Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster! The Sentry, Marvel's most powerful yet troubled hero, is back, and his co-creator is promising a story that will leave readers in tears.
It's a tough gig being Bob Reynolds, also known as The Sentry. While he boasts the kind of power that could level galaxies, his existence is perpetually shadowed by a dark counterpart, the Void, whose malevolent acts seem to perfectly counterbalance every heroic deed. For the past 15 years, Bob has been in a state of almost constant demise, spending more time dead than alive. However, the year 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point for the Golden Guardian of Good. Not only is he slated to make a grand return to the silver screen in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, but he's also headlining a brand-new comic series penned by his original co-creator, Paul Jenkins.
IGN had the exclusive opportunity to chat with Jenkins via email about his return to Marvel and his thoughts on The Sentry's upcoming MCU debut. Before we dive in, be sure to check out an exclusive preview of the first issue in the slideshow gallery below!
This new volume of The Sentry isn't just significant for resurrecting the beloved hero after his demise in 2020's King in Black; it also marks Jenkins' first project with Marvel in over a decade. His last major Marvel assignment was exploring the aftermath of The Sentry's initial death in 2010's Sentry: Fallen Sun. When asked what prompted his return to the Marvel fold now, Jenkins shared:
"Well, there’s certainly never a bad time to return," Jenkins quipped. "But in all seriousness, I had consulted on the Thunderbolts movie, and that led directly to me reconnecting with C.B. [Cebulski] and some of the folks at Marvel. Sentry was gaining an entirely new set of fans, and it seemed like a good time to explore a new series. It feels wonderful to be back working with a publisher who has meant so much to my career. I love to write comics, and I really missed working with so many of my friends in this business. While I’m here, I should definitely give a shout-out to our editors, Mark Paniccia and Lauren Amaro – people don’t realize just how difficult this job really is. I was an editor for maybe five or so years before I became a freelance writer. So, huge thanks to those guys for being amazing. It’s great to be back."
Regarding the Thunderbolts film, Jenkins expressed his delight at seeing one of his most iconic creations brought to life on the big screen. He revealed that the movie masterfully captured the character's most crucial element: his vulnerability.
"I was lucky enough to interact with the director and actor, and I was so thrilled by the way Jake Schreier and Lewis Pullman handled the character," Jenkins shared. "Jake truly understood the point of Sentry – it has never been about how powerful he is, it has always been about how vulnerable he is. Jake was very gracious to chat with me at the premiere’s after party, and I had a chance to talk with Lewis as well. He’s so perfect for this role because he brings the right amount of vulnerability to Bob. In both cases, Lewis and Jake knew this was all about Bob, and the Sentry and Void are sort of side-effects."
The announcement of this new series might come as a surprise, especially considering Marvel's apparent shift in direction for the character after King in Black. 2024's The Sentry explored a new group of characters inheriting Bob's powers, culminating in the creation of a new heroine named Solarus. However, with this latest series from Jenkins and artist Christian Rosado, Marvel is returning to a more familiar narrative for The Sentry.
"We’re not tying into that story," Jenkins confirmed. "When we began the project, C.B. suggested that I go back to the approach that I had used previously. Not to cast that story aside, but more to play to my strengths with Sentry. I think that’s the right approach – it allows us to tell a more focused, evergreen story (as opposed to trying to tie up pieces of existing continuity). If we are successful and people want Sentry books, then hopefully we can look at that stuff in the future."
Instead, the new series dives headfirst into the character's central conflict: How can Bob Reynolds truly be a hero when every act of good he performs as The Sentry is mirrored by an act of evil from the Void? Jenkins teases a profoundly emotional narrative, so much so that he anticipates many readers will be moved to tears by the conclusion.
"Void and Sentry are an essential part of Bob Reynolds," Jenkins explained. "This time, we are exploring the internal conflict that Bob faces, how he cannot become the Sentry and save 100 people from a plane crash without the Void equaling things out and killing 100 people in return. The central question for Bob is going to be, 'How can I get past that? What good am I if I can’t help people?'"
Jenkins continued with a powerful teaser: "However, the main teaser I am going to give is this: readers are going to be mad with me because I’m almost certain we are going to make a lot of people cry. This story is very, very emotional – it hits right in the heart, and it hurts. I’ve now seen the art for issue #3 and I can tell you, people are going to be very moved by what happens in this story. It’s about how and why Bob wants to save everybody – there is a core reason that goes back to his childhood. For me, it is personal. When I was a little boy, I was affected greatly by this one thing in my life, and we’re bringing that story to life. I’m not kidding; I expect to meet a lot of fans at conventions who will be very emotional about this story. And if that happens to be the case, then we have done our job."
"Readers are going to be mad with me because I’m almost certain we are going to make a lot of people cry."
One of the enduring appeals of The Sentry is his unique status within the Marvel Universe. Despite his 2000 debut, he's a character who has been retconned into the very fabric of Marvel's history; he's been there all along, the world just didn't remember.
The original series and subsequent stories have delved into Bob's significant relationships with many key Marvel characters. He's famously close with Reed Richards and the Hulk, and he even assisted Peter Parker in securing a Pulitzer for his photography. Jenkins confirms that the new series will continue to deepen these connections, with a particular focus on Bob's bonds with the Hulk and the Fantastic Four.
"For me, it has always been the Hulk and the Fantastic Four," Jenkins stated. "Our scenes with the Hulk are some of the most emotional ones. I will admit that when I got the art, I was a little choked up by it. And Bob’s dynamic with Reed as his best friend means a lot to me. Reed knows that Bob struggles, and he’s there, trying to help Bob. For what it's worth, I think the payoff with Hulk in issue #4 is going to be absolutely worth it."
"Christian has been just brilliant – a true collaborator," Jenkins added, praising the artwork. "Christian gets it. He understands the way the smaller, quieter moments frame the bigger action scenes. And he is absolutely nailing it. I could not be more pleased."
The Sentry #1 is slated for release on March 18. You can preorder your copy at your local comic shop.
But here's where it gets controversial: Jenkins is bringing back The Sentry's core duality, directly confronting the moral paradox of his existence. Is it even possible to be a hero when your every good deed inevitably births an equal and opposite evil? Do you believe The Sentry can ever truly overcome the Void, or is his internal struggle an inescapable part of his heroic identity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
