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Sentry (2000) #1-5
The Sentry
Your name is Bob Reynolds. You know you were once a super hero. You were the Sentry. But then something terrible happened, something that caused the leader of the Fantastic Four to betray you. And now it's happening again, and the Sentry must return.
On the edge of alcoholism and a failed marriage, Bob Reynolds wakes up to discover his true nature. A forgotten hero, he must unravel the conspiracy to erase his memory from mankind before an evil entity returns.
Contains material originally published in magazine form as Sentry #1-5; Sentry: Fantastic Four, X-men, Spider-man, Hulk; and Sentry vs. The Void.
On the edge of alcoholism and a failed marriage, Bob Reynolds wakes up to discover his true nature. A forgotten hero, he must unravel the conspiracy to erase his memory from mankind before an evil entity returns.
Contains material originally published in magazine form as Sentry #1-5; Sentry: Fantastic Four, X-men, Spider-man, Hulk; and Sentry vs. The Void.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
About the author
Paul Jenkins
1,136 books146 followersPaul Jenkins is a British comic book writer. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 29, 2021
Who is Robert Reynolds and why is he suddenly remembering another life?
Me? I knew who he was before I started reading, but this was so well done that it had me questioning exactly what it was that I thought I knew.
Like the blurb says, Bob is suddenly aware that he used to be, not only a superhero, but the superhero. And now, no one ever remembers he even existed.
Why?
And, maybe more importantly, why is the unbelievably powerful and incredibly evil monster The Void suddenly on his way back to Earth?
I loved it! There were a lot of maybes that could have happened with all of these characters that kept my attention throughout. I mean, it's kind of a gloomy story, but I would still recommend it. It was just very cool seeing how all of these lives had intertwined in the past.
I'm not 100% on board with Jae Lee in mainstream comics, but in something like this he just nailed it. The comic has a distinct look that fits the strange story being told to the reader. There was a timelessness to the visuals of everything that took it up a notch, in my opinion.
Gotta say thanks to Dan for going on a Marvel Unlimited tear, finding a bunch of awesome comics to read, and letting me follow along in his wake.
Me? I knew who he was before I started reading, but this was so well done that it had me questioning exactly what it was that I thought I knew.
Like the blurb says, Bob is suddenly aware that he used to be, not only a superhero, but the superhero. And now, no one ever remembers he even existed.
Why?
And, maybe more importantly, why is the unbelievably powerful and incredibly evil monster The Void suddenly on his way back to Earth?
I loved it! There were a lot of maybes that could have happened with all of these characters that kept my attention throughout. I mean, it's kind of a gloomy story, but I would still recommend it. It was just very cool seeing how all of these lives had intertwined in the past.
I'm not 100% on board with Jae Lee in mainstream comics, but in something like this he just nailed it. The comic has a distinct look that fits the strange story being told to the reader. There was a timelessness to the visuals of everything that took it up a notch, in my opinion.
Gotta say thanks to Dan for going on a Marvel Unlimited tear, finding a bunch of awesome comics to read, and letting me follow along in his wake.
August 25, 2024
Robert Reynolds is an overweight drunk but he used to be super hero called The Sentry. Why doesn't anyone remember him? And what will happen when they do?
The basic premise behind The Sentry is that a Superman-level hero once existed in the Marvel Universe but everyone forgot about him for some reason. I remember Wizard being in on the marketing, that the Sentry was actually a Stan Lee creation from the Silver Age that never made it to print. I didn't read it until years later, sometime in that haze before Goodreads. Due to the magic of Marvel Unlimited, I've read it again.
As Bob Reynolds pieces things back together, the world starts coming apart at the seams. Jae Lee's stark blacks are perfect for the tale. I remember not being a fan of his until his work on this and The Inhumans miniseries from the year before. Man, no one ever mentions how influential Marvel Knights was but it's shaped the way comics are done, for better or worse. The idea of a forgotten hero is appealing to me. Too bad they diluted and nerfed the Sentry after this.
Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee created something special with The Sentry. On one level, it's a tale of addiction, of a super-hero too powerful for his own good whose worst enemy is himself. On another, it's about how we've lost sight of how important the creation of Superman was. Four out of five stars.
2024 Reread I enjoyed this more the first two times I read it. Maybe it's because I just reread Miracleman but there's less substance here than I remember.
The basic premise behind The Sentry is that a Superman-level hero once existed in the Marvel Universe but everyone forgot about him for some reason. I remember Wizard being in on the marketing, that the Sentry was actually a Stan Lee creation from the Silver Age that never made it to print. I didn't read it until years later, sometime in that haze before Goodreads. Due to the magic of Marvel Unlimited, I've read it again.
As Bob Reynolds pieces things back together, the world starts coming apart at the seams. Jae Lee's stark blacks are perfect for the tale. I remember not being a fan of his until his work on this and The Inhumans miniseries from the year before. Man, no one ever mentions how influential Marvel Knights was but it's shaped the way comics are done, for better or worse. The idea of a forgotten hero is appealing to me. Too bad they diluted and nerfed the Sentry after this.
Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee created something special with The Sentry. On one level, it's a tale of addiction, of a super-hero too powerful for his own good whose worst enemy is himself. On another, it's about how we've lost sight of how important the creation of Superman was. Four out of five stars.
2024 Reread I enjoyed this more the first two times I read it. Maybe it's because I just reread Miracleman but there's less substance here than I remember.
November 22, 2020
Bob Reynolds wakes up one morning knowing something is wrong.
He can't immediately put his finger on what it is, but he thinks he's a superhero.
After some time he's sure he's a hero, but he can't understand why he and everyone else has forgotten him. The one thing he knows for sure is that his enemy, The Void, is returning and he's the only one who can stop him.
The Sentry was an interesting tale of a forgotten hero that the world was made to forget. Even his wife forgot who he was.
The Sentry was best friends with Mr. Fantastic and the ally of all the major superheroes. He's determined to help them remember and to figure out why everyone forgot.
I unfortunately already knew the main points of this story as I'm reading it over a decade after it was released. I can't help but believe it effected my enjoyment level of the story. To me the story felt far too long considering the amount of story that was unveiled. Five issues were spent with Bob Reynolds remembering who he was and trying to get the others to remember. That felt as though it could have been accomplished in an issue or two instead. I was surprised at the ultimate conclusion because it seemed simplistic and ineffective.
The Sentry was an interesting way to install a new character while making him seem like an old one. It was a creative idea to say the least.
He can't immediately put his finger on what it is, but he thinks he's a superhero.
After some time he's sure he's a hero, but he can't understand why he and everyone else has forgotten him. The one thing he knows for sure is that his enemy, The Void, is returning and he's the only one who can stop him.
The Sentry was an interesting tale of a forgotten hero that the world was made to forget. Even his wife forgot who he was.
The Sentry was best friends with Mr. Fantastic and the ally of all the major superheroes. He's determined to help them remember and to figure out why everyone forgot.
I unfortunately already knew the main points of this story as I'm reading it over a decade after it was released. I can't help but believe it effected my enjoyment level of the story. To me the story felt far too long considering the amount of story that was unveiled. Five issues were spent with Bob Reynolds remembering who he was and trying to get the others to remember. That felt as though it could have been accomplished in an issue or two instead. I was surprised at the ultimate conclusion because it seemed simplistic and ineffective.
The Sentry was an interesting way to install a new character while making him seem like an old one. It was a creative idea to say the least.
August 14, 2018
Now imagine you were the first superhero, with Superman level powers. You mentored most of the heroes in the Marvel universe. But everyone has forgotten you ever existed including yourself. Then you wake up and remember you're the Sentry years later, but no one else can remember who you are. Slowly your friends start to remember you but there's all these warning you're best left forgotten...
This was a very cool concept. Marvel went all Blair Witch Project saying they found this character that Stan Lee had created before the Fantastic Four. They even created a fake artist with a life history and got Wizard magazine to play along.
This was a very cool concept. Marvel went all Blair Witch Project saying they found this character that Stan Lee had created before the Fantastic Four. They even created a fake artist with a life history and got Wizard magazine to play along.
May 16, 2018
Have you ever dreamed about being a superhero? What if you were?
The Sentry is easily my most cherished graphic novel. I've always had a fondness for the obscure and/or unloved characters of the Marvel universe. So when I heard there was an overweight, mentally unstable dude in his 30's who forgot he was the world's most powerful superhero, I was instantly intrigued. This book did not disappoint. I've never finished a graphic novel on the verge of tears. It was a wonderful experience.
Some Marvel fans didn't like the idea that Sentry was retconned into the universe, effectively becoming part of every seminal character's backstory. If I was a big Spider-Man fan I would hate the idea of some one-off character not only being retroactively injected into Peter Parker's backstory, but also playing an important role in it.
I'm not sure the Sentry character needed to make any followup appearances because this is a brilliant standalone story. Plus Marvel hasn't done a terrific job with him in subsequent returns. That being said, he is among my favourite superheroes and I will be there to follow his adventures, for better or for worse.
The Sentry is easily my most cherished graphic novel. I've always had a fondness for the obscure and/or unloved characters of the Marvel universe. So when I heard there was an overweight, mentally unstable dude in his 30's who forgot he was the world's most powerful superhero, I was instantly intrigued. This book did not disappoint. I've never finished a graphic novel on the verge of tears. It was a wonderful experience.
Some Marvel fans didn't like the idea that Sentry was retconned into the universe, effectively becoming part of every seminal character's backstory. If I was a big Spider-Man fan I would hate the idea of some one-off character not only being retroactively injected into Peter Parker's backstory, but also playing an important role in it.
I'm not sure the Sentry character needed to make any followup appearances because this is a brilliant standalone story. Plus Marvel hasn't done a terrific job with him in subsequent returns. That being said, he is among my favourite superheroes and I will be there to follow his adventures, for better or for worse.
March 26, 2022
One of the coolest superhero concepts ever, you have to read it to find out why.
April 30, 2021
The Sentry is a short standalone Marvel comics run that is the first appearance of Bob Reynolds aka The Sentry. But who is the Sentry? Well, until this book he was no one and even in this book most people think he's no one.
Bob knows that he used to be a superhero. He knows that all he needs to do is take his super serum and he'll become one again. But he also knows that something happened to erase everyone else's memory of him ever being a superhero. The Avengers don't know him anymore and no one can back up his claim.
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Bob knows that he used to be a superhero. He knows that all he needs to do is take his super serum and he'll become one again. But he also knows that something happened to erase everyone else's memory of him ever being a superhero. The Avengers don't know him anymore and no one can back up his claim.
to continue to the full review please visit here https://amanjareads.com/2021/04/29/th...
June 14, 2020
This was dope! At first, after reading the first issue, I was like what is this? Is this going to be one of those weird ass comics? Then by the second issue, I started to see what Jenkins was doing. Cool as hell. Nice way to build the story for those first 5 issues. The next 4 issues were like filler. They really just showed how different characters, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Spidey and Angel,came to know The Sentry. They were decent. Then the last issue got back to the good stuff. Some more reveals and twists made for a great ending. Really nice story telling here. Definitely will check out more from Paul Jenkins.
October 28, 2022
This was such a fascinating read!
I love how it shows the origin of a long forgotten hero and then seeing how he came to be and over the course of different issues you see him different super-heroes and them slowly remembering who this guy used to be and how he got forgotten because of a threat called "Void" and its a very psychological fast paced read and really quite fun tbh! I love the interactions he has with Reed and hulk and like showing how different friends they were and its quite fascinating reading it all!
Its one of those books which does the "forgotten her" thing really well and also comments on the silver age of comics in a way and how dark it has gotten from the yesteryears and in that regards gives you something to think about, also the art is quite fascinating and might look weird at first but its a good one.
This is one of my close friends favorite character origin and so in that regards is special and finally having read it, i see why!
I love how it shows the origin of a long forgotten hero and then seeing how he came to be and over the course of different issues you see him different super-heroes and them slowly remembering who this guy used to be and how he got forgotten because of a threat called "Void" and its a very psychological fast paced read and really quite fun tbh! I love the interactions he has with Reed and hulk and like showing how different friends they were and its quite fascinating reading it all!
Its one of those books which does the "forgotten her" thing really well and also comments on the silver age of comics in a way and how dark it has gotten from the yesteryears and in that regards gives you something to think about, also the art is quite fascinating and might look weird at first but its a good one.
This is one of my close friends favorite character origin and so in that regards is special and finally having read it, i see why!
February 11, 2015
What if Stan Lee created Superman? No, really? Imagine an all-powerful being beset by worldly problems, a do-gooder with a heart of gold but also just a teensy bit of existential angst.
I'm not sure if this book is supposed to presage the dawning of a new age in the Marvel Universe, or whether it's supposed to retroactively explain the switch from the rather ho-hum Silver and Bronze era Marvel to the darker Modern age of comics. I think the latter, because in this book, something very terrible happened to this "Superman" named Sentry, terrible enough that Reed Richards had tomindwipe find a way for the world to forget that this super hero ever lived. It's only when the great terror known as the Void returns, does the Sentry return, along with the memories of the heroes: memories of the golden age of super-heroics and then the maddening descent into the darker times to come.
Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee, creators on Inhumans, reunite for this tale. It's rather imaginative, I think, if I'm getting all of Jenkins's nuances correct. There are also four chapters that delve into the minds of Reed Richard, the Hulk, Angel, and Spider-Man, as they remember who the Sentry was to them, and the lessons he taught them.
My Marvel Comics reading order says The Sentry will become a very important player in future Marvel events, so that's why I need to read this book. I think it stands on its own, perhaps not as a towering achievement in comics literature, but instead as a knowing glance as to why the things that once were went away.
I'm not sure if this book is supposed to presage the dawning of a new age in the Marvel Universe, or whether it's supposed to retroactively explain the switch from the rather ho-hum Silver and Bronze era Marvel to the darker Modern age of comics. I think the latter, because in this book, something very terrible happened to this "Superman" named Sentry, terrible enough that Reed Richards had to
Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee, creators on Inhumans, reunite for this tale. It's rather imaginative, I think, if I'm getting all of Jenkins's nuances correct. There are also four chapters that delve into the minds of Reed Richard, the Hulk, Angel, and Spider-Man, as they remember who the Sentry was to them, and the lessons he taught them.
My Marvel Comics reading order says The Sentry will become a very important player in future Marvel events, so that's why I need to read this book. I think it stands on its own, perhaps not as a towering achievement in comics literature, but instead as a knowing glance as to why the things that once were went away.
June 2, 2022
A okayish story getting really muddled by the second half.
Bob is just living his life, overweight, with his wife on a farm looking place when he begins to recall his past. His past as being one of the first superheroes ever. The blueprint. The Superman of the marvel universe. However, everything is covered up and he wants to know why. So he begins to investigate with everyone only to find out a terrible truth.
While the first half is pretty interesting, and kind of fun to watch Sentry show off the old silver age/gold age feel the second half becomes overly wordy while hitting the same point. Also the big grand twist is so easy to see coming, even if I never knew who Sentry was.
But overall thanks to the really solid art this was still good, just could have been better with a stronger second half. A 3 out of 5.
Bob is just living his life, overweight, with his wife on a farm looking place when he begins to recall his past. His past as being one of the first superheroes ever. The blueprint. The Superman of the marvel universe. However, everything is covered up and he wants to know why. So he begins to investigate with everyone only to find out a terrible truth.
While the first half is pretty interesting, and kind of fun to watch Sentry show off the old silver age/gold age feel the second half becomes overly wordy while hitting the same point. Also the big grand twist is so easy to see coming, even if I never knew who Sentry was.
But overall thanks to the really solid art this was still good, just could have been better with a stronger second half. A 3 out of 5.
January 17, 2019
Basic Plot: The introduction of a forgotten superhero called the Sentry.
A comic book superhero with multiple personality disorder, almost unlimited power, who the world has largely forgotten about. Now there's a bit of a twist on superheroism. It's a far different concept from what we're used to seeing in superheroes. I love the idea that he was once this huge hero who did all this cool stuff, but because he was insane he went into hiding and the world completely forgot him. Now he's remembering all this stuff that once happened, and the other characters in the Marvel universe also have to deal with remembering him, and dealing with his psychoses.
A comic book superhero with multiple personality disorder, almost unlimited power, who the world has largely forgotten about. Now there's a bit of a twist on superheroism. It's a far different concept from what we're used to seeing in superheroes. I love the idea that he was once this huge hero who did all this cool stuff, but because he was insane he went into hiding and the world completely forgot him. Now he's remembering all this stuff that once happened, and the other characters in the Marvel universe also have to deal with remembering him, and dealing with his psychoses.
November 29, 2021
This had kind of a unique and cool superhero origin story.
The writing was sublime, but also managed to keep a bit of suspense throughout that will certainly grasp the readers' attention. The art has a gloomy, melancholic vibe to it, and really fits the story.
Overall, it was a great read.
The writing was sublime, but also managed to keep a bit of suspense throughout that will certainly grasp the readers' attention. The art has a gloomy, melancholic vibe to it, and really fits the story.
Overall, it was a great read.
June 6, 2011
I don't know how popular this story was when it came out, but I feel like The Sentry is a hidden Marvel secret that more people need to discover. It stole me away.
December 7, 2018
Chili Dog
My 138th comic this year. That’s not just single issues people. I rarely read single issues compared to collected editions. Now, this book has an interesting history with Marvel. Long story short, this was the I think the first title under the Marvel Knights line. I think anyway. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about The Sentry and all of its tie ins, especially from Rob at Comicsexplained on YouTube. I like and respect this comic. I didn't love it. The Sentry has always been a bit of mystery in my mind. I know a lot of people see him as a super man knock-off but AHHHH I’m here to tell you no he’s not reeeeeaally. I had to explain knock-offs so much in my Moon Knight reviews. So I won't go into that again. FROM THE START, this book sets up a fantastic atmosphere and tone. The whole story other than the end, is much more quiet and reserved than most. The first issue is so dark, eerie, and quiet I can almost hear the wind and rain in the isolated area Rob Reynolds and Linda were living in. The first issue is handled very well. It’s mature with dialogue but also introduces something I’ve never seen before. This is most definitely a modern comic. It very much feels like a modern comic. So when Jenkins tells his origin through corn-ball silver age comics, I respect that. That is truly a unique element to this book that I thought was pretty cool. Or you could just put it off as lazy. That leads into my next point. What this book does most effectively is make the Sentry seem like he had been there forever. And by forever, I mean the 1950s or 60s or whenever the comic says he was created. I forgot on like 50 occasions that this was the very first Sentry comic ever made. Good frickin job Jenkins. This gives the comic a timeless feel that most comics would just aspire to have.
Sentry’s relationship with the other heroes of the Marvel universe is something people hadn’t seen before to this extent. His friendship with Reed Richards, is the driving force of this comic. It is the most compelling part of the book. Since the story is structured the way it is, the flashbacks, hints, and foreshadowing are essential to the plot, and so the readers can go OOOHHH SHIIT!! The final battle in this book is interesting because the build up to it took soooo long and was soooo shoved down our throats that I was expecting something ridiculously over the top….but Jenkins decided to make the finale all to do with character. NOW this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The thing I look for first in a comic always are emotional character moments that are the product of well established and compelling characters and character arcs. Jenkins does cater to this want in many ways. And I appreciate that. The finale isn’t perfect because the aftermath of the battle is just thrown into the end, but all the character arcs are finished by then.
So if you are wondering about my “horrible” tragedy of 3 star rating, I thought the execution of the story as a whole was just a little dry. Very very slow pacing and a simple format each issue. I don't mean that the story is simple when it all comes full circle at the end, but in terms of issues 1-4 the story structure doesn’t exactly shift too much. #5 was an important issue for sure but I wasn’t a big fan of it. The tie ins that are collected in this trade are…..okay. Spider-Man’s was the best for sure, and everyone else’s was just kinda mediocre as hell. The format for the Fantastic Four tie in is creative and all, but damn were most of these tie ins boring!!! Especially the X-Men one. Which was really just an Archangel story. I dunno man there was nothing interesting that grabbed me in those issues besides the backstory for the famous sentry picture, and everyone else’s reaction for the return of you know who. I also didn't love any of the art for the tie ins. I know these are talented artists, not once did I think “damn that art is fuckin great.” like I would usually say.
Jae Lee’s art however is great. Very abstract and scratchy, but expressive either way. There is this gorgeous panel with an elephant that evokes a dark feeling into the reader instantly. You can’t miss it.
The Sentry was a story I had been anticipating for a while. I liked it. I didn't love it like I thought I would. This isn’t an English essay. I’m not gonna reiterate all my points but I’ll just say that the good definitely outweighs the bad, and I thought the art was pretty awesome. Sentry just from this one book feels like a timeless character and I thought that was the best thing to come out of Paul Jenkins’ mini-series. Letter Grade: (B+)
My 138th comic this year. That’s not just single issues people. I rarely read single issues compared to collected editions. Now, this book has an interesting history with Marvel. Long story short, this was the I think the first title under the Marvel Knights line. I think anyway. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about The Sentry and all of its tie ins, especially from Rob at Comicsexplained on YouTube. I like and respect this comic. I didn't love it. The Sentry has always been a bit of mystery in my mind. I know a lot of people see him as a super man knock-off but AHHHH I’m here to tell you no he’s not reeeeeaally. I had to explain knock-offs so much in my Moon Knight reviews. So I won't go into that again. FROM THE START, this book sets up a fantastic atmosphere and tone. The whole story other than the end, is much more quiet and reserved than most. The first issue is so dark, eerie, and quiet I can almost hear the wind and rain in the isolated area Rob Reynolds and Linda were living in. The first issue is handled very well. It’s mature with dialogue but also introduces something I’ve never seen before. This is most definitely a modern comic. It very much feels like a modern comic. So when Jenkins tells his origin through corn-ball silver age comics, I respect that. That is truly a unique element to this book that I thought was pretty cool. Or you could just put it off as lazy. That leads into my next point. What this book does most effectively is make the Sentry seem like he had been there forever. And by forever, I mean the 1950s or 60s or whenever the comic says he was created. I forgot on like 50 occasions that this was the very first Sentry comic ever made. Good frickin job Jenkins. This gives the comic a timeless feel that most comics would just aspire to have.
Sentry’s relationship with the other heroes of the Marvel universe is something people hadn’t seen before to this extent. His friendship with Reed Richards, is the driving force of this comic. It is the most compelling part of the book. Since the story is structured the way it is, the flashbacks, hints, and foreshadowing are essential to the plot, and so the readers can go OOOHHH SHIIT!! The final battle in this book is interesting because the build up to it took soooo long and was soooo shoved down our throats that I was expecting something ridiculously over the top….but Jenkins decided to make the finale all to do with character. NOW this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The thing I look for first in a comic always are emotional character moments that are the product of well established and compelling characters and character arcs. Jenkins does cater to this want in many ways. And I appreciate that. The finale isn’t perfect because the aftermath of the battle is just thrown into the end, but all the character arcs are finished by then.
So if you are wondering about my “horrible” tragedy of 3 star rating, I thought the execution of the story as a whole was just a little dry. Very very slow pacing and a simple format each issue. I don't mean that the story is simple when it all comes full circle at the end, but in terms of issues 1-4 the story structure doesn’t exactly shift too much. #5 was an important issue for sure but I wasn’t a big fan of it. The tie ins that are collected in this trade are…..okay. Spider-Man’s was the best for sure, and everyone else’s was just kinda mediocre as hell. The format for the Fantastic Four tie in is creative and all, but damn were most of these tie ins boring!!! Especially the X-Men one. Which was really just an Archangel story. I dunno man there was nothing interesting that grabbed me in those issues besides the backstory for the famous sentry picture, and everyone else’s reaction for the return of you know who. I also didn't love any of the art for the tie ins. I know these are talented artists, not once did I think “damn that art is fuckin great.” like I would usually say.
Jae Lee’s art however is great. Very abstract and scratchy, but expressive either way. There is this gorgeous panel with an elephant that evokes a dark feeling into the reader instantly. You can’t miss it.
The Sentry was a story I had been anticipating for a while. I liked it. I didn't love it like I thought I would. This isn’t an English essay. I’m not gonna reiterate all my points but I’ll just say that the good definitely outweighs the bad, and I thought the art was pretty awesome. Sentry just from this one book feels like a timeless character and I thought that was the best thing to come out of Paul Jenkins’ mini-series. Letter Grade: (B+)
August 15, 2018
Coming back to this so many years later, I was concerned that my memory of it would exceed the actual story. I'm happy to report that it was as good, if not better, than I remembered it.
At the time it was released, Sentry was Marvel's answer to Miracleman. At least that's what many of us thought. The premise was similar, but Jenkins and Lee brought so much magic to the page that it quickly changed my perspective.
It's big and subtle in the way that few stories manage to achieve. It's smart, touching, and intelligent in a way that makes you feel good about being a Marvel fan.
At the time it was released, Sentry was Marvel's answer to Miracleman. At least that's what many of us thought. The premise was similar, but Jenkins and Lee brought so much magic to the page that it quickly changed my perspective.
It's big and subtle in the way that few stories manage to achieve. It's smart, touching, and intelligent in a way that makes you feel good about being a Marvel fan.
Want to read
September 21, 2023Hrm.
Say what you will, this fellow’s appeared in almost 250 comic book issues to date…
Say what you will, this fellow’s appeared in almost 250 comic book issues to date…
September 11, 2021
Bob Reynolds is the superhero that the Marvel universe forgot, this Superman analogue that's been missing from history and now the Marvel Knights imprint gives him a chance to shine. Future Marvel series will include the Sentry and it sort of diminishes this story, some of this only works in an imprint and trying to make it 'canon' rubs everything the wrong way. But on its own, it's a fun story. Some beautiful art by Jae Lee. The Hulk issue with Bill Sienkiewicz was my favourite, because it was Sienkiewicz doing the Hulk and that's rad. I got annoyed by the story pacing, having the "Sentry" storyline go and then as soon as you get to the big final battle we cut to flashbacks of other characters for most of the remaining story. They can be fun but the pacing of the whole series is bogged down with it.
October 6, 2021
Sentry je neuvěřitelně dobrý komiks. A to hned z několika důvodů. V prvé řadě je to skvěle vyprávěný příběh. Ten začíná velmi pomalu a zmateně a čtenář vůbec netuší, co se děje. Sám hlavní hrdina je velmi dezorientovaný a zpočátku to působí spíše jako příběh o alkoholikovi než o superhrdinech. Jenže pak se v příběhu začínají objevovat superhrdinové a vy se společně s nimi zjišťujete, že existuje nějaké obrovské a děsivé tajemství, na které měli všichni zapomenout. Ten příběh a jeho vyprávění je naprosto pohlcující.
Je to pohlcující o to více, že je to podpořeno výjimečným výtvarným stylem a panelováním. To vše má svůj počátek už ve způsobu, jakým se autoři tohoto komiksu rozhodli zařadit novou postavu, tedy Sentryho, do vesmíru Marvelu. Autoři se totiž inspirovali tehdy úspěšným filmem Záhada Blair Witch, který je údajně sestříhán z videokazety ztracených dětí. Vymysleli fiktivního autora zapomenutých komiksů a do této “konspirace” zatáhli i Stana Leeho. Komiks tvrdí, že Sentry je ve vesmíru Marvelu už desítky let a jen se na něj zapomnělo. Dokládají to do děje vloženými retro obálkami a panely z retro komiksů, které vypráví vzpomínky jednotlivých postav. Ve výsledku tedy dostáváte stránky, na kterých se střídají panely s moderní kresbou a panely s retro kresbou a přitom to všechno funguje. Je to prostě geniální!
Výjimečná je i ta moderní kresba. Kniha obsahuje celkem 10 sešitů. Šest z nich nakreslil Jae Lee a vodovkami vybarvil José Villarrubia a je to naprostá pecka. Lehce mi to připomínalo styl, jakým kreslí Jeff Lemire. Jeden sešit nakreslil Mark Texeira a opět jej vybarvil José Villarrubia, ale tentokrát olejovými barvami, ve kterých jsou vidět jednotlivé tahy štětce. A do třetice musím zmínit ještě jeden sešit a to asi ten nejlepší - sešit se vzpomínkami Hulka. Nakreslil jej Bill Sienkiewicz a opět jej vodovkami vybarvil José Villarrubia. Ty úžasné panely mi v hlavě zůstanou dlouho.
Je to pohlcující o to více, že je to podpořeno výjimečným výtvarným stylem a panelováním. To vše má svůj počátek už ve způsobu, jakým se autoři tohoto komiksu rozhodli zařadit novou postavu, tedy Sentryho, do vesmíru Marvelu. Autoři se totiž inspirovali tehdy úspěšným filmem Záhada Blair Witch, který je údajně sestříhán z videokazety ztracených dětí. Vymysleli fiktivního autora zapomenutých komiksů a do této “konspirace” zatáhli i Stana Leeho. Komiks tvrdí, že Sentry je ve vesmíru Marvelu už desítky let a jen se na něj zapomnělo. Dokládají to do děje vloženými retro obálkami a panely z retro komiksů, které vypráví vzpomínky jednotlivých postav. Ve výsledku tedy dostáváte stránky, na kterých se střídají panely s moderní kresbou a panely s retro kresbou a přitom to všechno funguje. Je to prostě geniální!
Výjimečná je i ta moderní kresba. Kniha obsahuje celkem 10 sešitů. Šest z nich nakreslil Jae Lee a vodovkami vybarvil José Villarrubia a je to naprostá pecka. Lehce mi to připomínalo styl, jakým kreslí Jeff Lemire. Jeden sešit nakreslil Mark Texeira a opět jej vybarvil José Villarrubia, ale tentokrát olejovými barvami, ve kterých jsou vidět jednotlivé tahy štětce. A do třetice musím zmínit ještě jeden sešit a to asi ten nejlepší - sešit se vzpomínkami Hulka. Nakreslil jej Bill Sienkiewicz a opět jej vodovkami vybarvil José Villarrubia. Ty úžasné panely mi v hlavě zůstanou dlouho.
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July 11, 2019The idea is solid enough: that the Marvel Universe once had a golden, Superman-style hero above all the rest, but that the world had to forget he existed, and now everyone, himself included, is gradually remembering. Early Miracleman, in some ways, but in a pre-existing universe, complete with publicity material suggesting it was all based on truth, that Stan Lee had created Robert Reynolds before the Fantastic Four*. And even all these years later, after the Sentry has been integrated into the universe proper and then gone and then returned again, long after we all know the twist about the identity of his nemesis the Void, the first couple of issues have a certain foreboding power, assisted (as most things are) and counterpointed by the presence of a very cute dog, who looks even more adorable in his caped sidekick mode. It's all absolutely gorgeous, too, with Jae Lee on the main story, and the side flashbacks drawn by everyone from Texeira to Billy the Sink. But it's also those flashbacks which ultimately overegg the pudding; yes, the Sentry was there before Reed Richards, but once he's also the one guy who could calm the Hulk, the man who taught Spidey how to be a hero, the sheer impertinence of the whole project, its resemblance to the worst sort of Mary-Sue insertion fanfic, becomes unignorable. Obviously there's a certain arrogance in any creative endeavour, even more so once you dare contribute new elements to a shared universe which has been around and loved for decades. But trust Paul Jenkins to be the writer who takes that trick, which dozens of creators have been pulling off month after month for generations now, and foul it up badly enough that a reader can see the strings and wonder at the gall of the man.
*It was 2000, remember, so little deceits like this were a bit of Blair Witch fun, and not yet the reason civilisation was falling apart.
*It was 2000, remember, so little deceits like this were a bit of Blair Witch fun, and not yet the reason civilisation was falling apart.
January 19, 2024
Achei a primeira metade do encadernado bem interessante mas a segunda muito chata, fui pulando parte pois focou no passado de cada herói com o sentinela, e semti uns feedbacks sem motivo e no final ficou falando tanto do vácuo o quadrinho todo e sim tem um final com foco no vacuo mas ai achei muito corrido só uma edição bem, na real o bendis trabalhou melhor ele pq aqui na segunda metade era só soninho, foi ótimo pq lia antes de dormir
April 5, 2018
Imagine being the world's first, mightiest, and most beloved superhero - and having to conceal that from everyone, even yourself, at the risk of universal annihilation.
That's the story of the Sentry in a nutshell. Jenkins does a great job deftly inserting an entirely new character into the Marvel universe as if he'd always been there, but we'd all been programmed to forget him entirely. He shows us how stalwarts like Reed Richards, the Hulk, and Spider-Man react to realizing that someone they loved and admired had essentially wiped himself from the memory of the world to save it, and that they'd all willingly participated in this vast lie.
I found the story moving and compelling. I'd like to see it worked into the MCU at some point.
That's the story of the Sentry in a nutshell. Jenkins does a great job deftly inserting an entirely new character into the Marvel universe as if he'd always been there, but we'd all been programmed to forget him entirely. He shows us how stalwarts like Reed Richards, the Hulk, and Spider-Man react to realizing that someone they loved and admired had essentially wiped himself from the memory of the world to save it, and that they'd all willingly participated in this vast lie.
I found the story moving and compelling. I'd like to see it worked into the MCU at some point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2019
Raccoglie la mini del 2000.
L'idea era malsana e si vede ancora.
I disegni non erano male, anche se Jae Lee all'epoca mi aveva un poco stufato.
Il senso di Sentry come personaggio non c'è, e peggio che inutile, è disutile.
Una sola stella basta per qualcosa che ho fatto fatica a leggere una volta e non leggerò mai più.
L'idea era malsana e si vede ancora.
I disegni non erano male, anche se Jae Lee all'epoca mi aveva un poco stufato.
Il senso di Sentry come personaggio non c'è, e peggio che inutile, è disutile.
Una sola stella basta per qualcosa che ho fatto fatica a leggere una volta e non leggerò mai più.
January 20, 2019
Me gustó mucho la miniserie, el problema es que a la mitad meten 3 especiales que le baja mucho la calidad y corta el climax abruptamente.
Joder.
De otro modo, sí le andaba pegando al 5.
3.4/5
Joder.
De otro modo, sí le andaba pegando al 5.
3.4/5
October 27, 2022
This was good, but too padded out. I realized what the plot twist was going to be at some point during the many long flashbacks. If it has been a bit shorter and better paced, that plot twist would have probably surprising and satisfying.
I almost want to reedit this myself. There's a 5/5 masterpiece hiding in here.
I almost want to reedit this myself. There's a 5/5 masterpiece hiding in here.
March 17, 2019
Všeobecné nadšení mě trochu minulo. K Sentrymu jsem se dostal dost pozdě, a závěrečný twist tak nebyl žádné překvapení. A na něm to bohužel celé stojí.
Je tu super kresba Jae Leeho, je tu výborný sešit s Angelem a pár dalšími hrdiny a za 250 Kč je 10 komiksových sešitů luxus. Pokud Sentryho vůbec neznáte, užijete si to mnohem víc.
Je tu super kresba Jae Leeho, je tu výborný sešit s Angelem a pár dalšími hrdiny a za 250 Kč je 10 komiksových sešitů luxus. Pokud Sentryho vůbec neznáte, užijete si to mnohem víc.
September 8, 2007
I really should hate The Sentry.
His introduction has all the elements of the ill-conceived "event" that shocks readers and boosts sales in the short term, but ends up so ridiculously stupid that it must be ignored or explained away by the creators that follow. It's a revisionist ret-con of the entire history of a universe whose continuity is tight as a drum and doesn't need tampered with. And worst of all, it started with a gimmick. (A hoax that he was a "lost" Stan Lee creation that pre-dated the Fantastic Four kicked off the marketing.)
So why don't I hate The Sentry? I'm still not sure. But his character just feels right. Paul Jenkins really hit on something perfectly in keeping with the Marvel tradition. If Stan Lee really had created a Superman, it would be just like this. He wouldn't have been a perfectly adapted Kansas farmboy, but a flawed and fragmented hero unable to cope with his limitless power and is, quite literally, his own worst enemy.
The Jae Lee art doesn't hurt, either, since his realistic look adds gravitas to any project he's involved with. He might just be my favorite artist working today and the era-specific look to the different time periods was a great touch.
Jenkins was smart in closing the book on the character at the end of this first story, putting the genie back in the bottle in case it didn't work. What other writers do with The Sentry after this is their responsibility. But taken by itself, this volume is a great read, an insightful exploration of the Marvel Universe and the introduction of a worthy new hero to their comic pantheon.
His introduction has all the elements of the ill-conceived "event" that shocks readers and boosts sales in the short term, but ends up so ridiculously stupid that it must be ignored or explained away by the creators that follow. It's a revisionist ret-con of the entire history of a universe whose continuity is tight as a drum and doesn't need tampered with. And worst of all, it started with a gimmick. (A hoax that he was a "lost" Stan Lee creation that pre-dated the Fantastic Four kicked off the marketing.)
So why don't I hate The Sentry? I'm still not sure. But his character just feels right. Paul Jenkins really hit on something perfectly in keeping with the Marvel tradition. If Stan Lee really had created a Superman, it would be just like this. He wouldn't have been a perfectly adapted Kansas farmboy, but a flawed and fragmented hero unable to cope with his limitless power and is, quite literally, his own worst enemy.
The Jae Lee art doesn't hurt, either, since his realistic look adds gravitas to any project he's involved with. He might just be my favorite artist working today and the era-specific look to the different time periods was a great touch.
Jenkins was smart in closing the book on the character at the end of this first story, putting the genie back in the bottle in case it didn't work. What other writers do with The Sentry after this is their responsibility. But taken by itself, this volume is a great read, an insightful exploration of the Marvel Universe and the introduction of a worthy new hero to their comic pantheon.
September 23, 2015
Before there were the other heroic superheroes, there was one. One that has been forgotten by time and men. The Golden Guardian of Goodness. The one that taught everyone else the art of superheroing. The one everyone idolised. The first of them, and the best. Robert "Bob" Reynolds. The Sentry.
Bob wakes up one night, in his modest house, having glimpses and fleeting memories. He is coming back. Who? His arch nemesis of course. His memory is hazy, but what drives him is present. His nemesis is the most dangerous one out there. A being of pure darkness. Pure evil. His only agenda was to destroy the world. His name is the Void.
So finding himself with limited knowledge, he seeks out the Superheroes he once was close with. The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Hulk. With the exception of the Green Goliath, none of the others seem to remember him. But time is running short. The Void almost here. Time is running short, and he must gather up every ounce of power he can to fight him. So how would he rally such a force? By going for the source, that made everyone forget the Sentry in the first place.
Bob wakes up one night, in his modest house, having glimpses and fleeting memories. He is coming back. Who? His arch nemesis of course. His memory is hazy, but what drives him is present. His nemesis is the most dangerous one out there. A being of pure darkness. Pure evil. His only agenda was to destroy the world. His name is the Void.
So finding himself with limited knowledge, he seeks out the Superheroes he once was close with. The Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Hulk. With the exception of the Green Goliath, none of the others seem to remember him. But time is running short. The Void almost here. Time is running short, and he must gather up every ounce of power he can to fight him. So how would he rally such a force? By going for the source, that made everyone forget the Sentry in the first place.
March 13, 2019
What if Stephen King and M Night Shyamalan collaborated on a spooky, surreal, trippy, yet grounded superhero comic?
Well... you’d probably end up with something like this.
This is nuts, man. I really really can’t say much without ruining it. There are twists.
This is superheroes deconstructed. In a way, I’d even go as far as to say it’s like a Marvel Universe version of The Watchmen. It does this thing (that I love) where there flashbacks are made to look like Golden and Silver age comic books, complete with garish colors and pointillism.
The story seems deceptively slow paced at first... but it realizes itself shockingly fast, and before you know it... you’re IN IT.
Paul Jenkins is such a great writer. I love his style. I especially love how he takes on this voice... it’s like he’s the subconscious of the characters being discussed. “You try to remember how you got here.” It’s unique and in a way (that I won’t disclose,) it’s perfect for this tale.
Want something different, well made, with attractive art from Jae Lee, and a really interesting take on Marvel Heroes? Look no further. This is what’s up!
Well... you’d probably end up with something like this.
This is nuts, man. I really really can’t say much without ruining it. There are twists.
This is superheroes deconstructed. In a way, I’d even go as far as to say it’s like a Marvel Universe version of The Watchmen. It does this thing (that I love) where there flashbacks are made to look like Golden and Silver age comic books, complete with garish colors and pointillism.
The story seems deceptively slow paced at first... but it realizes itself shockingly fast, and before you know it... you’re IN IT.
Paul Jenkins is such a great writer. I love his style. I especially love how he takes on this voice... it’s like he’s the subconscious of the characters being discussed. “You try to remember how you got here.” It’s unique and in a way (that I won’t disclose,) it’s perfect for this tale.
Want something different, well made, with attractive art from Jae Lee, and a really interesting take on Marvel Heroes? Look no further. This is what’s up!
October 14, 2019
Read this ages ago, I remember the ad campaign vividly about how Stan Lee & Jack Kirby created him but he was lost to time. The ads showed Kirby-esque drawings of Sentry.
The story is wonderfully complex & interesting, the art fits the book well. The story tells of an overweight man who drinks too much, prefers cartoons to news, has many phobias (heights & people/crowds), but believes that he was once Earth's most powerful hero Sentry, & was best friends with Mister Fantastic. The story was told from Robert Reynolds point of view, so he was an unreliable narrator.
It was a great introduction & background story built up around the character.
The story is wonderfully complex & interesting, the art fits the book well. The story tells of an overweight man who drinks too much, prefers cartoons to news, has many phobias (heights & people/crowds), but believes that he was once Earth's most powerful hero Sentry, & was best friends with Mister Fantastic. The story was told from Robert Reynolds point of view, so he was an unreliable narrator.
It was a great introduction & background story built up around the character.
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