Watcher (comics)

The Watchers are a race of fictional extraterrestrials appearing in American comic

Watcher
books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first
Watchernamed Uatuappears in Fantastic Four #13 (April 1963).

Contents
1 Fictional history
2 Powers and abilities
3 Known Watchers
4 Other versions
4.1 What If
4.2 Wha... Huh?
4.3 Earth X
4.4 Ultimate Marvel
5 In other media
5.1 Television
5.2 Film Cover of Fantastic Four vol. 1,
5.3 Video games 48 (Mar, 1966). Featuring Uatu the
5.4 Web series
Watcher (left) warning the Fantastic
6 References Four of the coming of Galactus. Art
7 External links by Jack Kirby, pencils, and Joe
Sinnott, inks.
Publication information
Fictional history Publisher Marvel Comics
The Watchers are one of the oldest species in the universe and are committed to First Fantastic Four #13
observing and compiling knowledge on all aspects of the universe. This policy of appearance (April 1963)
total non-interference came into existence due to a former, well-meant attempt by Created by Credited to Stan Lee
the Watchers to bestow advanced knowledge on the Prosilicans, who used the Jack Kirby
nuclear technology gained to create weapons and destroy themselves. When the
Characteristics
Watchers returned to Prosilicus, the survivors blamed them for causing the
catastrophe by giving the Prosilicans nuclear technology before they were ready for Notable Uatu
[1]
it. The Watchers then took a vow never to interfere with other civilizations. members Aron
Inherent Superhuman
Despite this, the Watcher Uatu has revealed himself to the superhero team the
abilities strength, intellect,
Fantastic Four, telling them of his race. In his first appearance, he made them battle
stamina, durability
the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes for control of the Moon. He complimented Reed
and longevity
Richards and claimed he would go to a more distant part of the Galaxy to observe
Energy and
humanity.[2] He aids them on several occasions against global threats such as the
molecular
Molecule Man,[3] Galactus,[4] and the Overmind.[5] The Leader discovered his
manipulation
existence and tracked him to his world. He transported the Hulk there to get the
Psionic powers
Ultimate Machine, which contains all the information in the Universe. The Hulk
Teleportation
battled the Amphibious Qnax, who had also been sent to recover the machine. The
Watcher transported them away from his machines to battle, and when the Hulk won, he transported Qnax back to his homeworld. He
then took the Hulk back to his base, where the Hulk took the Machine despite the Watcher's warnings. The Leader transported him
back to Earth and tried to use the device. However, the tremendous amount of knowledge proved too much for the Leader. He
collapsed to the ground, unmoving, and the Hulk assumed that he died of shock.[6] When the Hulk tried to use the machine himself,
Uatu allowed him to hear the voice of Rick Jones, after which the Hulk removed the device. The Watcher then transported the
Ultimate Machine back to his planet.[7] After blatant interference with the mission of the Kree soldier Mar-Vell, Uatu is put on trial
[8]
by his own race, but is released on the provision that he never directly interfere again.

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.[9] The Dreaming Celestial later scans Uatu and learns the Watcher has broken his pact of non-
interference almost 400 times.[10] The Celestial also reveals the Watchers, like the Celestials themselves, are servants of a concept
called Fulcrum, with apparent consequences for interference.[10] Despite this, the other Watchers have interfered in other
civilizations' events, though rarely, notably when the world-ending robot Omegex approached the Milky Way and they deemed it
dangerous enough to act directly against it.

There is also a tongue in cheek splintered off faction of Watchers that call themselves The Critics, who not only observe events, but
also give dramatic critique as they take place. The only known Critic looks similar to other Watchers, but wears a mustache, goatee,
dark sunglasses, and, rather than toga, dresses in a tweed sport coat.[11]

When Nova briefly visits Uatu and witnesses him watching various alternate realities, he learns that Uatu's father was the Watcher
who originally gave nuclear technology to the Prosilicans, with Uatu's search of parallel universes being motivated by the desire to
[12]
find the one world where his father's act of charity was proved to be the right thing to do.

Powers and abilities

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

Known Watchers
Acba - A Watcher that was present during the universe's potential collapse.[13]
Aron A renegade Watcher.
Critics - A branch of the Watchers that comment oneverything they observe.[14]
Ecce The Watcher who first came upon the newborn Galactus. Despite realizing the danger of his existence, he
W [15]
chose not to eliminate him in his helpless state thereby contributing to his evolution into the Devourer of orlds.
Edda - A Watcher that was present during the universe's potential collapse.[13]
Egma - A Watcher that was present during the universe's potential collapse where he watched Quasar's fight with
Maelstrom and his master Oblivion.[13]
Eihu - A Watcher who witnessed and affected the outcome of the battle between the Strangerand Overmind.[16]
[17]
Emnu - The leader of the Homeworld High Council who opposed the Prosilicus experiment.
Engu - A Watcher who was present at the trail of Uatu.[18]
Eta - A female Watcher that lives on the floatingisland called Weirdworld.[19]
He Who Summons - The leader of the Watchers who engaged Exitar the Celestial.[20]
[17]
Ikor - The father of Uatu who proposed the Prosilicus experiment.
Ing - A Watcher who was present at the trial of Uatu.[18]
Ocam - A Watcher who witnessed and affected the outcome of the battle between the Strangerand Overmind.[16]
[21] He was
The One - The repository of the Watchers' collective knowledge and observations throughout the eons.
[22]
later killed by Exitar the Celestial.
Otmu - A Watcher who operates in a sector of theShi'ar galaxy.[23]
Qyre - A Watcher who discovered the recluses.[24]
Talmadge - A newborn Watcher.[25]
 Ualu - A Watcher who was present when Quasarfought Otmu.[23]
Uatu Originally assigned to Earth, Uatu was the first Watcher to break with his people's principles of non-
interference by allying himself with theFantastic Four against Galactus.[26]
Uilig - A Watcher on Earth-691 who was the survivor of the Hawk God's attack on the Watchers.[27]
Ulana A female Watcher and Uatu's lover.[28]
[29]
Uravo A young female Watcher who was sent tofind Uatu when he had abandoned his post on Earth.
Ute - A Watcher from Earth-374 who told the history of Proctor to the Avengers.[30]
Watcher of the Calishee A Watcher who observed the planet Calishee.[31]
Xecu
Zoma - A Watcher who was present at the trial of the recluses under She-Hulk.[24]

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.[32]

Wha... Huh?
The Watcher appears as the host ofMarvel Comics spoof. On the first page he appears as apeeping-tom.

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
[33]
with their Celestial eggs, and the eventual birth of the Celestial within, which ultimately destroys that planet.

Ultimate Marvel
In the Ultimate Marvel alternate universe limited series Ultimate Origins, the Watchers are depicted as machines that speak through a
[34]
human host (Sue Storm). They choose Rick Jones as their "herald" to help humans survive an "upcoming crisis".

In other media

Television
The Watchers appear in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.episode "The Trouble with Machines".
The Watchers appear as a group featured inthe animated Silver Surfer.
The Watchers appear in the Avengers Assemble episode "Mojo World". Three Watchers appear as members of the
arena audience on Mojo's spaceship.

Film
The Watchers appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 where their close-up appearances are
portrayed by Walt Linscott. They are seen in both in the film and a post-credits scene. In these scenes, an informant of theirs
(portrayed by Stan Lee) tells the uninterested group of Watchers about the experiences he has had on Earth when they meet with him
on an asteroid. During the post-credits part, the W
atchers meeting with their informant take their leave as the informant tells them that
they are his only ride back to Earth. Director and screenwriter James Gunn has stated that the scene was created because of the online
fan-theory that Stan Lee's cameos throughout the franchise are due to his relation to the aW
tchers.

Video games
The Watchers are referenced inMarvel: Ultimate Alliance. If the player asks Uatu about the Watchers, Uatu will bring up a history of
the Watchers introducing technology to the residents of Prosilicus.

Web series
The Watcher is the title of a web series that runs on Marvel's official YouTube page hosted and written by Lorraine Cink, featuring
news about Marvel comics, film, television, and toys.

References
1. Tales of Suspense #52-53
2. Fantastic Four #13 (April 1963)
3. Fantastic Four #20 (Nov. 1963)
4. Fantastic Four #48 (Mar. 1966)
5. Fantastic Four #113 (Aug. 1971)
6. Tales to Astonish #73-74
7. Tales to Astonish #75
8. Captain Marvel #37 - 38 (MarchMay (bi-monthly)1975)
9. Fantastic Four #400 (May 1995)
10. Eternals vol. 7, (Oct. 2008)
11. Sensational She-Hulk #14-17
12. Original Sin #0
13. Quasar #25
14. Sensational She-Hulk #14
15. Thor #168
16. Quasar #16
17. Tales of Suspense #53
18. Captain Marvel #39
19. Weirdworld Vol. 2 #3
20. Fantastic Four #378
21. Fantastic Force #7
22. Fantastic Four #400
23. Quasar #15
24. She-Hulk Vol. 3 #7
25. Thing: Freakshow #1
26. The Fantastic Four #13 (1963)
27. Guardians of the Galaxy#49
28. FF #13
29. Hulk Vol. 2 #28
30. Avengers #363
31. Thor #419
32. What If #1 - 47 (Feb. 1977 - Oct. 1984) andWhat If vol. 2 #1 - 114 (Jul. 1989 - Nov. 1998)
33. Earth X:Issue X (Mar 2000)
34. Ultimate Extinction #1 - 5 (Jan. 2006 - May 2006)

External links
Watchers at Marvel Wiki
Watchers at Marvel Wiki
Watchers at Comic Vine
Watchers at Marvel Appendix

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