Yuri was introduced as a captain in the New York Police Department (NYPD) who would occasionally work alongside Spider-Man to combat crime, although her disillusion with the justice system eventually prompts her to lead a double life as the vigilante Wraith.

The character has been adapted from the comics into several other forms of media, most notably the Marvel's Spider-Man series of video games, in which she is voiced by Tara Platt.

[1][2] Yuri Watanabe was a captain in the New York Police Department (NYPD) and an ally and strong supporter of Spider-Man's like her late friend and mentor Jean DeWolff.

[3] It is later revealed that the Wraith is really Yuri pretending to be DeWolff's ghost to scare the criminals of New York, using a costume in imitation of Spider-Man to achieve the results she sought.

[6] In the "Spiral" storyline, Yuri's faith in the justice system is shattered when crime boss Tombstone is released from prison after gunning down one of her friends during a shootout with the police.

After a fight with the Circus of Crime, she realizes she has been playing into Mister Negative's hands and kills one of his men, declaring that "Watanabe the cop" no longer exists and that only the Wraith is left.