I’m Convinced The MCU Just Gave Sentry A Major Power Downgrade

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Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*

In Thunderbolts*, The Sentry made his debut, though it seems Marvel Studios has scaled back his powers relative to the comics based on a single remark. Just as predicted, Lewis Pullman’s Bob emerged as a key player in Thunderbolts* due to Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s efforts to control the absence of the Avengers with a unified entity. Compared to the source material, Thunderbolts* made some adjustments to Bob’s history, transforming the endearing outcast into an even more relatable character.

The results of de Fontaine’s secret experiments on Bob ultimately led to his portrayal as the main antagonist, The Void, in the Thunderbolts* film. This dark aspect of Bob’s personality cast a shadow over New York, as shown in the trailers for Thunderbolts*. However, even though the consequences might have been severe if the Thunderbolts hadn’t stepped in, I believe the movie may have underplayed both Sentry and The Void, hinted by a significant line early in the film.

The Phrase Used To Denote Sentry’s Power Level Received A Downgrade In Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* Sentry Has The Power Of 1000 Exploding Suns

In Marvel Comics, Sentry is known for having some of the strongest abilities out there. When he’s at his peak, his powers can bend reality and hold his own against the Hulk in a standoff. This incredible power comes from the highly potent serum that Robert Reynolds ingested, which is a thousand times stronger than the super soldier serum given to Captain America. As a result, Sentry’s power level is often likened to “a million exploding stars.

In “Thunderbolts,” the power level is said to be equivalent to a thousand detonating stars, but it’s only a mere 0.1% of Sentry’s usual power level. Despite this reduction, it remains incredibly potent, making the unequal battle between Sentry and the Thunderbolts an exciting demonstration of his abilities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, the disparity in power became particularly clear when the Void made its appearance and unleashed its fury on New York.

The Void’s Power Downgrade Was Evident In Thunderbolts*

The Void Didn’t Kill Anyone

In the climactic third act of Thunderbolts, The Void, born from Bob’s deep-seated negativity and fueled by the secret Sentry project of OXE group, made its formidable appearance. It seemed invincible, menacingly floating over New York City streets, offering a chilling hand that transformed citizens into shadows. Later, it was revealed that The Void didn’t destroy New York but rather banished its people to a world brimming with “shame rooms,” where they were doomed to relive their most embarrassing moments forever.

In Marvel Comics, The Void exhibits a lethal nature during its initial transformation, causing the massacre of millions in New York City and having the potential to eliminate countless more. On the other hand, the version of The Void in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has never been responsible for any deaths, apart from those that might result from accidents like helicopter crashes. Interestingly, it even chose not to kill Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. All things considered, I believe this is a more positive approach.

The MCU Is Right To Give Sentry & The Void A Power Downgrade

A Comic-Accurate Version Would Upset The Power Balance Of The MCU Too Much

It’s understood that the number of suns used to depict Sentry’s powers in Marvel Comics can fluctuate and is more of an exaggeration than a precise representation of his power scale. However, since “a million exploding suns” is often used, I suspect that Marvel Studios deliberately chose a lower figure. Given the potential consequences of having a character as potent as comic-book accurate Sentry or Void in the MCU, I believe this decision was prudent on their part.

Introducing a Sentry true to comic book accuracy could drastically shift the power dynamics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Given his immense power, even Doctor Doom, the arch-nemesis of the Multiverse Saga, might find himself in a fair fight with this character. As confirmed by Kevin Feige, Doom will battle multiple superhero teams in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. It’s hard to envision a scenario where a comic-accurate Sentry wouldn’t easily outmatch these teams combined. Instead, it seems that the MCU has smartly presented a version of Sentry that could potentially be defeated by Doom, as seen with the ‘Thunderbolts’ team.

*Note: The Thunderbolts is a fictional superhero team in the Marvel Comics Universe.

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2025-05-04 06:32