View Full Version : Sentry: Reborn discussion [Jenkins/Romita, Jr.] [spoilers]
I got this today and I have to say, I was blown away.
Considering how good the original Sentry mini by Jenkins (who is also doing this mini) and considering how invented Sentry and the Void and everything - I was just completely blown away by how much it sucks.
This mini was just ****ing awful. Here we have the most powerful superhero and they turned all these amazing feats he does; saving people across the world, keeping the most powerful supervillain - himself - in check, all this they turned into a monotous, dull, and insipid desk job.
He's just busy.
Terrax comes down and tells us he's going to destroy the planet because we're guilty of having sentience. He takes out an army. Sentry shows up, ignores Terrax's death blasts, then - with one hand - breaks Terrax's hands and his cosmic axe.
Where's the ******* drama. I found the Void, sitting there with a ****ing stupid cartoon grin on his face and in a purple Dick Tracy suit complete with hat, to not be a credible threat at all. I just thought, "Let him out and kick his ***. You can probably do it while you're asleep". I thought this because I had to read the issue twice to make sure Sentry had his eyes open when he defeated both Attuma and Terrax in this issue since it required no effort on his part to dispense with either.
The original mini was wonderfully original, and the Void was a living nightmare. The story had the aesthetic of a night terror, and it was wonderful.
The new Sentry reads like ****ty Superman comics from 15 years ago.
Complete waste of my time and money.
Sorry.
I was going to start this earlier and didn't have a chance.
I almost agree. I wouldn't say it sucked, but it was disappointing.
The art - now THAT sucked. Sorry - I just don't like JRJR's art. At all. I drew better than that in 4th grade. What a disappointing step down from Jae Lee and Steve McNiven. Blech.
I can see why he'd have more trouble against Void than Terrax or Attuma. I can accept that he'd have a harder time fighting himself than anyone else, especially since he's the most powerful anyone in anywhere. I also don't really have a problem with how he looks...he takes on different forms. And he's had the "Dick Tracy" look before.
But Bass you're right - they made it look like saving the world is a desk job. 1 issue in, and I'm not impressed. If it contributes to his psyche in a negative way (i.e. Void), then maybe something is going on that I can wait out.
But yeah - the original Sentry series was...profound. This just isn't.
TheManWithoutFear
09-29-2005, 07:55 PM
There biggest mistake was taking on The Sentry in the first place.
I thought Romita's art was the saving grace. I loved his Terrax.
But... this was just crap. I'm not picking up #2. The Sentry is just a bollocks Superman. **** him.
I'm waiting for All-Star Superman. That is something I'm really excited about.
Doc Comic
10-02-2005, 05:43 PM
I must say that I don't like where they're taking the character. I have been a Sentry fan since the original miniseries, back when people would say "Who the hell is the Sentry?" The original mini was very intellectual and it was supposed to just be a one-time deal. It shows how Superman would have been in the Marvel Universe and it showed it well. But bringing him back and using these excuses, it doesn't fit. If Bendis wanted a Superman for New Avengers, he could have easily plucked Gladiator out since he's not doing anything these days. The Sentry was an amazing, touching character who made the ultimate sacrifice: he gave up ultimate power to become an agorophobic schizophrenic in order to save the world, nay, the universe. But having him turn into a typical superhero and taking away the dynamic that because of him being the greatest hero that his subconscious was also the greatest villain, it just ruins the character. **** you, Bendis.
It's not as good as the original mini, but it's a decent read. I miss the old style. :(
There is quite a bit here that either contradicts the last issue of New Avengers or makes no sense from a psychological point of view. Robert Reynolds can't really be considered schizophrenic - that's defined as a person whose view of reality is distorted, often to the point of hallucinations or delusions. So either he IS the Sentry or everything he does as the Sentry is just a personal delusion. I suppose it could be that the Void is still an "implanted" condition and that the Sentry "persona" has become more rigid and less "regular human" in order to fight off the Void and the drugs and the counseling are to try and bring Robert and the split Sentry/Void entity back together. In many ways, Robert is FAR sicker than the Scarlet Witch ever was and much closer to snapping.
I'd prefer the "Sentry isn't real" answer, because I really disliked the way the New Avengers were portrayed, just waiting for the Sentry to come and save them. It seemed... un-Avengerish, as does the Sentry just blowing the head off of Attuma.
I liked Jenkin's first Sentry mini, but that one had the advantage of being a more-or-less "what if" issue, only loosely tied to regular Marvel continuity. In this one, Sentry has to be tied firmly back into continuity, and I don't see how this is going to happen.
Also, wasn't this exactly what one of Busiek's characters in Astro City did (Samaritan?)? He had an AI that alerted him to problems all around the world and he spent his days and nights fighting disasters and crime, becoming ever-more weary and depressed.
Caduceus
10-02-2005, 06:50 PM
There is quite a bit here that either contradicts the last issue of New Avengers or makes no sense from a psychological point of view. Robert Reynolds can't really be considered schizophrenic - that's defined as a person whose view of reality is distorted, often to the point of hallucinations or delusions.
Chiming in from a non-reader perspective, he's likely comics-schizophrenic. Meaning he's got multiple personalities.
**** you, Bendis.
Say that louder and more often.
Also, wasn't this exactly what one of Busiek's characters in Astro City did (Samaritan?)? He had an AI that alerted him to problems all around the world and he spent his days and nights fighting disasters and crime, becoming ever-more weary and depressed.
This is what I mean. Instead of being new and interesting, a clever take on the Superman myth or the Superhero genre as the original was, he's become a giant yellow cliche with a ****ing S on his waist.
I'm just really pissed off. I was looking forward to seeing something... good. Instead I got this tired old bollocks.
Doc Comic
10-02-2005, 08:42 PM
This is what I mean. Instead of being new and interesting, a clever take on the Superman myth or the Superhero genre as the original was, he's become a giant yellow cliche with a ****ing S on his waist.
I'm just really pissed off. I was looking forward to seeing something... good. Instead I got this tired old bollocks.
Exactly. That's the point I was making.
fnord
12-01-2005, 10:47 AM
This mini blows. I takes all the good part of the original sentry series, the sentry part of New avengers, throws it away and makes a big pile of CRAP.
Hate it.
And i like the Sentry as a Character as well.
Meh.
Hate is a strong word...I don't hate it, but it certainly is disappointing.
I haven't got the foggiest idea what the point is supposed to be. Although judging by what Void was saying in this issue, it seems as if we might finally be getting somewhere. Maybe.
Sentry #6 (DEC052030D, $2.99; FOC 02/02/06) is part of an eight-issue mini-series, not six-issue mini-series as indicated in the December Marvel Previews. It is correctly listed in the December Previews Retailer Order Form.
Just posting incase.
Just posting incase.
Thanks - I assumed they had cut back like they did 1602 New World.
John Q. Public
12-10-2005, 04:21 PM
Hate is a strong word...I don't hate it, but it certainly is disappointing.
I haven't got the foggiest idea what the point is supposed to be. Although judging by what Void was saying in this issue, it seems as if we might finally be getting somewhere. Maybe.
Maybe is right. I'll keep buying this book because I have to think that, in the end (or pretty soon), everything makes sense.
Super_Human
12-24-2005, 04:44 PM
I love this mini.
Fredrik Martinsson
02-02-2006, 03:56 PM
The Sentry #5:
Not the biggest fan of the series but I'm glad that we got an revelation that was new even for those who had read the original mini.
The Sentry #5:
Not the biggest fan of the series but I'm glad that we got an revelation that was new even for those who had read the original mini.
#5 was more interesting than the previosu 4 issues.
Which revelation are you talking about?
Fredrik Martinsson
02-02-2006, 04:32 PM
Which revelation are you talking about?
That the Sentry is the seperate entity and Robert is actually the Void.
That the Sentry is the seperate entity and Robert is actually the Void.
Ah. Gotcha.
I didn't put too much stock in that...after all it was the Void who said it. Not saying it doesn't mean anything, but it read more like a suggestion just to confuse the doctor.
But that *is* a pretty cool and interesting idea, and could save this mini if it's played right. If they would have dropped that bombshell at the end of issue 1 and had the series exploring that idea instead of the entire first half *****footing around and not following a recognizable plot I'd probably feel a lot different about this.
The art is still terrible though.
Fredrik Martinsson
02-02-2006, 04:50 PM
I didn't put too much stock in that...after all it was the Void who said it. Not saying it doesn't mean anything, but it read more like a suggestion just to confuse the doctor.
I thought that too when I first read it but the way it was played out, that Robert/the Void already had the upperhand and wants to kill him anyway because "he knows the truth", makes me belive that he was telling the truth.
But that *is* a pretty cool and interesting idea, and could save this mini if it's played right. If they would have dropped that bombshell at the end of issue 1 and had the series exploring that idea instead of the entire first half *****footing around and not following a recognizable plot I'd probably feel a lot different about this.
Agreed.
The art is still terrible though.
Agreed 110%.
MaxwellSmart
02-02-2006, 05:12 PM
I only realized last issue this was an 8 issue mini-series. I'm just not sure what they're going to do for three more issues. Issue 5 was the first issue where I felt like the Sentry character was changing.
This mini better not end with him flying off to some distant galaxy because "he's too powerful to stay on earth." That seems to be the MO of "god" characters. The only way I see him sticking around is if he has a major power loss.
I really liked how cloc is in the ally behind the bar with an array of lasers and says they've been deemed a risk to over 6 billion human lives and just kills thems. For an artifical life form, he's surprisingly interesting character.
I only realized last issue this was an 8 issue mini-series. I'm just not sure what they're going to do for three more issues. Issue 5 was the first issue where I felt like the Sentry character was changing.
There was little to no plot in the first 4 issues. Assuming things continue from issue 5, it's basically a 4 issue mini with a few preludes.
This mini better not end with him flying off to some distant galaxy because "he's too powerful to stay on earth." That seems to be the MO of "god" characters. The only way I see him sticking around is if he has a major power loss.
I don't think so...he's an Avenger now and as far as I know Bendis is using him. I would guess there's some kind of internal battle and he "absorbs" both personalities. I'm hoping that it's a give-and-take thing, where the stronger one gets, the stronger the other gets. Certainly would save him from being a Superman clone.
I really liked how cloc is in the ally behind the bar with an array of lasers and says they've been deemed a risk to over 6 billion human lives and just kills thems. For an artifical life form, he's surprisingly interesting character.
He's probably the most interesting character so far. I like how he is working around his limitations in programming.
That the Sentry is the seperate entity and Robert is actually the Void.
WTF?
I didn't pick up #2 of this stupid series. How the hell does this even make sense? I thought Robert was Sentry and the Void. Doesn't him not being the Sentry negate the whole 'addict' metaphor?
Fredrik Martinsson
02-02-2006, 07:36 PM
WTF?
I didn't pick up #2 of this stupid series. How the hell does this even make sense? I thought Robert was Sentry and the Void. Doesn't him not being the Sentry negate the whole 'addict' metaphor?
THIS IS JUST MY ASSUMPTIONS AND NOT EXPLAINED (YET) IN THE COMICS!!!
I might have some problem explaining this so bare with me:
From what I can tell, when Robert became the Sentry and the Void (how is unsure at the moment) his body split in two and we where made to believe that the "soul", in lack of a better word for our bodily controlling part, from Robert was transferred into the Sentry part and the Void got the dark, more sinister part of Robert which made a new entity with a new "soul" (because the soul can't be split in two, only being transferred or something) that Robert didn't have when not in the Sentry/Void form. However now we learn that it was the opposite. The "soul" of Robert was actually transferred into the Void and a new "soul" was made into the Sentry from the good parts of Roberts (or something).
Hope that made sense.
If I have made some mistake, please post and correct me.
This is a simpler way to put it:
It was suggested that instead of the Void being the "dark side" of the Sentry, the Sentry is the "light side" of the Void. As in, Robert became the Void and is developing the Sentry as a persona to battle that, because he is inherently evil and knows he has to stop himself.
Ah, ok. That makes sense.
selfproclaimed
02-02-2006, 10:12 PM
This is a simpler way to put it:
It was suggested that instead of the Void being the "dark side" of the Sentry, the Sentry is the "light side" of the Void. As in, Robert became the Void and is developing the Sentry as a persona to battle that, because he is inherently evil and knows he has to stop himself.
i dig...suddenly it all seems so interesting
i dig...suddenly it all seems so interesting
It really is. It's just too bad it took 5 issues to get to this point. And I'm not even sure it will be the main plot of the series.
Fredrik Martinsson
02-02-2006, 10:49 PM
This is a simpler way to put it:
It was suggested that instead of the Void being the "dark side" of the Sentry, the Sentry is the "light side" of the Void. As in, Robert became the Void and is developing the Sentry as a persona to battle that, because he is inherently evil and knows he has to stop himself.
Thank you. That sounded much better than my explanation. I always complicate things by trying to explain into the smallest detail. I have to work on that.
TheManWithoutFear
02-02-2006, 11:40 PM
This is a simpler way to put it:
It was suggested that instead of the Void being the "dark side" of the Sentry, the Sentry is the "light side" of the Void. As in, Robert became the Void and is developing the Sentry as a persona to battle that, because he is inherently evil and knows he has to stop himself.
If that's how it goes... then the Sentry just got back to becoming as interesting as he was in the original mini and then some.
If that's how it goes... then the Sentry just got back to becoming as interesting as he was in the original mini and then some.
I agree, but again given how the first 4 issues rambled I don't know if I trust Jenkins to carry this out and make it all it can be. Like I said, drop that bomb at the end of #1 and this is a completely different series.
Granted the art would still be bad...
selfproclaimed
02-03-2006, 03:05 AM
It really is. It's just too bad it took 5 issues to get to this point. And I'm not even sure it will be the main plot of the series.
it's just rather unfortunate that it took this long b/c they probably lost some readers by not dropping the bomb in issue #1 and now they have to play catch-up in order to redeem themselves
it's just rather unfortunate that it took this long b/c they probably lost some readers by not dropping the bomb in issue #1 and now they have to play catch-up in order to redeem themselves
Yes, and also think of what a cool background and history the Sentry has. He could be uncovering things about his past, this time looking for answers or clues for 4 issues instead of having all that filler junk with Hulk and whatnot, which did nothing to contribute to the overall plot (again, assuming that we are now into the meat of the plot/book).
Fredrik Martinsson
02-25-2006, 04:35 PM
#6
Well we got confirmation that Roberts IS the Void and the Sentry is the separate being. When that is out in the open the blockade that had keeping the two together is finally broken. Roberts/the Void is now working separately. The Sentry visits Doc Strange to find out if he really exists and if he does who/what he is. Strange sees a vision of a building that could have the answers the Sentry is looking for but warns him that he shouldn't go there.
The Sentry, curious for answers, doesn't do as he is told and visits the facility.
Well inside he sits down on a chair and slowly transforms into a drooling man in a straitjacket who is looked in a cell.
Pretty good. It keeps me in suspense. I'm gonna get #7 too.
Doc Comic
02-25-2006, 05:40 PM
It's a shame that this is just now becoming one of my favorite comics right when it's wrapping up. The "Ultimate Sentry" thing with Robbie being a teenage drug addict made me laugh because it perfectly mocked the Ultimate Universe. I have a feeling that that's not going to be his true origin.
Super_Human
03-08-2006, 04:32 PM
This comic rules.
#6's ending was teh AWESOME. Loving how its being written now.
No comments on #7. Interesting.
Because I read it, and I have no idea what is going on. This series is baffling. It's all over the map and doesn't seem to have a central plot. It's like a bunch of unrelated stories in one series with no hope of being tied together.
It makes no sense. I can't even say I hate it because I don't have a clue what it's about.
MaxwellSmart
04-02-2006, 12:53 AM
I keep thinking they're going to explain everything in the next issue, but they never do. I've gotten to the point where I think they already have and I missed it. I couldn't say for sure. I'm still reading it though because I'm convinced it's going to have a great ending, but I starting to consider it might not.
I keep thinking they're going to explain everything in the next issue, but they never do. I've gotten to the point where I think they already have and I missed it. I couldn't say for sure. I'm still reading it though because I'm convinced it's going to have a great ending, but I starting to consider it might not.
Exactly. That's the feeling I get - like I'm dumb for not getting it, because it couldn't possibly be this non-sensical.
Fredrik Martinsson
04-02-2006, 02:02 PM
So here is a short summery of #7:
Sentry wakes up in a mental institution and is believed to have the name John Victor Williams and was brought there after having killed his neighbor. It is all a fake and the Sentry figures it out. He wakes up strapped to a machine operated by the professor with help of Stephen Strange. The Sentry brakes free and the Professor is telling him that all this is made so that he won't remember. Stephen says that if he WILL remember then everybody will die. The Sentry doesn't believe him and forces the Professor to tell him the truth (since the Void will tell him anyway) but before he can do that Fury (that has been hovering outside the building they all are in) triggers a detonation in the Professor so the Sentry flies up with him in the sky before the explosion occurs. When he comes back down he is at a snowy place (probably the north pole) and is standing at the front to the Voids home which looks like a up-side-down version of the Sentry's watchtower.
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