Random Happenstance

"Read Siege #4 before this book!" Uh, no; you can't make me. While I liked his other series, I know this one was reamed when it came out. Has it aged like fine wine, or gone even more sour? From 2010, Sentry: Fallen Sun #1, "Fallen Sun" Written by Paul Jenkins, pencils by Tom Raney, inks by Scott Hanna.

As part of Dark Avengers and Siege, Norman Osborn manipulated the Sentry, giving his Void side more and more control. Osborn also had Bob Reynold's wife Lindy murdered, by Bullseye--yet another crime neither of them will ever pay for--and when the Void took control, Bob begged Thor to kill him. Freed at last, his remains were launched into the sun; but this issue was his funeral: no service, since nobody showed.

But, when his former sidekicks Scout and Watchdog don't think anyone is going to show; they're joined by Tony Stark, the Fantastic Four, Steve Rogers, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and the X-Men's Cyclops, White Queen, and Rogue. (Since they were in civilian clothes, I had Tony and Stephen mixed up for a second, and thought Tony had gone with Rogue's hair!) While Reed tries to comfort Scout, Sue and Johnny notice Rogue seems to be taking this pretty hard. Tony starts with the first story, explaining how Bob had always been there for him, even in the lowest depths of his alcoholism. Tony is furious with himself, for his shoddy behavior, where he perhaps did not realize what Bob was going through. (Iron Man 2 was in theatres, so it's weird to see AA Tony there and party Tony on screen.) The Torch tells Scout Spidey sent his regards, and that Thor was visiting Bob's aged mother: while really senile, she vaguely recalled him from Bob and Lindy's wedding. (Dealing with old people can't be easy for Thor; possibly harder than telling her he killed her son.)

Strange recounts how Bob gave up his power, and everyone's memory of him, to save everyone: to be a hero without recognition. Reed is visited by Bob's computer, CLOC; who gives him Bob's diary. It asks Reed to read a section, which surprises him, then says it will rebuild the tower, to await his master's return. Reed tries to talk it out of it, but CLOC says his access is revoked, and drifts off. After some brief remembrances, Rogue takes off crying: the Sentry had been able to touch her, without her stealing his powers or memories. Johnny and Cyclops seem to confirm there was more to their relationship: this was greeted by fandom at the time like a wet fart at a water park.

But Ben's story, about why he hates the Sentry, might be even more character-assassinating: facing the Wrecking Crew, with multiple civilians in danger, Ben is this close to snapping the Wrecker's neck, when the Sentry stops him. A month and a half later, the Wrecker breaks stir, and kills a busload of kids to make a point. But Ben thinks the Sentry was right, and should've told him so when he was alive; and that he was the better man. Oh, bulls--there's a final recollection and closing by Reed, but I've had it. 

The Sentry would be back, in 2013's Uncanny Avengers #9, as a Horseman of Apocalypse. He's actually been killed again since, which is a hazard of making a big deal about a superhero death.