Sentry#1 Review.
Meh, I stole the HELL outta this review from CBRF. Jake V I think his name, smart guy, good write up.
This was a realllly fun comic. We get some action, some psychological drama, and some awesome characterization from the guy who freaking created the Sentry.So, it opens with an attack on the surface world by Attuma, some underwater character. Giant octopus robots are running wild through new york, and the New Avengers are on the scene. Well, sort of. Ain't a whole lot they can do against an army of this size besides blow them up one by one. Iron Man can put up a good fight, but the brunt of the combat falls on the shoulders of THE SENTRY, the newest New Avenger.
When we first see the Sentry, we're introduced to the main plot devise of the issue: CLOC (centrally located organic computer) and his constant report of disasters and dangerous happenings around the world. Sentry has to prioritize who to save because he can't be everywhere at once.
Sentry dispenses with Attuma and some of the octopus robots with ease, and goes to save people from an erupting volcano. There's actually something of a montage of Sentry saving people in various kinds of distress. He then heads back to the watchtower to monitor the worlds news on a bunch of TVs. He then heads into this giant vault and tells CLOC not to disturb him.
Inside this vault is 2 chairs. One for the Sentry, and one for the Void. Yes, the Void is still around, but now that the Sentry knows the true nature of the Void, he can keep him in check through medication, therapy, and simply reaffirming himself of the void's true nature. The Void appears in his tophat and trenchcoat look, signifying he's back down to his silver age power levels. He's still an ******* though, making all sorts of threats which only piss off our hero.
The talk with himself gets cut short by an inturrupting CLOC, telling him that TERRAX has touched down in the Ukraine.
Terrax is monologing about how he has judged the planet earth guilty of some crime against something or other and must be desroyed or something. Doesn't really matter, because as tough or badass as Terrax is, The Sentry is tougher. Sentry totally wastes Terrax without even punching him, and then orders him off the planet. Badass.
Back to the watchtower for probably the most important part of the issue. Robert Reynolds meets with his therapist. Seems he's been spending more and more time as the Sentry, and less time as his civilian alter ego. It seems he feels worthless as Robert, and being the Sentry makes him feel important. When the doctor tries to press the issue, Robert cuts the session short to deal with a space shuttle that's in trouble. And the issue ends.
The fights against Attuma and Terrax are cool to look at, but are essentially meaningless. The real story here is how the Sentry chooses to be constantly informed of every disaster on the planet, and chooses who to save. He's addicted to being a super hero, he's addicted to the thrill of saving the world, and he's addicted to the adulation of the public. He LIKES being needed. He has something of a god complex. That is the real story here. He's more than just a superman clone. He does what he does because he needs to be needed. He's constantly informed of the disasters around the world because he programmed CLOC that way, he's addicted to the responsibility.
Genius first issue with some incredible art by John Romita JR. 9/10.
Well, he sounds impressed. Anyone else read it? Thoughts?