Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for ThunderboltsThunderboltsfinally debuted Bob and his powerful alter-egos, the Void and Sentry, in theMCUwhile unveiling the secrets of his backstory. Sentry’s involvement inThunderbolts*was widely speculated early in its production after rumors began to circulate, andLewis Pullman was cast as “Bob.“Marvel Comics fans were quick to connect the dots and assume that this character was the MCU’s live-action adaptation of Robert Reynolds, AKA Sentry from Marvel Comics, leading to a firestorm of speculation surrounding how a team as comparatively weak as the Thunderbolts could hope to face him.
The implications of introducing Sentry to the MCU are vast. Sentry is one of Marvel Comics' most powerful characters, boasting on the comic book page power equivalent to one million exploding suns. This would have significantly altered the MCU’s overall power dynamic, withSentry’s strength capable of exceedingsome ofthe MCU’s most threatening villainsand heroes. Nevertheless, as was to be expected,Thunderbolts*took some creative liberties with Sentry, which extended to (and maybe even enhanced) his backstory.
Everything We Know About Bob, Sentry & The Void’s Backstory After Thunderbolts*
Bob Has A Dark History
Bob is introduced inThunderboltsin the midst of the four-way brawl between Yelena Belova, John Walker/U.S. Agent, Ava Starr/Ghost, and Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster as seen inThunderboltstrailers. He is immediately portrayed as being out of his depth and bewildered by how he got there. When questioned, he reveals thatthe last thing he remembers was having blood drawn for a medical trial before waking up in the room in which he currently stands.
When reflecting on its success, de Fontaine’s assistant, Mel, reveals that Bob is uniquely troubled and ill-suited to the godlike power he now boasts.
More is revealed about Bob’s backstory later,including the fact that he suffered from drug addiction. It was while wandering Southeast Asia that Bob entered a medical trial in Malaysia operated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s OXE, which was a front for the Sentry program that required human subjects. This program was designed to create a superhero powerful enough toreplace the entire team of Avengers. Namely, Sentry himself. Unlike every other test subject, Bob inexplicably survived the process despite being believed to have died initially.
When reflecting on its success, de Fontaine’s assistant, Mel, reveals that Bob is uniquely troubled and ill-suited to the godlike power he now boasts. His traumatic childhood involved an abusive father (to whom he attempted to stand up) and a neglectful mother,leading to his suffering from severe depressive episodes and delusions of grandeur in adulthood. This mental dichotomy ultimately manifests as his two alter egos, Sentry and the Void, after receiving his immensesuperpowers inThunderbolts*. This adaptation remains somewhat faithful to the comics, though there are some notable changes.
How Sentry And The Void’s Backstory Differs From Marvel Comics
Sentry Discovers The Golden Sentry Serum On His Own In Marvel Comics
The most notable change to Bob inThunderboltscompared to his comic book counterpart is how he encountered the substance that imbued him with his powers. While both versions of the character suffer from addiction, it isthis addiction that compels Bob Reynolds to consume the Golden Sentry Serum in Marvel Comics, which was an attempt to recreate the super soldier serum and increase its potency by thousands of times, after stumbling upon it. This makes Bob’s transformation into the Sentry and the Void decidedly more self-inflicted than what transpires inThunderbolts, which is instead born of Valentina’s ambitions.
Sentry’s origins in Marvel comics are also far more mind-bending than what was adapted inThunderbolts*. Sentry was first introduced to Marvel Comics in 2000, though it was revealed later that the superhero had been operating for decades and even fought alongside Marvel’s foremost heroes until then. After the Void’s first manifestation,Sentry enlisted the help of Doctor Strange and Mister Fantastic to cause the world and Bob Reynolds himself to forget the Sentry entirely.
In Marvel Comics, Stark tower was inadvertently built in the same location as Sentry’s Watchtower, as it remained “forgotten” by everyone.
Despite adapting a very similar MacGuffin as recently asSpider-Man: No Way Home,Marvel Studios opted out of retreading this story for Sentry in the MCU. Instead, Bob is introduced at the very beginning of his arc, with the process of gaining his powers remaining more clandestine. Additionally, Bob has decided to take a less drastic approach to subduing the Sentry and Void personas.
Is Bob Still Sentry And The Void After Thunderbolts*?
The Sentry And The Void Are Still Inside Bob, But Are Seemingly Suppressed
Thunderboltsends with the teamhelping to wrest Bob away from the Void’s insidious influence over his powersin what seems to be a realm within his own mind. After emerging victorious, with the Void’s victims returning to the material plane seemingly unharmed, Valentina foists the title of the New Avengers on the Thunderbolts, who now count Bob among their ranks.Thunderboltsthen picks up some time later in its post-credits scene, with the New Avengers now fully embracing their new responsibilities and aesthetics.
While Bob is among them, sporting a new mop of golden hair, he keeps to himself. Upon the suggestion that Sentry carry Red Guardian into space, Bob politely refuses, suggesting that the powers of the Sentry can’t be called upon without also inviting the Void to return. This suggests thatthe new normal for Bob, despite being a part of the MCU’s newest super-team, is to suppress his Sentry persona to avoid risking the Void’s control. This also suggests that the Sentry is still within him, and may be prompted to appear under the right circumstances.
Lewis Pullman Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Upon learning how easily he succumbs to the Void, the Thunderbolts took Bob under their wing, opting to keep a close eye on the potentially ruinous new member.It’s safe to assume that he won’t remain placid, however, with the Sentry likely to be called upon in a moment of dire need, and the Void sure to follow. This will likely happen inAvengers: Doomsday, for which Lewis Pullman was among theconfirmed cast members in Marvel’s surprise live streamin March.
For this reason, it is unlikely that Thunderbolts* will be the last seen of Sentry or the Void, and that Lewis Pullman’s epic fight scene with the Thunderbolts in the Watchtower was simply the tip of the iceberg.
TheThunderbolts*post-credits sceneseems to be setting upAvengers: Doomsdaywith the arrival of the Fantastic Four in the MCU’s main universe, Earth-616. It may be that the Fantastic Four are bringing an as-yet unseen danger in their wake, while another likely scenario is thatthe Sentry will be deployed against the upcoming movie’s arch-villain, Doctor Doom. Kevin Feige confirmed, after all, that the teams due to star inAvengers: Doomsday- namely, Avengers, the Wakandans, the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and the original X-Men - will all band together to fight Doom.
The sheer amount of collective firepower among these teams indicates the scale of the opposing force that Doctor Doom will bring. For this reason, it is unlikely thatThunderbolts*will be the last seen of Sentry or the Void, and that Lewis Pullman’s epic fight scene with the Thunderbolts in the Watchtower was simply the tip of the iceberg.Whether Sentry will survive his encounter with Doom is another matter, as he is a perfectly placed character to showcase the power levels of the upcoming arch-villain of bothAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars.
