Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling: Issue 90

Issue 90 - Uatu the Watcher

Aug 5, 2020

We go from reading to watching, as we examine UATU! How does Doc propose to cure this voyeur of his addiction? Find out - listen now!

SHOW NOTES:

Intro
- Thanks to new Patron Local Official Kate!
- Announcement of nominations for award show - Google Doc will be open until 8/31/20
- Request for sharing on social media
Background (13:09)

- Uatu the Watcher created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #13 (April 1963)
- First introduced as The Watcher, who lived on the Blue Area of the Moon - introduced himself to the Fantastic Four, who discovered him when they landed there
- Part of a nearly immortal race of beings whose sole purpose was to observe civilizations - they made this vow after introducing nuclear power to one group of people, who used it to destroy one another
- Despite his vow of non-interference, he helped the Fantastic Four defeat Galactus by helping Johnny Storm find the Ultimate Nullifier
- Was later put on trial by his own people after numerous violations of the vow - released on his own recognizance
- Kicked out of the Watchers after disintegrating his own nephew, Aron, who went rogue, and used his energy to revive The One, leader of the Watchers
- Later reinstated, and popped up to observe major events - like Civil War & Secret Invasion
- Basically, every time Uatu shows up, one of two things happen - he either observes wordlessly, which worries the characters involved; or he interferes to aid humanity
- Original Sin - the Avengers discover his body on the moon, and his eyes removed - it was revealed that he was attacked and had one of his eyes stolen, and when Nick Fury showed up to interrogate him, he refused - so Nick killed him and stole his other eye so he could see what he had seen - revealing that the Orb and other villains had attacked his armory on the Moon
Issues (17:02)
- Per Matt: addicted to interfering
- Repeating sins of the father - Uatu’s father, Ikor, was the one who decided to provide nuclear power to Prosilicus (24:42)
- Voyeurism (32:01)
Break (40:50)
- Plugs for Sips Suds & Smokes, Perfect Package Podcast, and Howard Mackie
Treatment (42:56)
- In-universe - Install a “U-chip” to limit his watching
- Out of universe - Revolve team of therapists to avoid normalizing behavior (46:07)
Skit (51:34)
Ending (56:40)
- Recommended reading: Fantastic Four Galactus story, Nobody Gets Out Alive, and Original Sin
- Next episodes: Damian Wayne, Apocalypse, and Baphomet
- Plugs for social