| “ | Well, the '60s were fun, but now I'm paying for it. | „ |
| ~ One of his most famous quotes. |
| “ | Oh, man. Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, at that time, I was a Federal Express man. | „ |
| ~ The Informant sharing his stories during Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 |
| “ | Hey, fellas! Hey, wait, where are you going? Hey, you were supposed to be my lift home! How will I get out of here? Hey! Oh, gee, I've got so many more stories to tell! Oh, guys! Oh, gee... | „ |
| ~ The Informant to the other Watchers as they leave him behind. |
The unnamed Watcher Informant is the overarching protagonist of the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is one of the most enduring and beloved characters in the franchise.
He is a Watcher, an ancient god-like alien being. His role is to chronicle the history of the MCU to his fellow Watchers, something that his ability to exist across space and time allows him to do.
He was portrayed by the late Stan Lee.
Biography
The Watcher Informant was present at several key events across different decades. In 1943, he attended a ceremony where Senator Brandt planned to award Captain America the Medal of Honor, only for Steve Rogers to be absent. Mistaking Brandt’s aide for Rogers, he commented that he expected him to be taller. In 1970, he drove past Camp Lehigh with a female companion, shouting, “Make love, not war!” to passing soldiers. By 1995, he was seen on a Los Angeles metro train reading the Mallrats script while Vers searched for a Skrull, exchanging a knowing smile with her.
Over the years, he was frequently mistaken for notable figures. In 2008, Tony Stark mistook him for Hugh Hefner at a charity ball, and in 2010, Happy Hogan confused him for Larry King at the Stark Expo. He also found himself in strange situations, such as unknowingly drinking a soda contaminated with Bruce Banner’s blood in Milwaukee, which caught the attention of government agencies. Later, he attempted to move Mjölnir in New Mexico by tying it to his truck, only for the trailer to be pulled off instead.
In 2012, he was present in New York City, overhearing Steve Rogers at a café and advising him to ask for a waitress’s number. Shortly after, he was interviewed about the Avengers, dismissing superheroes in New York. By 2013, he was in a London mental institution with Erik Selvig, asking for his shoe back after it was used in a demonstration. That same year, he judged a beauty pageant, awarding Miss Elk Ridge a perfect score. In 2014, he worked as a Smithsonian security guard and panicked after discovering Captain America’s old uniform was stolen. Later, he was seen on Xandar flirting with a woman, only for Rocket to mock him as a “Class A pervert.”
He also had an audience with the Watchers, telling them about his various adventures, but they eventually abandoned him. In 2015, he attended a party at Avengers Tower, confidently drinking an Asgardian liquor meant for gods before being escorted out in a drunken state. That year, he also worked as a bartender in San Francisco, agreeing with a patron that his date was “crazy stupid fine.” In 2016, he appeared at a casino in South Korea, slyly taking T’Challa’s gambling chips, and later worked as a FedEx driver, humorously mispronouncing Tony Stark’s name as “Tony Stank.”
Later, he chastised Spider-Man for making too much noise outside his apartment and casually chatted with his neighbor. In 2017, he was seen laughing at The Doors of Perception while sitting on a bus, oblivious to Doctor Strange’s fight outside. That same year, he was on Sakaar, preparing to cut Thor’s hair while warning that his hands weren’t as steady as before. He was also present to witness his car shrink, remarking that the ’60s were fun but now he was paying for them.
Personality
He’s secretive and keeps to his role as an informant for the Watchers, but he can also be friendly and form bonds with others, even though he stays emotionally distant. He has a sense of humor, but can get irritated when things don’t go as planned. He shows affection toward women and seems to have settled down at some point.
He often changes jobs and locations, which suggests he’s restless and avoids getting too attached to any one place or identity. He’s skilled at blending in, taking on different roles to keep observing while staying under the radar. Overall, he’s a mix of cautious, sociable, and elusive.
Powers
- Metamorphic Adaptation: While not employing the use of shapeshifting, the Watcher Informant was able to alter his appearance to look younger if he wanted. Even though he seemed to be an old man in 1943 and in 1995 onwards, he was able to look younger while visiting Camp Lehigh in 1970.
- Immortality: Allegedly, the Watcher Informant appears to be an immortal being, as since 1943 to 2018, the time he spent watching over on Earth, he looked exactly the same (except during his 1970 visit on Camp Lehigh) without apparent signs of aging or fatigue, albeit he admitted on Sakaar that he isn't as steady as he was in the past.
Trivia
- He is the only character to appear in every MCU Project from Iron Man to Avengers: Endgame.
- Since Stan Lee's passing in November 2018, he has not made any more appearances.
- Although Lee filmed a cameo for Spider-Man: Far From Home before his death, Marvel Studios felt his cameo in Endgame was a more fitting tribute.
- On his car in Avengers Endgame, a sticker saying "Nuff said" is shown, referencing Stan Lee's line in Spider-Man 3. Also the woman next to him is Joan Lee, Stan Lee’s real-life late wife digitally recreated.
- Tony Stark has mistaken him for the late Hugh Hefner and the late Larry King.
External Links
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