Watchmen: Power, Morality, and Being a Dad

It’s easy to bond with my kids over superheroes, especially my oldest. He’s nine, and I can see his mind preoccupied with new ideas about what he can accomplish in the world as he grows up. In his eyes, being an adult is a superpower…and dad is the biggest superhero. Every day I see him paying more attention to how I handle things. What am I teaching him about the use of power?

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen is more than a tale of superheroes; it’s a story about power—who wields it, how they wield it, and at what cost. As I read it, the storyline kept making me think of my own role as a parent, and the immense responsibility that comes with it. The themes of power as control versus power as stewardship resonate deeply with me, especially as I strive to model the kind of love and authority that reflect the God I believe in. The God I want my kids to know and trust.

In Watchmen, every character with power uses it in self-serving ways. Dr. Manhattan, with his godlike abilities, drifts into detachment, making decisions based solely on cold logic and his own apathetic moral calculus. Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias) manipulates the world, justifying horrific actions with a utilitarian belief that the end justifies the means. Even Rorschach, while committed to exposing the truth, employs violence and fear to achieve his aims.

What strikes me most is the absence of any disinterested use of power—no one acts for the good of others without their own agenda driving them. Their authority is wielded for control, domination, and achieving personal ends, regardless of the harm they cause. This portrayal is a stark warning of what power becomes when love and responsibility are stripped away.

Reflecting on Watchmen, I am reminded how different this is from the Catholic vision of power. God doesn’t use His power to dominate or control creation, nor does He act out of self-interest. Instead, God’s power is one of stewardship—of nurturing, protecting, and empowering His creation to flourish.

As Catholics, we know God as a loving Creator who lifts us up rather than imposing His will for His own ends. He isn’t the biggest bully in the room, His power is not the loudest voice demanding obedience; it is the quiet but infinite force that sustains and guides us in love. This image of God challenges me as a parent to consider how I wield my authority. Am I mirroring God’s example, or am I succumbing to the flawed model presented in Watchmen?

This hits close to home for me, because my role as a father is one of the most profound responsibilities I’ve ever held. I’m entrusted with the power to shape my children—not just their behavior, but their understanding of the world, themselves, and even God.

It’s intimidating to realize ho[‘7uk,w much my children will learn about God by watching me. If I use my authority to control them, to bend their will to mine out of frustration or impatience, what image of God am I giving them? That of a tyrant, indifferent to their struggles and concerned only with compliance?

But if I embrace stewardship—if I guide them with love, lift them up when they stumble, and challenge them to grow into their God-given potential—I can show them a different image of God. A God who doesn’t seek to dominate but to empower. A God who loves them unconditionally and calls them to greatness.

This isn’t easy. Whether I live up to my ideals or fall short on any given day, it always seems directly connected to the state of my own relationship with God. What kind of Father I think I have is the Father I end up reflecting. Fortunately enough, I get a chance to check in on that frequently. Parenting is full of moments where control feels like the simplest solution. But I remind myself that God shows infinite patience and mercy towards me, and my role isn’t to force my children to be obedient; it’s to help them become who they were created to be. My authority as a father is sourced in the authority of my heavenly Father. It is for the good of my kids—to protect, nurture, and guide them as they grow.

In Watchmen, the misuse of power leads to destruction, disillusionment, and despair. It’s a vivid reminder of what happens when authority serves only itself. But God the Father says we deserve better from Him. And His grace gives me the strength to give my kids a father who is a steward, not a ruler. With His model, I can give my children a home where they feel safe, cherished, and empowered to become their best selves. This is my calling—not just as a father but as a reflection of God’s love.

By embracing this role, I hope to show my children that God is not the “biggest bully in the room,” but a loving Creator who uses His infinite power for their good. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll grow up to do the same for others.