Who Is The Villain In Thunderbolts*? Everything You Need To Know About Sentry

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2025 finally marks the long-awaited arrival of “Thunderbolts*” at the cinemas, a Marvel Cinematic Universe project that has been in the works for some time. The tantalizing teasers and trailers released by Disney have given us a glimpse into what we can expect, and the logline sets the stage: “Caught in Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) deadly trap, these disenchanted outcasts are thrust onto a perilous journey that will compel them to face the deepest shadows of their past.” As a fan, I can hardly wait!

In this film, the lineup includes Yelena Belova (portrayed by Florence Pugh), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko). These characters are familiar to Marvel Cinematic Universe fans from previous movies. However, there’s a new character in the movie that viewers haven’t encountered before: Robert “Bob” Roberts, also known as Sentry, played by Lewis Pullman.

Unlike many other characters in Marvel Comics, Sentry is relatively fresh, and there’s a lot about him that casual fans might not be aware of. It remains unclear from the trailers whether he will portray the villain or the strongest member of the Thunderbolts in the upcoming movie. However, given his unique nature, it’s possible that he could take on both roles simultaneously since Sentry isn’t your typical powerhouse superhero. Despite his immense strength, he carries a multitude of flaws, including a sinister side to his hero persona that makes him formidably powerful yet over-the-top dangerous. Here is a rundown of key facts about Sentry ahead of “Thunderbolts.

He’s a Silver Age superhero

In simpler terms, Sentry is a superhero from the Silver Age who obtained his powers through a stolen and advanced Super Soldier serum. This serum was stronger than the one given to Steve Rogers (Captain America), and it affected Bob differently than those who previously used its variations. As a result of this extraordinary power, Bob decides to wear a spandex suit and calls himself Sentry. He then dedicates his time to fighting crime and collaborating with the world’s most renowned superheroes.

In his Watchtower base, Bob assumes the role of Sentry, a close ally of Reed Richards. Peter Parker captures an image of this new hero, earning him a Pulitzer Prize. It is Sentry who plays a key part in rehabilitating the Hulk. Essentially, Sentry stands as the most remarkable superhero among them – that is, until his other self stirs up much turmoil. The Void serves as Sentry’s arch-nemesis, with an intent to bring about widespread destruction. Interestingly, Void and Sentry share a strong connection, being two separate aspects of Bob’s fractured psyche, each representing distinct personalities within him.

To combat the emptiness, Bob concludes the most effective strategy is to eliminate his own recollections and any hint of his being from everyone worldwide. With a gadget situated atop the Watchtower, he accomplishes this, eventually transforming it into the new Stark Tower as people globally forget about Sentry and the Void. The Hulk is the sole exception, addressing him as “Golden Man,” but for the rest of the world, it seems neither of Bob’s personas have ever existed.

Sentry remembered who he was in 2000

Sentry’s journey began during the Silver Age, but it wasn’t until the Modern Age that he made his comic book debut; this was due to the character’s creation by artist Jae Lee and writer Paul Jenkins for “The Sentry” #1 in 2000. The story unfolds over a five-issue miniseries where we meet Bob, an older, heavier man who has no recollection of his past. However, everything changes when he mysteriously regains his memories as the Sentry, and discovers that the Void poses a danger once again.

After recalling his past, Sentry embarks on a mission to alert his old comrades and fellow superheroes, starting with Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards). As he interacts with various heroes, they gradually recollect their memories of Sentry, the Void, and what had been wiped from their minds years earlier by Bob. Meanwhile, the general populace also starts to remember Sentry, and his heroic image is restored in people’s collective memory worldwide. Reed and Sentry then work together to uncover the mystery behind how Sentry’s existence was forgotten on a global scale, which gradually sheds light on the true nature of the Void.

When they discover Sentry and the Void share the same identity, it’s evident that Bob’s memory-erasing method needs to be applied again to prevent the Void from threatening the world once more. However, the comic concludes in a puzzling manner. It turns out that the memory wipe didn’t stick, as Sentry is now imprisoned in The Raft, Marvel Universe’s maximum security supervillain facility. He voluntarily surrendered, convinced that as the Void, he had killed his wife – a heartbreaking revelation later found to be incorrect.

Bob has some mental health issues

In numerous aspects, Sentry is similar to Marvel’s interpretation of DC Comics’ Superman, but with a significant difference – he is a character burdened by flaws, adding depth and intrigue. Prior to acquiring his powers, Bob was diagnosed with anxiety disorder and schizophrenia. The Super Soldier serum amplifies all aspects of an individual, including their strengths and weaknesses, and in this instance, it’s the source of Bob’s complex psyche, dividing it into two contrasting parts: one side embodies light and goodness, while the other symbolizes darkness and evil.

As a devoted fan, I must express that alongside a myriad of challenges, Bob grapples with agoraphobia, making it hard for him to venture outdoors due to fear of causing harm. In the epic “World War Hulk” saga, Worldbreaker Hulk, then at his peak strength, was wreaking havoc across the planet. With such palpable danger looming, persuading Bob to step outside his sanctuary required immense persistence. For what seemed like an eternity, Tony Stark tirelessly pleaded with him to halt the Hulk, almost failing in his mission despite his best efforts.

The psychological complexities of the character, Bob, give him an intriguing depth. Although he possesses an overwhelming amount of power, he often undermines himself. To cope with his might, Bob developed the Void, which unintentionally puts the entire world at risk. This unique trait distinguishes Sentry from his DC counterpart, as despite sharing a similar power set, he isn’t just a carbon copy of Superman due to his intricate character development.

Should you, or someone close to you, be facing difficulties with mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You can text “HOME” to 741741 for Crisis Text Line support, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 1-800-950-6264, or explore resources on the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Sentry has the power of a million exploding suns

Back when Sentry initially graced the comic book scene, he was characterized as possessing the power of “a million bursting suns.” To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what this entails, but after witnessing his actions since his debut, it seems a modest assessment.

Sentry stands at the peak of Marvel Comics’ strength scale, and he’s squared off against some of the most formidable forces in existence. He managed to outmaneuver Thor, and held Worldbreaker Hulk at bay. Not only that, but he engaged Galactus in a standoff, earning him a place among a select few characters who have achieved such a feat. Alas, their confrontation took place off-page, yet the recognition of this battle as canonical speaks volumes about Sentry’s might.

Instead of just his raw physical might, Sentry possesses an extraordinary ability: the capacity to absorb and discharge limitless energy. He withstood a nuclear explosion right in front of him without a scratch, and even when he attempted self-destruction by venturing into the heart of the sun, the scorching heat failed to damage his Void form. In fact, it seems Sentry might be invincible, as very few things can harm him, and when injured, his body recovers almost instantaneously, outshining even Wolverine’s remarkable healing capabilities.

Additionally, Sentry possesses an impressive mental fortitude. He’s capable of warding off psychic assaults by concealing or secluding parts of his mind from even the strongest telepaths. Furthermore, he holds the ability to manipulate matter at its most fundamental level, granting him near-limitless physical capabilities. These include flight, heat vision, invisibility, light emission, psionic powers, size alteration, shape-shifting, and many other superhuman abilities. In essence, Sentry is a veritable treasure trove of superpowers, all encased in a golden suit.

Sentry joined a team under the leadership of Norman Osborn

In the comic books, Sentry isn’t part of the Thunderbolts, but he does join a group assembled by Spider-Man’s arch-nemesis, Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin. At that moment in time, Osborn is seen as a hero (though he isn’t), and he dismantles S.H.I.E.L.D. to establish H.A.M.M.E.R. and his own version of the Avengers. Unlike Earth’s most esteemed heroes, however, this “Dark Avengers” team is actually composed of villains pretending to be heroes.

As a gamer immersed in this captivating narrative, I, the character, have successfully convinced Sentry to team up with me, guaranteeing assistance for his complex mental state due to dissociative identity disorder. Simultaneously, I’m covertly negotiating with the malevolent force known as the Void, aiming to harness its power for my sinister objectives.

Throughout this tale, Sentry faces numerous trials by fire – he’s slain and resurrected repeatedly. These ordeals lead him down a path of drastic transformations, culminating in a moment where he nearly annihilates an entire dimension called the Cancerverse. He even develops a gruesome habit of dismembering his adversaries, such as the time he tore apart the Greek god and Avenger Ares during the “Siege” event (as depicted above).

In the upcoming movie “Thunderbolts,” it seems the main antagonist will be The Void. The film appears to loosely follow the “Dark Avengers” narrative, suggested by the asterisk in the title since the real Avengers are not presently accessible. Sentry, who is both a valuable ally and a dangerous menace across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will likely have an intriguing story arc in this film.

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2025-04-22 02:31