EINU the WATCHER
Real Name: Einu
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Watchers);
presumably the distant past
to modern era
Occupation: Observer and recorder of phenomena within his space sector
Group Membership: Watchers
Affiliations: Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), the Stranger;
a delegation of approximately 24 Watchers including Ocam
Enemies: Indirectly Deathurge, Maelstrom (also in his incarnation of Anomaly), Otmu the Watcher;
see comments
Known Relatives: None;
Aliases: None known
Base of Operations: Unrevealed
First Appearance: Quasar I#16 (November, 1990)
Powers/Abilities: Like other Watchers, Einu possessed vast cosmic powers, well beyond human comprehension.
While he did not demonstrate powers in his limited appearances, he presumably could transport himself across intergalactic distances; alter his size, frame, and appearance; use cosmic power to vastly augment his physical strength and speed; convert into energy; communicate telepathically.
He presumably was virtually immortal (although vulnerable to delta rays) possessed telekinesis and clairvoyance, and could project energy blasts, form force field, manipulate time, etc.
Height: Unrevealed (variable; sizes estimated at 15' observed)History: Einu is one of the cosmic Watchers, who observe the universe but have vowed never to interfere with events and other beings.
(Quasar I#22 (fb) - BTS / Quasar I#23 (fb) - BTS) - The Deviant-Inhuman hybrid Maelstrom plotted to stop all motion in the universe, destroying everything.
(Quasar I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Having usurped the role of the cosmic entity Anomaly, gained cosmic awareness from Eon, and become an agent of Oblivion, Maelstrom feared that when he actively pursued his goals, the Watchers would detect him and that some of their renegade members might inform other beings, potentially leading to the great powers of the universe being aligned against him.
Wishing to eliminate the Watchers without calling attention to himself, Maelstrom resolved to manipulate the Watchers into eliminating themselves via suicide. To this end, he conceived the "Oblivion Plague" (an idea that the very act of watching the universe itself affected the universe around it, which would lead Watchers to end their existence to prevent such interference). Maelstrom then sent Deathurge to disseminate the Plague, beginning with the nearby Otmu.
(Quasar#16 (fb) - BTS) - As the Watchers were
telepathic, Otmu's philosophy became like a virus, spreading throughout
the other Watchers in the universe at the speed of thought. Virtually
every mind the doctrine entered became obsessed with it.
As the Watchers could make their wishes reality,
any Watcher who contemplated the notion of nothingness for too long
would inadvertently succumb to oblivion.
(Quasar#15 (fb) - BTS / Quasar I#16 (fb) - BTS) - Over a billion (see comments) Watchers embraced Otmu's doctrine and willed themselves unalive rather than continue to violate the oath.
(Quasar#16) - Seeking the Stranger's advice on their current philosophical struggle, Einu was one of approximately two dozen Watchers who materialized in the Stranger's laboratory world's atmosphere, arriving as the Stranger suffered under the assault of the Over-Mind. Seeing these Watchers, the Over-Mind accused the Stranger of summoning them as allies to use against him.Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Mike Manley, and Dan
Panosian.
I don't know if the name Einu has any significance. I search brought up the "Ainu" of Japan. Coincidence...no idea...
I also don't know which image in
the main profile is Einu. I think its the one with the three parts to
the back of his headdress, three Watchers to the right of the largest
Watcher in the main image, but maybe it's a Watcher on the other side
of the circle or something. Who knows? Dorkas farkas...
Quasar#15 had Ualu note that 10 billion Watchers had terminated their existence, while #16 had another Watcher note this number to be "over a billion." Obviously 10 billion is still over a billion, but I'm not sure if the latter number was intended to be a correction/downgrading of the numbers to a little over a billion...
The distraction of the Watchers' deaths aided the Over-Mind's plot against the Stranger, but the Watchers seeking the Stranger's aid in the matter led to the Over-Mind's defeat. Regardless, I don't think Einu was an ally or an enemy of the Over-Mind...although the Over-Mind might think differently.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Einu should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads)
Quasar I#16, pg. 27, panel 3 (with group of Watchers);
pg. 31, panel 2 (Watchers willing themselves to death)
Appearances:
Quasar I#15
(October, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mike Manley (pencils), Dan
Panosian (inker), Len Kaminski (editor)
Quasar I#16
(November, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mike Manley (pencils), Dan
Panosian & Keith Williams (inks), Len Kaminski (editor)
Quasar I#22 (May, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Greg Capullo (penciler), Keith Williams (inker), Len Kaminski (managing editor), Howard Mackie (editor)
First posted: 04/06/2021
Last updated: 04/06/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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