Marvel Reveals Sentinels Were Human Mutant Hunters Before Robots

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The comic series “Uncanny X-Men” delves into an intriguing slice of mutant lore with the latest tale titled “Dark Artery”. This narrative introduces us to a new character, Lady Henrietta, who resides in subterranean caves beneath Haven House, colloquially known as Dark Artery. Here, mutants have established a burial ground due to some ancient, god-like manipulations. A significant aspect of “Dark Artery” is the flashback to Lady Henrietta’s past in the early 1900s, as revealed in issue #15 of “Uncanny X-Men”.

In this issue, readers gain insights into both Lady Henrietta’s journey and those who have relentlessly pursued her. Lady Henrietta was transporting her mother’s remains to Haven House, a mutant burial ground, where deceased mutants can rest in peace without their graves being violated by humans. However, as soon as she steps off the train in Louisiana (as shown in issue #14), she is under surveillance by two individuals – Agent Miller and Andrew, who are known to X-Men fans by a familiar name – they’re Sentinels.

Throughout X-Men history, Sentinels have played a significant role, making their debut in issue #14 of X-Men (Vol. 1) from 1965. Since then, these mechanical beings have undergone numerous transformations, ranging from massive, powerful robot siege engines to smaller, human-sized hunter-killers with varying power levels. In the comic “Dark Artery”, we encounter a brand new type of Sentinel that aligns perfectly with the prejudiced mindset of the Marvel Universe and its early 1900s technological capabilities.

The Sentinels Started Out as Humans

Initially, the first Sentinels readers encountered were the Mark I Sentinels, crafted by Bolivar Trask. Standing around thirteen to fourteen feet tall, these Sentinels were equipped with potent sensors for identifying mutants and weaponry designed to eradicate them. Over time, larger iterations of Sentinels were produced, eventually introducing the Master Mold, a colossal Sentinel capable of producing others like itself. As Sentinels grew in size and power, readers found themselves in a future ruled by Sentinels, as depicted in “Days of Future Past.” The ultimate Sentinel, Nimrod, was also introduced. Subsequently, smaller nanite-based Sentinels called Prime Sentinels emerged, acting as dormant agents that would activate around mutants. Variations of Sentinels included Cassandra Nova’s Wild Sentinels, assimilative Sentinels, the Omega Sentinel, Bio-Sentinels, and even Sentinels reminiscent of the Evangelion series. In various forms, Sentinels have been a constant presence.

In the world of “Dark Artery”, a novel type of enforcer, known as Sentinels, has been introduced. For centuries, humans have harbored resentment towards mutants, labeling them with various derogatory terms. It seems that prior to the early 1900s setting, there existed a group of humans who were these Sentinels. Their mission was to seek out and eradicate mutants, their hideouts, and any place they called home. Unlike their future counterparts, these Sentinels did not don armor and were armed only with pistols and rifles. However, their purpose remained the same – tracking down mutants, interrogating them, and eliminating them. One of these Sentinels is referred to as an agent, suggesting that they may have been part of a formal organization. While readers initially perceived Sentinels as the epitome of technological horrors, it appears they are gradually shaping up to be an advancement of an existing concept.

Sentinels Are the Legacy of Humanity’s Hatred

From their inception, Sentinels symbolized humanity’s deep-rooted prejudice towards mutants. Over time, they evolved into formidable tools for those hostile to mutants, being highly advanced machines equipped with weapons and technology specifically designed to neutralize them. It was commonly believed that the original Sentinels were engineered by Bolivar Trask; however, it’s possible he merely discovered existing Sentinels that independently targeted mutants. Trask may have been raised with the notion of Sentinels as human protectors and sought to create new ones, endowed with robust robotic bodies, to counterbalance the threat posed by mutants.

The idea of the Sentinel has undergone an intriguing transformation – or more accurately, de-transformation – over time. It was once believed that the Atomic Age led to a surge in mutant births, and it seemed that mutants were finally acknowledged as genuine entities. However, this theory has been debunked for quite some time now, and it appears that humans have been employing more rudimentary versions of Sentinels for centuries to track down and eliminate mutants. This lends a fascinating backstory to the robotic hunter-killers, one that harmonizes perfectly with the history of mutantkind.

Uncanny X-Men #15 is on sale now.

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2025-05-31 21:40