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 tantalizing glimpse. While plot details remain scarce, the trailer provides a clearer look at Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds, aka The Sentry. This Superman-esque hero's MCU debut promises significant upheaval. Who is The Sentry, and why is he both the Marvel Universe's greatest hero and its worst nightmare? Let's delve into this mentally unstable hero's history and explore his potential role in Thunderbolts.

Who Is Lewis Pullman’s Thunderbolts Character, The Sentry?

The Sentry is arguably the Marvel Universe's most powerful, and most dangerous, superhero. Once an ordinary man named Bob Reynolds, he consumed a serum granting him "the power of a million exploding suns." This immense power comes at a terrible cost: a dark, destructive alter ego known as The Void. For every good deed The Sentry performs, The Void commits an equally evil act. Bob Reynolds' battle against his inner darkness is a constant, losing struggle. Yet, when overwhelming power is needed, The Sentry is unparalleled.

The Sentry’s Powers and Abilities

The Sentry's powers derive from an experimental serum, a post-World War II attempt to create a Super Soldier Serum alternative. The serum supposedly accelerates his molecules forward in time, resulting in nearly limitless abilities. His strength rivals the Hulk and Thor; he possesses flight, superhuman speed, enhanced senses, and near invulnerability. He can absorb and project energy, enabling feats like energy blasts, teleportation, and subduing even the Hulk. In terms of raw power, The Sentry is Marvel's answer to Superman.

As The Void, however, Bob becomes even more powerful and dangerous. The Void is a shapeshifting demonic entity capable of weather manipulation and mind control. The Void has withstood the combined might of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, and even being thrown into the sun proved only a temporary setback.

The Sentry’s Secret Origin

Created by Paul Jenkins, Rick Veitch, and Jae Lee, The Sentry debuted in the 2000 miniseries of the same name. Initially presented as a forgotten hero from the Marvel Universe's past, even Bob Reynolds—a middle-aged, overweight married man—had no memory of his past life as "The Golden Guardian of Good."

Upon regaining his memories, Bob becomes The Sentry, only to discover The Void has also returned. The Sentry's history with characters like the Hulk and Fantastic Four is retroactively established, integrating him into Marvel continuity.

The story reveals The Sentry and The Void are two sides of the same coin. The world forgot The Sentry to protect itself from The Void. Bob ultimately chooses to repeat this act to contain his dark side, once again erasing the world's memory of The Sentry. The series leaves ambiguous whether Bob himself remembers his superhuman selves.

The Sentry As an Avenger

While the original The Sentry miniseries was self-contained, the character later became a recurring figure. In 2004's New Avengers, he joined a revamped team alongside Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Luke Cage, initially a self-imposed prisoner of The Raft. Despite being a powerful asset, he struggled to maintain his sanity and control The Void.

During the events of Civil War (2006), The Sentry sided with Iron Man's pro-registration faction, understanding the dangers of unchecked power. He played a crucial role in protecting the world from the Hulk in World War Hulk (2007).

However, his downfall began in Dark Reign (2009). Norman Osborn, controlling H.A.M.M.E.R., recruited Bob to the "Dark Avengers," manipulating him to serve alongside villains. This ultimately led to The Void's unleashing during Siege (2010), culminating in The Sentry's death.

Since then, The Sentry has been resurrected and killed multiple times, with ongoing stories exploring his powers and the nature of his dual identities. His most recent death occurred in 2020's King in Black, and Marvel's 2023 The Sentry series explores the search for a new host for his power.

How The Sentry Fits Into the Thunderbolts Movie

The Sentry's appearances outside comics have been limited, primarily in mobile games. However, Lewis Pullman's casting marks his MCU debut. He won't star in a solo film or series (yet), but will appear in 2025's Thunderbolts alongside Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.

His exact role remains unclear, but his comic book history suggests a portrayal as both powerful hero and terrifying villain. Will he start as a Thunderbolt, only to become their greatest threat? Given the team's relative lack of power, confronting The Sentry would be a monumental challenge.

The role was originally slated for Steven Yeun, but scheduling conflicts and delays led to Pullman taking over. The film's release was pushed from 2024 due to industry strikes.

Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine might play a role similar to Norman Osborn's in the comics, potentially exploiting The Sentry's power before losing control. If Thunderbolts is Marvel's version of Suicide Squad, The Sentry could be their Enchantress.

The MCU's handling of The Sentry's forgotten past and his relation to other heroes, as well as the extent to which he'll be portrayed as a Superman analogue, remains to be seen. More will be revealed 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.*