Watcher (comics)

The Watchers are one of the oldest species in the multiverse 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.^[2][3][4]

Uatu defies the Watchers' vow of non-interference to aid Earth's heroes, including the Fantastic Four.^[5][6] After interfering with the mission of Mar-Vell, Uatu is put on trial by his own race, but is released on the provision that he never directly interfere again.^[7]

Uatu is later banished by his race for aiding the Fantastic Four against the threat of his rogue nephew, Aron, who tries to destroy the universe.^[8] 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.

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.^[9] Three of Uatu's brothers and sisters broke their non-interference vow by judging Nick Fury and making him into a Watcher.^[10]

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.^{[citation needed]}

• Acba – A Watcher who was present during the universe's potential collapse.^[11]
• Aron – A renegade Watcher.
• Critics – A branch of the Watchers who comment on everything they observe.^[12]
• Ecce – A Watcher who encountered the newborn Galactus. Despite realizing the danger of Galactus's existence, Ecce chose not to kill him.^[13]
• Edda – A Watcher who was present during the universe's potential collapse.^[11]
• Egma – A Watcher who was present during the universe's potential collapse.^[11]
• Eihu – A Watcher who witnessed and affected the outcome of the battle between the Stranger and Overmind.^[14]
• Emnu – The leader of the Homeworld High Council who opposed the Prosilicus experiment.^[3]
• Engu – A Watcher who was present at the trial of Uatu.^[15]
• Eta – A female Watcher who lives in Weirdworld.^[16]
• He Who Summons – The leader of the Watchers who engaged Exitar the Celestial.^[17]
• Ikor – The father of Uatu who proposed the Prosilicus experiment.^[3]
• Ing – A Watcher who was present at the trial of Uatu.^[15]
• Ocam – A Watcher who witnessed and affected the outcome of the battle between the Stranger and Overmind.^[14]
• The One – The repository of the Watchers' collective knowledge and observations throughout the eons.^[18] He was later killed by Exitar the Celestial.^[8]
• Otmu – A Watcher who operates in a sector of the Shi'ar galaxy.^[19]
• Qyre – A Watcher who discovered the recluses.^[20]
• Talmadge – A newborn Watcher.^[21]
• Ualu – A Watcher who was present when Quasar fought Otmu.^[19]
• Uatu – Originally assigned to Earth, Uatu was the first Watcher to break with his people's principles of non-interference by allying with the Fantastic Four against Galactus.^[22]
• Uilig – A Watcher on Earth-691 who was the survivor of the Hawk God's attack on the Watchers.^[23]
• Ulana – A female Watcher and Uatu's lover.^[24]
• Uravo – A young female Watcher who was sent to find Uatu when he had abandoned his post on Earth.^[25]
• Ute – A Watcher from Earth-374 who told the history of Proctor to the Avengers.^[26]
• Watcher of the Calishee – A Watcher who observed the planet Calishee.^[27]
• Xecu
• Zoma – A Watcher who was present at the trial of the recluses under She-Hulk.^[20]