Original Sin #0 hit stands today. It is essentially a retelling and reboot of aspects of The Watcher Uatu’s past at a $4.99 price point. Building on the preview that had Nova meet the Watcher, the rest of the issue lays the groundwork for where The Watcher Uatu head is as we head into Original #0.
While Original Sin already having a stealth debut in All-New X-Men #25 – a book that was maligned by readers as “filler” with a high price point (hmmm, prophetic for Original Sin #0?) – the Original Sin event has various publication waves. Before we get to the goings on of Original Sin #0, here’s what you need to know about the publication plan Marvel has for Original Sin:
- Original Sin, the 8 issue (9 if you include the #0 issue) core event book (no “s” at the end), that surrounds the mystery of who killed The Watcher, what he saw and what’s the deal with his eyes; the House of Ideas’ take on a cosmic whodunit.
- We get an interlude in Original Sin with, I believe, with more branding-over-story controversy a.k.a. numerhoaxology from Marvel as Hulk vs. Iron Man gets the Original Sin #3.1 to #3.4 treatment. Did Tony Stark lead to the creation of the Hulk?
- We’ll get Original Sin tie-ins in some regular ongoing series where we learn of some “sins” of Marvel Now’s heroes and villains. Like with All-New Invaders #6 and many others.
- The Original Sins (with an “s” at the end) is a companion anthology 5 issue mini-series to spotlight Young Avengers in particular, but also showcase done-in-one tales from across the Marvel Universe revealing more sins, but this time for characters who don’t headline their own ongoing series.
With that, Original Sin #0 SPOILERS follow.
The retelling of The Watcher and his brethren’s past is retold pretty much as it was in the past. Benevolent beings give power to a native species who use it not for good, but for war which destroys them.
Uatu shows this history to Nova on a view screen. That device is also used to show the scope of The Watcher’s power and responsibilities.
Uatu oversees Marvel’s fractured multiverse and seemingly its various future possibilities. Its an awesome responsibility and power. However, in each the constant is the Original Sin of The Watchers that Uatu obsesses over; he and his father were part of that original group of Watchers.
The books gets a bit more personal for Nova as Uatu breaks his silence to answer a question near and dear to Nova’s heart.
That surprising answer sets Nova on a gleeful path, but The Watcher remains somber.
We are no closer to understanding what Original Sin is about then we were before Original Sin #0 hit stands. I’m not a Marvel Zombie, but I have some knowledge of Marvel and what I don’t have I can glean from my Marvel Encyclopedia. With the exception of the multiverse and timeline responsibilities of The Watcher, the rest of his and his people’s origin seems unchanged.
I would have felt less guilty about this book if it was at a $2.99 price point. It does have a marquee writer in Mark Waid and top artist in Jim Cheung, but I feel they were tasked with giving us an extended edition of the Official History of the Marvel Universe’s W is for Watcher.
That said, I am still stoked for Original Sin #1 despite what I read in its #0 issue offering.
Thanks for reading. All feedback welcome.