After an excellent first issue, The Sentry is more compelling than ever, juggling a sick dog and the Void, doing semi-heroic things like harming Kingpin. The latter is harsh, but at least it’s not a good guy, or at least you might feel that way before you read The Sentry #2. Now that readers know where Sentry’s headspace is, the second issue offers a much darker situation for the hero to navigate.
The Sentry #2 opens with Bob and Mr. Fantastic on the ground level, discussing the crystalline attack in NYC, which has also harmed people across the globe. Fairly quickly, Reed turns the subject to Sentry, and his concern is obvious. The problem is, if you have any concern with Sentry, it’s not just a concern for his health, but for every life on Earth. Writer Paul Jenkins does a great job getting you into his headspace, and it’s quite dark and alone.
After a check-in on Kingpin that might test your tolerance for harm, the story juggles Sentry’s time with his sick dog and his concerned wife. Between the two, I dare you not to feel sad for these characters.
Sentry is in a dark place.
Credit: Marvel
The main event, so to speak, is a throwdown with Hulk. Fans of Jenkins’ previous runs on Sentry will love to see the soft-hearted heart of Hulk back again, with this version talking slowly and mostly filled with rage. Christian Rosado’s dark, brooding art style comes to life in this battle, with great moments of intense power and Hulk’s intense rage. At one point, Sentry yanks a crystal out of his eye, and you practically feel the confused anger on Hulk, who simply drools and pauses for a moment. The closer shots on the action make the fight more intimate, which is smart given that these two are close friends.
Meanwhile, the darkness lingers in a way to remind you of Sentry’s headspace. In one scene, there’s so much shadow, Sentry might come off as nightmarish, but Rosado’s expression on the character looks hopeful, and so human that you can’t help but feel for him. That goes for Hulk, too, when he calms down.
Environments continue to be a major visual selling point of the issue, with locations looking realistic and interiors giving the reader enough detail to gauge the location. While the Void isn’t in this issue a lot, he’s also present in deeply creepy ways, reminding us he’s out there.
The Sentry #2 deepens the emotional and psychological weight of the series, pushing Bob Reynolds into darker territory while keeping his humanity front and center. Paul Jenkins continues to explore isolation and instability in a way that feels intimate and unsettling, while Christian Rosado’s art reinforces that tone with shadow-heavy, expressive visuals. The action hits hard, especially in the Hulk confrontation, but it is the quieter, more painful moments that linger the most.
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