A character published by
Marvel Comics. Created by
Stan Lee and
Jack Kirby,
the Watcher first appeared in
Fantastic Four #13.
The origin of the beings known as the Watchers began millions and millions
of years ago. A group of highly advanced beings on a distant planet
gained the ability to convert themselves into pure energy. This made these
beings immensely powerful as well as nearly immortal. This race decided
to use their new powers to explore the universe, as they could do so
now unaided by machines.
During their travels, a group of these beings visited a planet inhabited
by a group of intelligent reptile-like men. After exploring the society
and talking to members of this race, the visitors decided that they could
help this primative race by giving them a leg up technologically. The
explorers taught their hosts about atomic energy, believing with this
type of knowledge, that the society would soon advance and become
enlightened. The visitors left soon after and continued to explore.
Years later, the explorers returned to the planet of the reptile men
to discover that it lay in ruins, the result of a terrible war. One of
the survivors lashed out at the visitors, accusing them of being at fault
for having given them technology and power beyond them, for the knowledge
of atomic energy had been used for weapons, not for advancing the society.
This episode changed the entire race. The explorers gathered and vowed as
one to never interfere in the affairs of other races again. Instead, the
members of this race decided to act as observers to what happens in the
universe recording all that they see. They scattered across the whole
of the galaxy and became known to those who encountered them as the Watchers.
The Watcher for Earth is Uatu. He has come into contact with a number of
the heroic beings of the Earth over the years. He has even broken his
vow on at least one occasion, helping Reed Richards in
stopping Galactus from devouring the Earth.
The Watchers appear as giant humans with large bald heads. They appear
to have a penchant for togas and long capes. The Watcher of Earth
resides on the Blue Area of the moon.