Warning! Spoilers for Dark Ages #1 by Marvel Comics below.

One of the most important roles in the Marvel Universe falls to Uatu the Watcher, who watches over Earth and the rest of the universe. As one of the oldest beings in the entire universe, the Watchers look over the universe without interfering (except when they do). Now, in a world where an ancient villain has reawakened, Uatu revealed the reason he watches over Earth: to warn them of the Unmaker's return.

The Watchers originally debuted in Fantastic Four #13 and were created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. Born billions of years ago, the Watchers are tasked with overseeing and compiling knowledge about the Multiverse. The group's refusal to interfere stems from accidentally providing an alien race with the knowledge used to create nuclear weapons that led to many deaths. While the Watchers had pledged not to interfere, Uatu, who watches over Earth, has done so on multiple occasions. In Dark Ages #1, Marvel Comics provided a new, surprising reason Uatu watches over the planet.

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In Dark Ages #1 by Tom Taylor, Iban Coello, Brian Reber, and VC's Joe Sabino, the Marvel Universe is hit by a surprise attack from an ancient villain known as the Unmaker. As Earth is attacked, Uatu reveals himself to the Avengers and other heroes and tells them the reason he's been watching them for so long. Uatu tells the story of the Unmaker, who was created billions of years ago. While he was initially created to protect the universe, the Unmaker began unmaking the universe and entire galaxies. To stop him, the Living Tribunal banished him within the Earth's core during the creation of the planet. Now, he's returned.

Uatu The Watcher Unmaker

While Dark Ages exists outside of Marvel Comics canon, the explanation behind Uatu the Watcher being tasked with monitoring the Unmaker is sound. With a potentially universe-ending threat buried asleep beneath the Earth, somebody had to warn the planet when it started to awaken. Uatu served his duty, as he tells the heroes they have hours before the world ends.

Ultimately, the Unmaker does some serious damage to the Marvel Universe by killing many of its heroes and turning off the power for good. However, the Earth and Marvel Universe ultimately survive the attack thanks to Uatu the Watcher's warning. Uatu successfully did what he was set to do by watching Earth for the Unmaker's deadly return. The Watcher lived up to his name and in this tale, he's pretty much the sole reason the Earth still exists. Dark Ages #1 is in comic book stores now.

Next: Dark Ages Begins as Spider-Man and the X-Men Discover an Ancient Evil