REVIEW: ‘Sentinels’ Issue #1

Sentinels #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It was written by Alex Paknadel, with art by Justin Mason, colors by Federico Blee, and letters by Travis Lanham. This is part of the “From The Ashes” relaunch of the X books. An army of new Sentinels has been created, a mixture of tech and humans. Their mission: hunt down the most dangerous mutants and bring them to Greymalkin Prison, once known as Xavier’s Mansion.

Sentinels #1 blends technological horror with a war movie. The characters being followed are technically on the side of the bad guys, but there is a caveat. At this early stage of the program, the mutants being tracked down are extremely dangerous: villains with the power to cause untold damage and the intention to do so.

The squadron’s first mission in this series is an example of how extreme the foes will get, and that one pales in comparison to who appears later. The story within Sentinels #1 connects with the wider storyline that many of the new X-Men books are also involved in.

At its core are the soldiers, willing service members that get grafted and augmented with Sentinel technology. What isn’t consensual is the augments, which are random and unknown by the soldiers themselves. There are also scary consequences, leading to a devastating and startling loss early in the chapter. Paknadel is ruthless, and no one is safe. The fight is tense and full of discoveries. This is going to be a hardcore series with casualties galore.

Many new characters are involved in Sentinels #1, and there is a trepidation towards getting attached. After the opening battle, the soldiers are already wounded and fragile. Their leader, Lockstep, is already broken, clearly coming with a history and grudge against the top brass. Starting like this instead of fresh from the beginning is a fantastic idea because it makes all relationships fragile, creating unease among the soldiers. Comfort does not exist in this series. The villain is terrifying, and it is nearly impossible to reason with or communicate with him.

Interestingly, there is always someone else in charge within a corporation with a never-ending hierarchy and little respect for what’s underneath it. Even Lawrence Trask, part of a famous and villainous dynasty, has to answer to others. However, he has enormous power and sway within the organisation through manipulation.

The art is brilliant. It matches the brutal tone of the chapter. This comic isn’t emotionless, but those feelings are harsh and negative. Each Sentinel has its own design to show both its augments and personalities. The sci-fi elements are grungy, almost unpleasant. The changes made to the bodies of the soldiers are undesirable, with complications and consequences. The agony and discomfort is evident. When the action kicks off, it is a frantic, frightening experience.

The colors are also fascinating. The shades can be bright, but they are also bleak. The opening battle takes place in a snowy village in Russia, so there is a lot of stark white. However, it is unsafe and not inviting, which can be seen across Sentinels #1 and the locations. The most vibrant part of Sentinels #1 is the villain, covered in a robust red. The lettering is clear and uniform, always easy to read.

Every character is dark and dangerous, lacking heroes in the pages.  The British influence from the creators carries the air of a 2000AD comic into Marvel. Designs like the Sentinels are usually found in far-future alternate realities. But they are here in the present and hunting for mutants.

Sentinels #1 is an intriguing experiment. It’s a ruthless, gritty sci-fi tale laced with military material. Early on, it’s evident that each action can lead to pain and suffering, taking out interesting characters within just a few pages. Paknadel’s writing is engaging, while Mason’s art is unrelenting and brutal.

Sentinels #1 is available where comics are sold.