Customer Reviews

Sentry: Reborn TPB

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I'm not exactly a big fan of The Sentry but I'm also not one of these readers who takes offense at a writer creating a new character with the conceit that he or she has existed since the sixties (and we're only just now learning about them). My first introduction to Bob Reynolds (Sentry) was within the pages of New Avengers; the trade of which is aptly titled "The Sentry", so that's an easy one to look up. Based on the strength of Bendis' insertion of this character into The Avengers forefront (or more simply, because I was intrigued by the character) I picked up this mini series, eight issues, collected here as The Sentry: Reborn.

What could have easily been eight throwaway issues actually turned out to be an interesting examination of a character with immense power (the power of One Million Exploding Suns!) who also happens to have one of the most fractured psyches this side of Two Face. This series uses Bob's psychological problems as a narrative device and introduces us to Dr. Cornelius Worth, a psychiatrist who's been given the unenviable and herculean task of treating Bob on a regular basis so in each issue/chapter, in the first half of the series, we're given a glimpse of an hourly (more like minutely) session with the good doctor. These sessions are more often than not interrupted as, unsurprisingly, there is a new crisis for The Sentry to fly off and avert just about every ten minutes. Readers of Astro City will likely see a lot of The Samaritan in The Sentry's depiction here.

While in action as The Sentry, Bob relies on CLOC, his super computer that's responsible for calculating probabilities and weighing the importance of one emergency against another. CLOC is constantly informing The Sentry about the next crisis and through Bob's internal monologue, we're shown that for every crisis The Sentry intercedes on, another (theoretically, less threatening) goes unchecked. Bob struggles with the idea that his efforts are futile and not only that but, the actual decision making process involved with prioritizing emergencies. He finds himself wondering just what humanity would think of him if they knew how he relied on cold calculations (CLOC) to determine who he saves.

Also, we learn that The Void is secured within The Watchtower (atop Stark Tower) and that for reasons unclear (at first) Bob makes periodic trips to his cell to have "chats" with his dark alter ego. The Void enjoys toying with The Sentry and playing on the fact that he's partially amnesiac; making mention of The Sentry's true origin, one of Bob's lost memories. It's during one of these discussions that The Void informs The Sentry one of his old enemies is still alive; thereby introducing a villain heretofore unheard of, The General (there are a few of these and they all have that 60's/70's campy charm and they're all presented in retro style panels). It seems he has put up shop in the Negative Zone where (we learn) The Sentry is virtually powerless although The Void apparently thrives there. Also, the fact that Bob has a friendship with The Hulk is also established. The Hulk seems to subside into a very docile and playful monster when in the presence of The Sentry. This is interesting (to me) given the fact that Hulk doesn't turn back into Banner while struck by this very uncharacteristic calm. (I suppose this could be seen as impossible and a point of contention for some fans.) The Sentry taps The Hulk to help him in his mission to the Negative Zone, naturally. Bob even muses as to whether his exploitation of The Hulk's loyalty is right or not; it would appear every decision made by The Sentry carries a heavy weight.

Also, Hammerhead is introduced into the mix (an odd choice by Jenkins), making the claim that he's the only person to ever beat The Sentry. Hammerhead sees a weak link in Dr. Worth and takes a run at him to get at The Sentry. Prior to Hammerhead's meddling, the reader is treated to glimpses of what Cornelius Worth's life is like when he's not administering to his super powered patient and it's not exactly Happy Days. Worth cares for his nearly catatonic daughter Katie and his wife Miriam is cold; greeting him with an emotionless "Jesus loves you, Cornelius.", when he returns from a session with Bob. Worth has more lively discussions with a daughter that can't talk back. Hammerhead wants Worth to ask The Sentry about The Void because, apparently, The Void is "bad for business" and he uses Worth's family as leverage to get him to comply although Worth refuses to be as blunt (no pun intended) as Hammerhead would like. Partially due to Hammerhead's muscling and partially due to CLOC acting on his programming (or contradicting it?), Worth learns a dangerous secret about the nature of The Void and The Sentry's relationship. During his next session, Bob explodes in response to Worth's questions; his fragile balance of personalities basically melting down right before our eyes.

It's after this meltdown that I feel the series becomes much more interesting, even if there are ultimately a lot of unresolved questions about just who and what The Sentry really is. Robert Reynolds, The Sentry, and The Void all split apart. The Sentry seems to be reconstituted as a result of this (or purified) and is more intent on learning his "secret origin", something The Void is keeping a secret. Recently, Rick Veitch (writer of Brat Pack, Swamp Thing, Greyshirt/Tomorrow Stories, Can't Get No and Army @ Love) revealed on his blog that he and Paul Jenkins had batted around this idea of a character dealing with his drug addiction as a manifestation of the unconscious and that he was basically the "lost" contributor to the original Sentry concept (basically replaced by Jae Lee for the original Marvel Knights mini series). Based on his blog posts, it seems evident to me that Veitch was instrumental in the fleshing out of the original concept (which admittedly, underwent some changes by publication time). In this second mini series, Jenkins seems to be channeling some of that "Veitch Flavor", if you will. In the latter half of the series, the sanity of The Sentry is constantly in question and the nature of his (and our) reality is constantly being redefined with each question asked and answer given. To put it in simpler terms, the story gets really weird.

At one point, the question is posed: why would someone with a history of mental illness and drug abuse "discover" a secret serum that granted him super powers? Why would a drug addict drink a suspect concoction? Why indeed. Who is the real Bob Reynolds? The Sentry or The Void? The Sentry eventually decides to go to Dr. Strange for answers, trying to determine if he even really exists and we as readers get to see that fascinating comic book panel background representing The Sentry's memories that was first introduced in New Avengers via Emma Frost's psychic probing. I love the trick Jenkins uses to pose the idea that The Sentry is just an imaginary construct of a very sick and deranged mental patient. Using actual comic book tropes to illustrate their obvious fictional nature (like the alliteration of names: Peter Parker, Reed Richards, Bruce Banner, Robert Reynolds, Sue Storm, etc.). The General is presented as just another mental patient here, as well. Even the recap page is in on the joke. The illusion doesn't last, but Jenkins and Romita had me believing that this was all some kind of alternate reality on par with Neil Gaiman's 1602. Another interesting thing is we see Dr. Strange here functioning in a very Illuminati way, with his role in trying to keep The Sentry sane. The conclusion of the series ends with a head-to-head confrontation between The Sentry and The Void during which The Void raises more questions as to nature of The Sentry's powers, what they are and what they mean. After reading the latest exploits of The Sentry versus Molecule Man in the pages of Dark Avengers, I feel like this is a question that will constantly be asked and the answer constantly tweaked to serve whatever story is being told at the time.

That would be my major criticism for this series, that, while interesting and weird and original, I was left with the feeling that nothing was really solved. The Void was defeated but Jenkins point blank tells the reader that it's only a matter of WHEN he returns, not IF. Having casually read most of Dark Avengers (and knowing Osborn has some kind of super powered ace in hole, identity as yet unrevealed), The Void's presence seems to be constantly in flux with The Sentry lapsing in and out of control. It could be argued that this series was just a prelude for The Sentry's sad irrelevance when it all comes down to it. The difference being, that in this series, it's presented as an unresolved character study whereas in the Marvel Universe at large, The Sentry is basically crippled by his lack of mental cohesion. A big gun with a broken trigger mechanism, so to speak. At the very least though, Jenkins explores what it means for a marriage when your husband is functionally a god. Explores just what would happen if a drug addict with mental problems was granted super powers. Explores the weight of godlike decisions and the futility of being a super hero. Explores just how a man can exist (or can't) alongside his godlike alter ego. I'm left wondering if The Sentry is just a metaphor for being high and being a drug addict, though. Kid (Bob) shoots up (drinks serum), gets high and experiences incredible euphoria (becomes The Sentry) but always, inevitably, comes crashing down into depression and angst (becomes The Void). And once an addict, always an addict (The Void: "I WILL RETURN!!"). If nothing else, be prepared to have more questions than answers after reading this trade.

This is a dark muddled tale of the darkest and most muddled mind in the Marvel Universe, and I enjoyed this work just ass much as have many a work by Alan Moore. I have no idea how accurate the psychology of the story is but one of the points it makes it that Doctor Cornelius is at a disadvantage, his patient is of a psychology unlike unto himself, he is both the greatest force of good, and the greatest force of evil...
Given the Sentry's new roles as Dark Avenger this tale seems all the more important, given the Sentry dark past this book is, if one thing, unlike and should appeal to those of us who grew up dreaming of superheros and finding ourselves faced with the boring truth of reality.
Easily worth the 10-20 bucks.
So if you enjoy the Sentry you'll enjoy this. I love John Romita Juniors art as well.

Um well... this trade was a total disappointment. Paul Jenkins totally bungles the mythos of the Sentry. He gets in way over his head with the aspects of basic psychology that form the substance of the Sentry mythos and drowns in the process. This is particularly unfortunate because in the process he has probably damaged the future of the franchise that is the Sentry. When I read the other Sentry TPB which is drawn by Jae Lee I was really enthused by the living mythology that informed the tale so I was really looking forward to this. Unfortunately, the Sentry Reborn totally self destructs a little more than half way through. Not even Romita Jr.'s art can give it a passable grade. Stay away!