The Watchers are a race of extraterrestrials that appear in comic
books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the
first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in Fantastic Four #13.
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 total
non-interference came into existence due to a former, well-meant attempt by the
Watchers to bestow advanced knowledge on the Prosilicans, who used the nuclear
technology gained to create weapons and destroy themselves. When the Watchers
returned to Prosilicus, the survivors blamed them for causing the catastrophe
by giving the Prosilicans nuclear technology before they were ready for
it. The Watchers then took a vow never to interfere with other civilizations.
Despite this, the Watcher Uatu has revealed himself to the superhero team
the Fantastic Four, telling them of his race. In his first appearance, he made
them battle the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes for control of the Moon. He
complimented Reed Richards and claimed he would go to a more distant part of
the Galaxy to observe humanity. He aids them on several occasions against global
threats such as the Molecule Man, Galactus, and the Overmind. The Leader
discovered his existence and tracked him to his world. He transported the Hulk
there to get the Ultimate Machine, which contains all the information in the
Universe. The Hulk 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. 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.
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. 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. The Dreaming Celestial
later scans Uatu and learns the Watcher has broken his pact of non-interference
almost 400 times. The Celestial also reveals the Watchers, like the
Celestials themselves, are servants of a concept called Fulcrum, with apparent
consequences for interference. 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. 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 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 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 highly advanced technology.
Known Watchers Acba
Aron - A renegade Watcher. Atul
Ecce - The Watcher who first came upon the newborn Galactus. But despite
realizing the danger of his existence, he chose not to eliminate him in his
helpless state thereby contributing to his evolution into the Devourer of
Worlds. Edda
Egma Eihu
Emnu Engo
Ikor Ing
Ocam The One
Otmu Ualu
Uatu - The Watcher who was originally assigned to Earth and who was the first
to break with his people's principles of non-interference by allying himself with
the Fantastic Four against Galactus. Uilig
Uravo - A young female Watcher who was sent to find Uatu when she had abandoned
her post on Earth. Ute
Watcher of the Calishee - A Watcher who observed the planet Calishee.
Xecu 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.
= Wha... Huh?= The Watcher appears as the host of
Marvel Comics spoof. On the first page he appears as a peeping-tom.
= Earth X= In the alternate reality of Earth X, 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. = Ultimate Watchers=
In the Ultimate Marvel alternate universe limited series Ultimate
Origins, the Watchers are depicted as machines that speak through a human
host. They choose Rick Jones as their "herald" to help humans survive an
"upcoming crisis". In other media
= Television= The Watchers appears as a group featured
in the 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. = Video games=
The Watchers are referenced in Marvel: 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 External links
Watchers at Marvel Wiki