Watcher (comics)
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the Watchers are an extraterrestrial species of near-omnipotent immortal beings who "watch" the universe with advanced technology. The Watchers are sworn to never interfere with the development of the universe, but only to observe. The most famous Watcher is Uatu, the one assigned to watch Earth. The first appearance of a Watcher was in Fantastic Four #13 (April 1963).
Appearance
All known Watchers appear to be male (it is unknown how the species reproduces — or even if the species continues to reproduce at all). All Watchers are bald and wear clothing similar to the religious vestments of Christian priests or Buddhist monks. By human standards, the heads of Watchers are very much oversized in proportion to their very thin bodies (in the earliest comics, they were not depicted as having such large heads and thin bodies). Watchers stand about thirty to fifty feet tall.
Organization
The Watchers are led by a Watcher known as the One, who is physically far, far larger than the other Watchers. The Watchers upload all the information they collect into the One, who serves as a repository for all data and records.
History
The Watchers were among the first intelligent species in the universe, developing a high level of technology millions or even billions of years before nearly all other species.
The Watchers conducted an experiment on the planet Prosilicus, interfering in the evolutionary and technological development of a younger species. Due to the well-intentioned actions of the Watchers, the species self-destructed in nuclear warfare. Horrified at what had happened, the Watchers swore a vow of non-interference in the universe.
Later, one of the Watchers came across the cosmic cocoon in which the nascent planet-devourer Galactus was developing. Honoring the oath of non-interference, the Watcher did not destroy the cocoon; it has been suggested in some comics that millions of years later, the Watchers have come to feel some guilt over not destroying the world-devourer.
A species of comparable age and power to the Watchers is the Celestials. Because the Celestial agenda is genetic engineering of younger species, it is in direct opposition to the Watcher agenda of non-interference. The two species have thus been engaged in conflict for billions of years, a conflict that culminated fairly recently in Fantastic Four #400 (May 1995). Thanks to the interference of the Fantastic Four, the conflict was not resolved one way or the other, and the Watchers and Celestials continue to struggle against each other.
Earth X
In the Earth X series, which is not in continuity, the Watchers are either the slaves or the servants of the Celestials.
Notable Watchers
Notable Watchers include:
- Uatu, the Watcher assigned to watch Earth and its solar system
- Aron the Rogue Watcher, a Watcher who has rebelled against his species and their oath and seeks to increase his own power
- The One, the leader of the Watchers