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

Who is The Sentry, and why is he simultaneously the Marvel Universe's greatest hero and its worst nightmare? Let's explore this mentally unstable hero's history and his potential role in Thunderbolts.

The Sentry: A Powerful, Perilous Presence

The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most powerful, and most dangerous, superhero. Once an ordinary man, Bob Reynolds, he consumed a serum granting him "the power of a million exploding suns." This immense power comes with a dark price: The Void, a malevolent alter ego that mirrors The Sentry's good deeds with acts of evil. Bob's struggle to control 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: A Spectrum of Power

The Sentry's powers originate from an experimental serum, a post-World War II attempt to create a Super Soldier Serum alternative. The serum reportedly accelerates his molecular structure, granting him incredible strength rivaling Hulk and Thor, flight, super-speed, enhanced senses, and near invulnerability. He can manipulate and project energy, enabling feats like energy blasts, teleportation, and subduing the Hulk. Essentially, The Sentry is Marvel's version of Superman.

The Void, however, is arguably even more formidable. This shape-shifting entity 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's Secret Origin: A Forgotten Hero

Created by Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, and Jae Lee, The Sentry debuted in 2000. Initially presented as a forgotten hero, even Bob Reynolds, a middle-aged man, didn't remember his past as "The Golden Guardian of Good." Regaining his memories, he confronts The Void's return. His history with heroes like the Hulk and Fantastic Four is retroactively integrated into Marvel continuity.

The Sentry and The Void are revealed as two sides of the same coin. The world forgot The Sentry to protect itself from The Void. Bob repeats this act to contain his dark side, erasing the world's memory, although the extent of his own memory loss remains ambiguous.

The Sentry's Avenger Years: A Double-Edged Sword

While initially a self-contained story, The Sentry became a recurring Marvel character. He joined the New Avengers in 2004, proving a powerful asset but constantly battling his sanity and The Void. He sided with Iron Man during Civil War and played a crucial role against the Hulk in World War Hulk.

His downfall began during Dark Reign (2009), when Norman Osborn recruited him for the Dark Avengers. Osborn's gamble to control him failed, leading to The Void's unleashing during Siege (2010). The Sentry's death followed, though he's since been resurrected and killed again, with ongoing explorations of his powers and the true nature of his duality. His most recent death occurred in 2020's King in Black, and the 2023 The Sentry series explores a new host for his powers.

The Sentry's Thunderbolts Role: A Looming Threat?

Beyond comics and some mobile games, The Sentry's appearances have been limited. Lewis Pullman's casting marks his MCU debut. He won't star in a solo film (yet), but he joins Thunderbolts (2025) alongside Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.

His exact role remains unclear, but his comic book history suggests a powerful hero and terrifying villain. Will he initially be a Thunderbolts member, only to become their worst nightmare? The team's relatively low power levels make a confrontation with The Sentry a monumental challenge.

Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine might manipulate him, mirroring Norman Osborn's role in the Dark Avengers. The Sentry could be the film's equivalent of Suicide Squad's Enchantress. Whether his past within the MCU will be explored, and how closely he'll resemble DC's Superman, remains to be seen. More details will emerge as Thunderbolts' 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*.