PROWLER (EARTH-7)

Biography

Early Life

Yuri Watanabe began her career within the NYPD as a high school intern.

From the beginning, she attracted the attention of Jean DeWolff, who recognized Yuri's potential long before anyone else. Jean took Yuri under her guidance and trained her from the moment she joined the department.

Their relationship became one of the most important influences on Yuri's career. Jean's mentorship helped Yuri develop within the police department and eventually rise through its ranks.

Yuri ultimately became the woman chosen to succeed Jean as Captain of Police.

However, Jean's mentorship left Yuri with more than professional ambitions. Her death would become the foundation of a much more personal mission.

The Death of Jean Dewolff

After Captain Jean DeWolff was murdered by the Sin-Eater, Yuri inherited her position within the NYPD.

But beneath the promotion was a deeper motive.

Yuri refused to accept the department's indifference toward her mentor's murder. She knew the truth about the NYPD: too many officers were controlled or bought by New York's crime bosses, while Jean had never been one of them.

Jean's death had therefore been a relief to those who benefited from the corruption inside the department. With her gone, Yuri believed that no one remained willing to uncover what had truly happened

Daily Bugle Controversy

Jean's death was followed by another crisis.

The Daily Bugle reported that Spider-Man had apparently gone on a violent rampage, leaving hospitals filled with injured criminals. Exclusive photographs even appeared to show the wall-crawler attacking police officers.

The evidence initially seemed to implicate Spider-Man in the violence.

However, Peter Parker soon visited the newspaper and delivered evidence left behind by the true culprit. The documents exposed the entire operation and revealed that someone had impersonated Spider-Man for a single night.

Peter demanded that the Daily Bugle publish a full retraction and fire the journalist responsible for connecting him to the murders and for years of false accusations against him.

After personally reviewing the evidence, Captain Yuri Watanabe publicly declared her trust in Spider-Man's account.

Her decision brought Yuri and Spider-Man closer together.

The Wraith

Yuri's decision to trust Spider-Man also placed her directly in danger.

She understood that the same system that had allowed Jean DeWolff to be murdered could eventually come after her as well.

Yuri refused to allow herself to become another victim.

If the people in power placed a bounty on her head, she would survive beneath a masked identity, hunting down anyone who posed a threat to the Captain of Police before they had the opportunity to strike.

This marked the beginning of Yuri Watanabe's transformation into Wraith.

Her new identity would allow her to operate outside the limitations of the police department while continuing her fight against those who threatened her and the position she had inherited from Jean.