Rorschach, the vigilante from Watchmen, narrates the story of the Bible book of Acts. He marvels at how the early followers of Jesus managed to spread their message of love and hope despite facing opposition, persecution, and even death.
He witnesses the ascension of Jesus and the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which emboldens the apostles to preach the gospel in Jerusalem and beyond. He admires the boldness of Peter and John, who heal a lame man outside the temple and proclaim the resurrection before the Sanhedrin. He also notes the conversion of Saul, a ruthless persecutor of the church, who becomes Paul and dedicates his life to spreading the good news to the Gentiles.
Rorschach is impressed by the miracles performed by the apostles, such as healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead. He is also intrigued by the conflicts and controversies that arise within the church, such as the dispute over circumcision and the clash between Paul and Peter over table fellowship with Gentiles.
He grieves over the martyrdom of Stephen, the first Christian to die for his faith, and marvels at how his death inspires others like Philip and Saul to continue preaching the gospel despite the risks. He also notes the expansion of the church beyond Jerusalem, as believers scatter to Samaria, Syria, and beyond.
Finally, Rorschach marvels at how the message of the gospel spreads despite the efforts of the authorities to suppress it. He concludes, with a touch of wry humor, that maybe the church’s secret superpower was simply their stubbornness:
“Heroes are born from adversity, Rorschach muses, and these ones had plenty of it. Maybe that’s why they succeeded where others failed. Or maybe they were just too stubborn to quit. Either way, I gotta admire their tenacity. Too bad I can’t say the same for some of the villains I’ve faced…”
With a sardonic grin, he flips his trademark mask over his face and vanishes into the night.
