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Uatu
Uatu

Uatu

421 appearances · Silver Age · 1963–2026 · 20 key issues
Who is Uatu?

Uatu belongs to the Watchers, an ancient extraterrestrial race sworn to silently observe the universe without interference. Assigned to monitor Earth and its solar system from his citadel in the Blue Area of the Moon, he first revealed himself to the Fantastic Four — and has struggled ever since to honor his vow of non-intervention.

Few figures in Marvel's Silver Age carry the quiet, cosmic gravitas of Uatu, the enigmatic being who first stepped into the pages of Fantastic Four #13 in 1963, conjured by the legendary team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at the very height of their creative powers. Over more than six decades — 340 catalog appearances and 20 key issues that collectors prize — Uatu has proven himself one of Marvel's most enduring presences, a witness to the universe's grandest moments whose very existence raises the stakes of every story he graces. His footprint stretches from the pages of Fantastic Four to the alternate-reality tapestry of What If? and the cosmic reaches of Quasar, sharing those adventures alongside titans like Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and the Human Torch. There's something thrilling about a character who has watched the Marvel Universe unfold across six-plus decades — Uatu isn't just a fixture of the cosmos, he's a living testament to how big and strange and wonderful superhero comics can dare to be.

Identity

Real name. Uatu

Powers. Near-omniscient cosmic awareness and observation; energy manipulation, telepathy, teleportation, size/shape alteration, immortality, vast superhuman strength/durability — a member of the immensely powerful Watcher race.

Teams & affiliations
Fantastic Four
★ First appearance
Fantastic Four #13
Apr 1963

Trivia

  • Uatu's name wasn't revealed right out of the gate — the character made several early appearances before the 'Uatu' identification was formally disclosed years later in Captain Marvel #39.marvel.fandom.com
  • Stan Lee has written more of Uatu's comics than any other writer in our catalog — 54 issues.

Top series

Covers through the years — 1963–2022

Fantastic Four #13 1963
Fantastic Four #13
The Silver Surfer #1 1968
The Silver Surfer #1
The Avengers #118 1973
The Avengers #118
What If? #1 1977
What If? #1
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12 1983
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12
Web of Spider-Man Annual #5 1989
Web of Spider-Man Annual #5
Quasar #6 1990
Quasar #6
Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #[nn] 1995
Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #[nn]
Generation X #61 2000
Generation X #61
Black Panther: The Bride #[nn] 2006
Black Panther: The Bride #[nn]
The Mighty Avengers #20 2009
The Mighty Avengers #20
Mighty Avengers #1 2014
Mighty Avengers #1
Guardians of the Galaxy #16 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy #16
Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1 2022
Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1

Appearances (1–150 of 421, oldest first)

Tales of Suspense (1959)
The Avengers (1963)
Fantastic Four Annual (1963)
Tales to Astonish (1959)
Journey into Mystery (1952)
Hit Comics (1966)
Smash! (1966)
The Silver Surfer (1968)
#1
Thor (1966)
Marvel (1970)
Giant-Size Fantastic Four (1974)
#2
Planet of the Apes (1974)
Captain Marvel (1968)
Spécial Strange (1975)
Astonishing Tales (1970)
#31
Une Aventure des Fantastiques (1973)
#18
Hulk Comic (1979)
Spider-Man Comic (1979)
Namor (1979)
#8
Marvel Super Action (1977)
#17
The X-Men (1963)
Marvel's Greatest Comics (1969)
Marvel Graphic Novel (1982)
The Incredible Hulk (1968)
Top BD (1983)
#2
Rom (1979)
#46
The Amazing Spider-Man (1963)
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (1983)
#12
Thor Annual (1966)
The Uncanny X-Men (1984)
Phoenix (1984)
#1
Superaventuras Marvel (1982)
Titans (1976)
Nova (1978)
#79
Secret Wars II (1985)
#6
Marvel Age Annual (1985)
The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe (1985)
#24
Marvel Masterworks (1987)
#6
Silver Surfer Annual (1988)
#2
Daredevil Annual (1967)
The West Coast Avengers Annual (1986)
#4
The New Mutants Annual (1984)
#5
The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual (1979)
#9
X-Men Annual (1970)
#13
Marvel Comics Presents (1988)
Web of Spider-Man Annual (1985)
#5
Strange Spécial Origines (1989)
The Punisher Annual (1988)
#2
Iron Man Annual (1976)
#10
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964)
#23
X-Factor Annual (1986)
#4
The Avengers Annual (1967)
Quasar (1989)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme (1988)
The Avengers: The Korvac Saga (1991)
The Infinity Gauntlet (1991)
Best of What If (1991)
Homem-Aranha: O Que Aconteceria se Peter Parker Não se Casasse com Mary Jane? (1991)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch (1992)
#1
Guardians of the Galaxy [Quest for the Shield] (1992)
Marvel Swimsuit Special (1992)
#1