, drawing from another timestream where a million suns are continuously exploding and being reborn. He can also absorb limitless amounts of energy, making his potential power effectively infinite. His strength is immense; the Sentry has lifted and moved a S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier on his own and has even stood toe-to-toe with Galactus. Like other Superman-like characters, he possesses flight, invulnerability, enhanced senses, and super speed.

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Beyond these, Sentry has more specialized abilities, including molecular manipulation, teleportation, invisibility, and energy projection. One of his most formidable traits is his near-immortality since both Sentry and the Void can be reborn if killed. His incredible healing factor allows him to recover from virtually anything, even coming back from being shot to death.

What Is The Void In Marvel Comics?

The Void Is the Dark Side Of Sentry

The Void is a dark entity intrinsically linked to both Sentry and Robert Reynolds, with several conflicting explanations for its existence. Some accounts describe it as the natural balance to Sentry’s goodness, the manifestation of the evil that exists within all beings. Others suggest it was a mind virus implanted by Mastermind, while another theory posits that the Void is Reynolds’ true personality and that Sentry is the impostor. Regardless of its origin, the Void serves as Sentry’s dark counterpart, countering every heroic act with an equally despicable one.

Despite its nightmarish nature and destructive intentions, the Void doesn’t appear to possess as many abilities as Sentry. It can shapeshift, often taking the form of a dark figure in a trench coat or transforming into a massive, blackened hurricane. It can also assume abilities based on the form it takes. If the Void were to mimic Juggernaut, for example, it would gain similar strength and durability.

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The Void can manipulate the weather and extend long, shadowy tendrils that attack a person’s mind, forcing them to experience horrifying visions across time. At its most powerful, the Void is nearly unstoppable, having battled the combined forces of the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Inhumans, and even the Illuminati.