top of page

Bots + Monsters: When The Sentinel Strikes


X-Men Volume 1 Number 14 is a personal favorite of mine simply because in that issue the first of a series of threat-spewing giant robots appeared. Sentinels, the anti-mutant/anti-(in the future) any biological lifeform are a force to be reckoned with. A killing machine as efficient, and effortlessly confrontational as it is impervious to damage. This inorganic mechanized menace would shoot dazzling electricity out of its palms to zap combatants immobile as easily as we spread butter on our fresh crisp toast. The Sentinels would stomp seared tissue to bloody bone leaving nothing but marrow and tattered and tortured flesh in place of its enemy. Mind you that is only what one is capable of imagining a ferocious fleet serving only a hive mind blinded to choice and concerned with only one objective. “01001011100101001111100101001010”.

Hasbro had released a particular 17" giant robot and I was lucky enough to stumble upon it. In the laboratory of retail I found a machine, the ultimate soul-less death maker, one that serves only its prime objective. I was the owner of a powered atomic amazing awe-inspiring automaton. This beastly bot is beyond beauty when it comes to its boundless detail. The size of seventeen inches is huge in the toy world and most figures get blotchier with size. Not Sentinel though, the joints while apparent at times are well hidden in most of its articulate advances. Being an avid Marvel VS Capcom (MVC) player I usually main the ruthless robot to smash my adversaries' health bars into non-existence. So you must know this figure was a must have for my mantel of memorabilia. My wonderful well witted wife, Emily had got me a Doctor Strange 4" Marvel figure by Hasbro for one occasion or another. He is one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe so I had absolutely adored the figurized version of Stephen Strange, Sorcerer Supreme.

However even his Eye of Agamotto would go blind from the sheer force of Sentinel who could stomp and cave in the ground to craters, and blast entire cities to rubble, as simply as a gear that would naturally grind in a clock. Nothing but admantium to cut or an ion cannon (magnetic field disruptor) could stop and disable this monstrous machine. Not to mention Magneto who we all know would steadily bend it to his will. Honestly though, who can't really beat Erik Magnus Lensher aka Magneto? When the Sentinel strikes he scans ruthlessly and selects all it seeks and with no emotion to complete its task or it falls in battle. There is no retreat only mission complete. Termination or desecration. Those are the only choices when facing a giant robot the likes of Sentinel. This figure captures that statement perfectly.

bottom of page