Featuring: The Watcher
Release: July 9, 1964
Cover: October 1964
12 cents
A tale of most compelling merit by: Stan Lee
Illustrations of singular excellence by: George Tuska
Lettering of breath-taking adequacy by: Art Simek
5 pages
If you caught an early draft of my write-up for the previous issue, you saw me accidentally claim that was the final Watcher story. Either way, it ends with so little fanfare, that it’s hard to tell.
It’s hard to make a story about a character who never does anything. You’re tempted to have him do something in every issue, which is exactly what they did for this series.
The editor enthusiastically welcomes returning artist George Tuska. Tuska’s been working in comics since 1939, and worked for Marvel in the 1950s. Let’s see a sampling of his work.
The samples of Tuska’s work are from (in order, left to right, top to bottom):
- Mystery Men Comics #1 (1939)
- 64 Pages of New Captain Marvel Adventures #2 (1941)
- Crime Does Not Pay #22 (1942)
- Casey – Crime Photographer #1 (1949)
- Strange Tales #1 (1951)
- Adventures Into Terror #7 (1951)
If Lee was that excited to have Tuska back, you’d think he could have found a more interesting assignment than filling in on the final Watcher story.
Tuska will continue to do occasional fill-in work for Marvel over the next few years, before eventually settling into a longterm stint on Iron Man.
The rest of the series had been drawn by Stan’s brother, Larry Lieber. Sad he’s not the one to bring it to a close. He’s already started what will be a very long run on Rawhide Kid. We’re not generally reading the western titles, so this is the last we’ll see of Larry for a while. He will pop up again here and there for the occasional fill-in issue or special, so this isn’t good-bye forever.
This issue, the Watcher is allowed to do “something” because he is directly attacked, and is apparently allowed to respond. And respond he does, bragging about how far beyond the comprehension of his foes are his powers as he does so.
Here’s a hint about why I got confused when the series ended. I don’t have the original issue. I’m reading this in a reprint. The reprint leaves out the helpful editor’s note that lets us know the series is over. This is what it’s supposed to look like.
The Watcher is the second character (after Hulk) to get his series cancelled. Why has the Watcher’s series been cancelled? To make room for the solo adventures of another character, Captain America. We’ll see if that can last. He’s way less powerful than the Watcher. His only narrative advantage is that he’s allowed to do things.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 53/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
The scans are from a reprint in Marvel’s Greatest Comics #24 (1969).
Characters:
- The Watcher
- Warlord Wrogg
Story notes:
- Editor enthusiastically notes George Tuska’s return.
- Wrogg has conquered every living being in Sector 14X save the Watcher.
- Wrogg has learned to harness the energy of his own blood cells.
- Watcher allows Wrogg’s warriors to flee, and prematurely ages Wrogg and his Marshall by causing time to speed up in the local area surrounding them.
#249 story in reading order
Next: Fantastic Four #31
Previous: Tales of Suspense #58
