Sentry #4
Recap
With his mind and both worlds he inhabits being ripped apart, Sentry comes face to face with one of his oldest enemies, and his only salvation may be his damaged ex-sidekick, Scout.
Review
I’m sure I’ve said it before, but Jeff Lemire is onto something truly great with his Sentry run, and issue #4 proves to be yet another excellent entry in this criminally underrated series. Sentry finally comes face to face with Tony Stark, while Cranio and Bob spar inside the Sentry World, setting up for a great twist on the dichotomy of the series so far. The result, which would have taken at least another issue on any other series, is an all-new Sentry that finally feels whole for the first time.
All this time, Bob has been fighting who he really was, denying the power that was inside him. All it took was the realization that he needed to embrace every part of him, and in a beautiful sequence of internal acceptance, the Void and Sentry unite. This act brings together the split narratives that have made up previous issues really well, showcasing the storytelling abilities of fan-favorite author Jeff Lemire.
The artistic direction remains unique to the series and as stunning as ever. There is one scene in particular when Sentry and the Void unite, bringing together the three physical forms of Bob, Sentry and Void, which references back to a previous issue that showed a similar sequence of the physical forms being torn apart. These common themes and imagery contribute to the cohesive nature of the story, giving a reading experience that almost feels like a large-scale event.
The inclusion of Tony Stark finally carries importance in Sentry #4, with their fight turning out to be one of my favorite scenes in the series so far. Tony’s quick decision to bring a bigger suit elevated the duel and was really the perfect addition to the story to tie in the Marvel universe. The arc almost has a “Spiderman: Homecoming” feeling in that it uses Iron Man to usher the character into the surrounding world from within an original story about Sentry World. I personally hope this initiative continues, allowing us to see Sentry interacting with more characters and playing a larger role in the Marvel universe going forward.
Using the character’s lore mixed with classic Marvel characters to create a powerful story, the penultimate issue of Lemire’s Sentry World arc could be the best issue yet. This is a series that fans don’t want to overlook, so catch up now before the arc’s finale next issue!
Final Thoughts
Sentry #4 proves to be another high-quality entry in a series that simply doesn’t get enough credit. With an interesting twist to the character’s lore and the inclusion of a few classic Marvel characters, the penultimate issue in the Sentry World arc is one that shouldn’t be missed.
Sentry #4: Finally Whole
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 7/107/10