Sentinel (comics)

Last updated
Sentinels
Sentinels (Marvel Annotated 2).jpg
The Sentinels.
Art by Alex Ross.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The X-Men #14 (Nov. 1965) [1]
Created by Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
Base(s)Sentinel Headquarters, New York
Member(s)Sentinel Squad Office of National Emergency
Nimrod
Master Mold
Bastion
Prime Sentinels
Wild Sentinels

The Sentinels are a group of mutant-hunting robots appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are typically depicted as antagonists to the X-Men.

Contents

The Sentinels played a large role in several X-Men animated series, and have been featured in several X-Men video games. The Sentinels are featured prominently in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past , and made brief appearances in the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand and the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse . In 2009, The Sentinels were ranked in IGN as the 38th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time. [2]

Publication history

Sentinels' debut in The X-Men #14 (November 1965). Art by Jack Kirby. The X-Men (Uncanny X-Men)-vol.1-14 (November 1965).jpg
Sentinels' debut in The X-Men #14 (November 1965). Art by Jack Kirby.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, they first appeared in The X-Men #14 (Nov. 1965). [3]

Sentinels are programmed to locate mutants and capture or kill them. Though several types of Sentinels have been introduced, the typical Sentinel is three stories tall, is capable of flight, projecting energy blasts, and detecting mutants. [4] Pursuing genocide as the means of dealing with a threat has made the Sentinels an analogy for racial hatred and other negative types of fanaticism in Marvel stories, [5] represent the horrific consequences of humanity's actions based on hate and ignorance, along with a caution of the risks of AI takeover.

Characteristics

Sentinels are designed to hunt mutants. [6] While many are capable of tactical thought, only a handful are self-aware.

Sentinels are technologically advanced, and have exhibited a wide variety of abilities. They are armed (primarily with energy weapons and restraining devices), capable of flight, and can detect mutants at long range. They possess vast physical strength, and their bodies are highly resistant to damage. [6] Some are able to alter their physical forms or re-assemble and reactivate themselves after they have been destroyed.

Some Sentinel variants have the ability to learn from their experiences, developing their defenses during an engagement. Several groups of Sentinels have been created or led by a single massive Sentinel called Master Mold. Some Sentinels are also equipped with an inconspicuous logic loop in case they should go rogue to convince them that they are mutants.

Because of their power, sophistication, and high mass production, Sentinels are sold on the black market. [7] Entities obtain them—often in poor condition—for their own purposes (not necessarily mutant-related). [6] [8]

Types of Sentinels

Evolution of the Sentinel. Art by Ardian Syaf. Sentinel - Evolution (Marvel Comics).jpg
Evolution of the Sentinel. Art by Ardian Syaf.
The X-Men battle Sentinels in X-Men: Schism #1 (July 2011). Art by Carlos Pacheco and Cam Smith. Sentinel X-Men Schism Vol 1 1.png
The X-Men battle Sentinels in X-Men: Schism #1 (July 2011). Art by Carlos Pacheco and Cam Smith.

In other media

Television

Film

The Sentinels as they appear in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014); the Mark I model in 1973 (left) and the Mark X model in 2023 (right) X-Men Days of Future Past - Sentinels.jpg
The Sentinels as they appear in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014); the Mark I model in 1973 (left) and the Mark X model in 2023 (right)

Video games

Merchandise

Music

In 2020, Brooklyn rapper Magneto Dayo unveiled "The Sentinels", a project that gained viral traction on Instagram reels in 2024, amassing over 5 million plays.

References

  1. Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006). The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood. Visible Ink Press. ISBN   9780780809772.
  2. "The Top 100 Comic Book Villains". IGN . Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  3. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 318. ISBN   978-1-4654-7890-0.
  4. Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 110. ISBN   978-1465455505.
  5. Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 45. ISBN   978-1605490557.
  6. 1 2 3 X-Men (vol. 3) #19-22 (December 2011 - February 2012)
  7. M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games #2 (March 2021)
  8. Avengers: The Children's Crusade #9 (May 2012)
  9. The Avengers #102-104 (August - October 1972)
  10. House of X #3 (October 2019)
  11. Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #9-10 (March - May 2005)
  12. New Mutants: Dead Souls #6 (October 2018)
  13. Uncanny X-Men (vol. 5) #19 (August 2019)
  14. Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #31 (December 2009)
  15. Astonishing X-Men (vol. 3) #32 (January 2010)
  16. Avengers & X-Men: AXIS #1 (December 2014)
  17. Powers of X #2 (October 2019)
  18. X-Men (vol. 6) #22 (July 2023)
  19. The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 5) #5 (June 2023)
  20. 1 2 Dodge, John (January 12, 2025). "Marvel Turns a Long-Lost Superhero Into the Source of the Next Mutant Tragedy". CBR. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Jansons, Isaac (January 13, 2025). "X-Men Reinvents a Forgotten Hero with a Dark Sentinel Twist No One Saw Coming". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  22. Sentinels #2 (January 2025)
  23. Sentinels #4 (March 2025)
  24. Mystique #3-6 (August - November 2003)
  25. Cable and Machine Man Annual (May 1998)
  26. Machine Man & Bastion Annual (June 1998)
  27. X-51 #1-2 (September 1999)
  28. Avengers Arena #12 (September 2013)
  29. Secret Avengers #25 (June 2012)
  30. New X-Men #123 (April 2002)
  31. X-Men Red #5 (August 2018)
  32. Uncanny X-Men #500 (September 2008)
  33. Weapon X (vol. 3) #1 (June 2017)
  34. Uncanny X-Men (vol. 4) #15 (January 2017)
  35. Alpha Flight (vol. 5) #1 (October 2023)
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Sentinel Voice (X-Men)". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  37. Schwartz, Terri (16 January 2017). "Legion: X-Men Producer on How Professor X Fits In and Future TV Plans". IGN. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  38. Romano, Nick. "'X-Men '97' exclusive look reveals legacy costumes, Theo James casting". EW.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  39. "Prime Sentinels Voice (X-Men '97)". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  40. "Female Prime Sentinel Voice (X-Men '97)". behindthevoiceactors.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  41. Walker, Andrew Kevin (June 7, 1994). "X-Men First Draft". Daily Scripts. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  42. Kendall, Gene (March 10, 2017). "15 Rejected X-Men Movie Ideas That Almost Happened". Comic Book Resources . Valnet Inc. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  43. CS (1 February 2013). "Mark Millar Talks X-Men: Days of Future Past and Kick-Ass 3". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  44. 1 2 Failes, Ian (May 27, 2014). "Future threat – X-Men: Days of Future Past". Fxguide. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  45. Sentinels: For a Secure Future. X-Men: Days of Future Past Blu-ray: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. 2014.
  46. 1 2 Sentinels: For a Secure Future (Featurette). X-Men: Days of Future Past Blu-ray: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. 2014.
  47. Joe Moore [@JoeMooreDesign] (19 July 2013). "Sentinels in #LEGO #Marvel Super Heroes! @arthur_parsons just said so! ^_^" (Tweet). Retrieved 5 November 2017 via Twitter.
  48. no info given
  49. "X-Men get some love in the new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 trailer". Polygon . 2019-05-23.