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He ’s often been save off as Marvel ’s version of Superman , but theSentryis much more than some unproblematic atomic number 6 copy . He may have the ness and the godlike powers , but Marvel ’s Golden Avenger is an entirely unique take on the superhero concept . In fact , he might just be the most fascinating superhero created in the twenty-first century .
The Sentry first appeared in his own ego - titled miniseries in 2000 from creators Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee , following up on their critically acclaimed revamp of the Inhumans write by the Marvel Knights embossment in the tardy 1990s .
The self-love of the original miniseries focuses on Robert Reynolds , a seemingly average human beings who discovers thathe ’s in reality the Sentry , the most powerful submarine sandwich in the Marvel Universe . Toprotect the world from his archenemy the Void , the Sentry erased his and everyone else ’s retentivity of who he was , until the Void regress to threaten all of existence once more … or at least that ’s how it seems .
As part of the marketing push for his original series , Marvel originally affect that Sentry was an old Stan Lee idea that never made it to the Sir Frederick Handley Page , with his design think to evoke the Silver Age of strip .
The Sentry is a divine superhuman , but his colored half the Void is an ancient force so terrific , it makes the skilful bozo looks like an afterthought .
Sentry’s Similarities to Superman Are a Deliberate Mislead
Marvel Played Up the ‘Traditional Superhero’ Image to Hide a Killer Twist
One of the merchandising points early on for the Sentry was the idea that he had been forgotten not just by the Marvel heroes , but by proofreader as well . As part of the selling push forthe originalSentryseries , Marvel presented the hero as a lose conception by Stan Lee that never saw publishing during the Silver Age . Marvel ran with the stunt for the entirety of that firstSentryseries , only give away it was a hoax after the series was completed . While a promotion gimmick , the notion that theSentry was forgotten even in the substantial world append a layer of believability to the character .
During that initial serial , Robert Reynolds remembers his past as the Sentry after the Void return and threatens the Marvel Universe . It turns out that Reynolds first acquired his top executive from a rendering of the Super - Soldier Serum derived from the original thatturned Steve Rogers into Captain America . Once he began contend offense as the Sentry , he encountered another being of great major power known as the Void , who soon became his patronising - opposition . The series eventually bring out the reason Reynolds erased his and everyone else ’s memories was thathe and the Void are actually the same person , with the villain manifesting as the grim half of the Sentry ’s head .
Bob took the enhanced Super - Soldier Serum while sample to get high , invert the common superhero descent where a normal individual is transform by a uncongenial outside force .
Presenting Sentry as a liberal , caped , flying , Superman - esque figure made the reveal of his dismal half all the more shocking …
Presenting Sentry as a handsome , cap , flying , Superman - esque figure made the reveal of his dark half all the more disgraceful , while also making it more believable that he was a classical concept that was pass on on the cutting room story . Sentry ’s similarity to Superman is n’t accidental , but it ’s also not a rend - off - it ’s integral to the ambitious , metatextual approach Marvel accept to the character ’s debut .
With the stunning divine revelation of the Void / Sentry connection , theoriginalSentryseries became a fascinating scrutiny of superhero psychological science . The Sentry and the Void being two halves of the same coin acts as the perfect mental representation of the conflicted morals that exist in all of us , and also shows that - no matter how bright - every light casts a shadow . The original 2000 miniseries explore this conception through the humeral veil of risible book history , with creative person Jae Lee aping various artistic styles to represent dissimilar periods in comic book account . author Paul Jenkins continued toexplore the Sentry ’s psychological depthsin the excellent sequel series with creative person John Romita , Jr.
Marvel later developed the lore between Sentry and the Void , suggesting that while the Void identity was determine by Bob ’s subconscious , it was also a pre - existent demonic parasite that attach to him when he first gained superpower .
The Sentry & the Void: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Marvel’s Forgotten Hero is a Fascinating Psychological Portrait
After the original miniseries , the Sentry disappeared from Marvel Comics for a time . Yet when the Avengers franchise was boot as theNew Avengers , the Sentry join the team , becoming a large hoagie in the Marvel Universe once more . The Sentry appeared on and off in the years after , pass away for the second and apparently net time in conflict with Knullduring theKing in Blackcrossover . Marvel revamped the concept in the 2023Sentryminiseries , which saw Reynolds ’ tycoon gifted to new hero Solarus .
So far , Solarus has prove no signs of having her own Void image . However , she was opposed by the villainous Ryan Topper , who fight down her for Sentry ’s powers . Currently , Solarus is being check in her tycoon by veteran crime - belligerent Misty Knight .
found a psychotic person - analytic examination of the superhero concept , the Sentry has established himself as far more than simply the Marvel interlingual rendition of Superman .
There was a time when the Sentry was reckon the strongest hero Marvel had to offer . Now a new hero has the potential to replete the Sentry ’s role .
reckon Bob Reynolds will be appearing in this summer’sThunderbolts*movie , it ’s probable Marvel wo n’t keep the original Sentry dead for long . This could be an splendid chance to complete what original co - creator Paul Jenkinsrefers to as hisSentrytrilogy , finally bringing the writer ’s original ideas for the Sentry to life as he die from submarine sandwich to god . As the Sentry ’s co - Lord , the argument could be made thatnone of the other stories have the character by other writer have quite populate up to the psychological complexness of the twoSentryseries pen by Jenkins .
constitute a psycho - analytic interrogatory of the superhero concept , the Sentry has established himself as far more than simply the Marvel adaptation of Superman . Indeed , Sentry can be see ascommentingon DC ’s Superman - a perfectly moral superhuman who is completely worthy of his unlimited power . lookout asks what would bump if that same soul was fallible , and liable to be ruin by their own power .
scout engages with the superhero archetype that Superman produce , but as far more than a simple clon or knocking - off . Hopefully , Marvel has plans to bring their original Golden Guardian back sometime soon to further explore the depth of superhero psychological science , but in the meanwhile , theSentry’soriginal miniseries and its sequel fend out as bonafide Marvel classics .
