The Watch

In June of 2006, Superwoman (aka Kara Zor-El) recruited several metahumans into a modern version of the original Defenders. The goal was to bring together extraordinary individuals with the purpose of protecting Earth from threats it was otherwise unable to face. Natural disasters, rampaging metahumans, alien incursions. Superwoman approached the United Nations with her proposal, and the first United Nations Metahuman Accords were signed into law shortly thereafter. It made provisions for Superwoman and her future allies to cross international borders and pre-emptively engage significant global threats.

This organization would be called The Watch.

The Watch is forbidden by international law from engaging military targets or government facilities. They cannot move people across national borders, make endorsements of politicians, or exploit/mine natural resources. Certain nations-- Latveria, Khandaq, North Korea-- have refused to sign the Metahuman Accords, functionally forbidding metahuman vigilantes from legally entering their nation.

The Watch is given broad latitude to sponsor alien visitors to Earth and recruit individuals into the team. However, they take responsibility for the action of those members. If sufficient negligence is determined by the United Nations, their charter can be revoked and the institution stripped of international privileges.

Original team members recruited by Superwoman include the vigilante known as Batman, Princess Diana of Themyscira, the Green Lantern John Stewart, Thor of Asgard, the Martian J'onn J'onnz, and the speedster Barry Allen.