The Sentry (Robert "Bob" Reynolds) and The Void are, respectively, a superhero and supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee, with uncredited conceptual contributions by Rick Veitch, the characters first appeared in The Sentry #1 (2000).
Sentry is a metafictional character who had existed since the 1950s in-universe, but had all memories of his existence erased. He gained his powers from a version of the super-soldier serum that created Captain America, giving him immense power coupled with a destructive alternate personality called the Void. In his self-titled debut series, Robert Reynolds returns to the public after realizing that nobody remembers the Sentry's existence, which also affected him. During the 2020 storyline King in Black, Sentry is killed by Knull, who absorbs the Void into himself. Sentry's powers are taken by civilian Mallory Gibbs, who becomes known as Solarus. Sentry returned in a self-titled series, published in 2026.
Robert "Bob" Reynolds / Sentry and the Void appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Thunderbolts* (2025), portrayed by Lewis Pullman. He will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
Publication history Creation In the late 1990s, Paul Jenkins and Rick Veitch developed an idea by Jenkins about "an over-the-hill guy, struggling with an addiction, who had a tight relationship with his dog" into a proposal for Marvel Comics' Marvel Knights line. Jenkins conceived of the character as "a guardian type, with a watchtower", and came up with the name "Sentry" (after previously considering "Centurion"). Veitch suggested that the character could be woven into the history of the Marvel Universe, with versions of the character from the 1940s onwards depicted in artistic styles matching the comics of each period.
In the comics, Project: Sentry was launched in 1947, but soon disintegrated into multiple sub-projects with almost zero government control. Professor Cornelius Worth, a project-in-charge, completed the formula 10 years later in New York. Veitch also suggested that due to some cataclysmic event, all recollection of the Sentry would have been removed from everyone's memory (including his own). Jenkins and Veitch decided that they would create not only a fictional history for the Sentry within the Marvel Universe, but also a fictional publication history in the real world, complete with imaginary creators (Juan Pinkles and Chick Rivet, anagrams of Jenkins and Veitch's names). Jenkins pitched the concept to Marvel Knights editor Joe Quesada. Quesada decided to commission a miniseries written by Jenkins with art by Jae Lee, with whom Jenkins had previously worked on an Inhumans miniseries.
Publication The Sentry was first introduced in his 2000 eponymous Marvel Knights miniseries written by Paul Jenkins with art by Jae Lee. The miniseries ran for five issues and then segued directly into a series of flashback one-shots in which the Sentry teamed up with the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Angel, and the Hulk. These one-shots led to The Sentry vs. the Void, an additional one-shot that wrapped up the story of the miniseries and one-shots. In 2005, writer Brian Michael Bendis reused the Sentry by making him a member of the New Avengers. The Sentry played a minor role in the first arc, Breakout (issues #1–6), and was the focus of the second arc, The Sentry (issues #7–10); Jenkins himself was featured as a character in the second one. Also in 2005, the Sentry received another miniseries, written by Jenkins and drawn by John Romita Jr., which ran for eight issues. The Sentry appeared in The Mighty Avengers as a member of that team, and later in Dark Avengers in a similar capacity, and as protagonist in The Age of the Sentry miniseries. He appeared as a regular character in the Dark Avengers series from issue #1 (March 2009) until the time of his death in the Siege limited series.
On March 6, 2018, it was announced that the character would be given an ongoing series written by Jeff Lemire and with art by Joshua Cassara and Kim Jacinto. The series ended after five issues.
In 2024, a new Sentry miniseries was published. It introduced a new version of Sentry, Mallory Gibbs / Solarus, who gained Robert Reynolds' powers after his death during the "King in Black" event (2020).
Another Sentry series was published in 2026, written by Paul Jenkins. It sees the return of Sentry following his death in "King in Black".
Fictional character biography Sentry and the Marvel Universe
Civilian Bob Reynolds remembers that he is Sentry, a superhero whose "power of one million exploding suns" is derived from a special serum. Realizing that his archenemy the Void is returning, Reynolds seeks out several prominent Marvel characters to warn them and to discover why no one remembers the Sentry.
The characters' memories of the Sentry and the Void resurface when Reynolds talks with them. The Sentry had taught Angel how to conquer his fear of falling. Peter Parker's photograph of the Sentry earned him a Pulitzer Prize and fame. Hulk had never forgotten the Sentry, whom he called "Golden Man". Under the Sentry's influence, Hulk had been a force for good and won the adoration of the public. Mister Fantastic remembered the Sentry was his best friend and that the Fantastic Four had teamed up with him on many adventures. Meanwhile, the general public gradually came to remember the Sentry, as did Reynolds' old sidekick, Billy Turner, who was formerly known as the Scout (now scarred and missing a forearm, due to an attack from the Void).
During the course of his investigation, Reynolds and Mister Fantastic discover that the Sentry and the Void are two halves of the same person. To save the world, Reynolds erased all memory of the Sentry from the mind of nearly every person on Earth, including himself. When the Void returns and threatens to attack the East Coast of the United States, Reynolds works with Mister Fantastic and Doctor Strange to erase the public's memory of Sentry once more.Sentry #1–5 (September 2000 - January 2001)
In the 2026 series Sentry, it is revealed that Reynolds learned of the story of Laika at the age of 7 and mourned her death for the next year. It is alleged that this event led to the manifestation of the Void within him.Sentry (vol. 5) #1 (May 2026)
Avengers
Reynolds reappears inside the supervillain prison the Raft, having been voluntarily imprisoned for murdering his wife Lindy Lee. When Electro causes a massive jail break at the Raft, Reynolds defends several other characters from Carnage, whom he flies to space and rips in half.New Avengers #1–6 (January - June 2005)
Eventually, the Avengers learn that Mastermind, under the direction of an enemy of the Sentry known only as the General, implanted a psychic "virus" in Reynolds' mind that impaired his memory. As a cry for help, he subconsciously implanted his memories into the mind of comic book writer Paul Jenkins, who then transferred those memories to comic books. The Avengers track Reynolds down and show him that his wife, whom he confessed to murdering, is alive. The Sentry flees, and he finds himself waking up in the small suburban house he shares with Lindy. His appearance has changed in an instant, and he appears to be living the life of an ordinary man.
When the Avengers confront him, Reynolds insists that the Void is coming, who will destroy them all, and that he cannot stop it. The Void arrives, now a separate entity from Reynolds, and attacks the Avengers. Emma Frost frees Reynolds from the virus and restore his memories, and the Sentry joins the Avengers. Sentry's Watchtower appears atop Stark Tower, where it had previous been hidden from view.New Avengers #7–10 (July - October 2005)
Unable to reconcile that he, Robert Reynolds, and the Void are the same being, the Sentry confronts his psychiatrist, Cornelius Worth, and begins switching rapidly between his personalities. The Sentry explains that neither he, nor the Void, represent the entirety of Robert Reynolds, as the two do not share memories. Sentry reveals that Reynolds gained his powers as a teenager after stealing a serum that was developed in a failed attempt to recreate the super-soldier serum that created Captain America, intending to use it as a drug. The Sentry then bids Worth farewell, telling him that he will seek out help to answer his existential questions.Sentry (vol. 2) #4–8 (February - June 2006)
The Void claims that the serum Reynolds ingested was several times more powerful than the super-soldier serum. He was considered dangerous by the government because his blood could be used to create more of the serum, enough for the entire world. Several failed attempts were made to kill him. Enraged by this revelation, the Sentry throws the Void into the Sun, telling his enemy that he no longer needs him to balance his own actions of good. The Void promises to return.The Sentry (vol. 2) #7–8
Mighty Avengers The Sentry is recruited by Iron Man to join the Mighty Avengers, the newest incarnation of the Avengers. While at first there is some dispute between the Sentry and Lindy, Robert joins the team while Iron Man and Ms. Marvel offer him assistance to treat his mental illness.The Mighty Avengers #1 (May 2007) After Ultron kills his wife Lindy, Sentry flies into a rage and attacks him. He returns to his Watchtower to find Lindy alive, having apparently resurrected her himself.The Mighty Avengers #4–7 (August 2007 - March 2008)
Dark Avengers
Sentry joins the Dark Avengers, Norman Osborn's team of Avengers, stating that Osborn is helping him in return after Osborn confides his own mental deficiency in him.Dark Avengers #1 - 3 (March - May 2009) However, the Void resurfaces and takes control of Robert Reynolds' body. Osborn flies to the Void, claiming that he was breaking their "deal", and has Bullseye murder Lindy Lee.Dark Avengers #14 (April 2010)
During the 2010 storyline "Siege", Sentry is pitted against the Avengers and others who rebel against Osborn. At Osborn's request, the Sentry destroys Asgard. The Void then takes complete control of Sentry and kills Ares.Siege #2 (April 2010) After defeating the entire Avengers contingent, Sentry is eventually reverted to human form. He asks to be killed; following a brief outburst from the Void, his wish is granted by Thor. Thor carries Reynolds' body to the sun and cremates him there.
Resurrection The Sentry is later resurrected by the Apocalypse Twins, who use a Celestial Death Seed to transform him into a member of their new Horsemen of Death.Uncanny Avengers #9 (June 2013) The Sentry claims he became trapped in the sun after his death, dying and regenerating repeatedly, and that the Void became bored and left him.
It is later revealed that Doctor Strange created a pocket dimension where Robert Reynolds can fight the Void with Scout and his Corgi Watchdog, preventing the Void from controlling him in the real world. Unbeknownst to him, Billy has allied with Cranio, one of Sentry's oldest enemies, to duplicate the Sentry formula and trap Robert Reynolds in the pocket dimension, allowing Billy to become the new Sentry. Scout battles Reynolds, but is defeated and killed when Reynolds decides to stop fighting the Void and merge with him. The merged Sentry easily kills Scout, then removes Cranio from the pocket dimension. When the Avengers confront him, Sentry leaves for space.Sentry (vol. 3) #1 - 5 (August - December 2018)
Death and legacy During the "King in Black" storyline, Sentry is summoned by the Avengers to fight Knull. He attempts to fly Knull into space, as he had done to Carnage, only for Knull to break free, kill Sentry by tearing him in half, and absorb the Void.King in Black (February 2021)