Watcher (comics)

comicbookspecies|


imagesize=250
caption=The Watcher (left) warns the Fantastic Four of the coming of Galactus on the cover of Fantastic Four #48 (Mar 1966). Art by Jack Kirby.
species=Watcher
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut=Uatu: "Fantastic Four" #13 (Apr. 1963)
creators=Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
homeworld=Blue Area of the Moon
(Uatu only)
notable mwembers=Uatu
powers=Superhuman strength, intellect, stamina, durability and longevity
Energy and molecular manipulation
Psionic powers
Teleportation
subcat=Marvel Comics
altcat=
sortkey=PAGENAME|The Watchers are a fictional extraterrestrial race of cosmic entities that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in "Fantastic Four" #13 (April 1963).

Fictional history

The Watchers are one of the oldest species in the universe, and are committed to observing and compiling knowledge on all aspects of the universe. This policy of non-interference is due to a well-meaning attempt by the Watchers to bestow knowledge on another race which resulted in that race destroying itself. Despite this, the Watcher Uatu has revealed himself to the superhero team the Fantastic Four, ["Fantastic Four" #13 (April 1963)] and aided them on several occasions against global threats such as the Molecule Man, ["Fantastic Four" #20 (Nov. 1963)] Galactus ["Fantastic Four" #48 (Mar. 1966)] and the Overmind. ["Fantastic Four" #113 (Aug. 1971)] After blatant interference with the mission of the Kree soldier Mar-vell, Uatu is put on trial by his own race, but is released on the provision that he never directly interfere again. ["Captain Marvel" #37 - 38 (March-May (bi-monthly)1975)]

Uatu is later banished by his race for aiding the Fantastic Four against the threat of his rogue nephew, Aron, the Renegade Watcher, who tries to destroy the universe. ["Fantastic Four" #400 (May 1995)]

According to a mental scan performed on his person by the Dreaming Celestial (and apparently against the Watcher's will), Uatu has broken his pact of non-interference nearly 400 times [Eternals (2008), Issue #5] .Also according to the same Celestial, the Watchers are servants of The Fulcrum just as the Celestials themselves are, and it is implied that the Watchers not only have an oath of non-interference to uphold but also a "duty" to do so as well, with (as yet undefined) repercussions for noncompliance [Eternals (2008) Issue #5] .

Powers and abilities

The Watchers are cosmic beings, who possess the innate ability to achieve virtually any effect desired, including augmenting personal attributes, time and space manipulation, molecular manipulation, energy projection and a range of mental powers. They also have access to incredibly advanced technology.

Other versions

What If

The Watcher Uatu often observes how key events from the Earth-616 Marvel Universe differed in alternate universes and speculates on the related consequences. ["What If" #1 - 47 (Feb. 1977 - Oct. 1984) and "What If" vol. 2 #1 - 114 (Jul. 1989 - Nov. 1998)]

Earth X

In the alternate reality of Earth X (Earth-9997), the Watchers are slaves of the Celestials. As punishment for their non-interference during the birth of their arch-enemy Galactus, the Celestials force the Watchers to observe the impregnation of newly-formed planets with their Celestial eggs, and the eventual birth of the Celestial within, which ultimately destroys that planet. ["Earth X:Issue X" (Mar 2000)]

Ultimate Watchers

In the Ultimate Universe, the Watchers are depicted as machines. ["Ultimate Extinction" #1 - 5, Jan. 2006 - May 2006 respectively]

In other media

* The Watcher appears in two animated segments of "The Hulk" on the 1966 series" The Marvel Superheroes".
* The Watcher appears in two "Fantastic Four" cartoons - the 1967 version and the 1994 version.
* The Watchers appears in the role of narrator in the Fox Kids animated "Silver Surfer" series.
* The Watcher also appears in the video game "".

Notes