Joe West and the 7 Best Dads from the Arrowverse

2. Best Dads from the Arrowverse: Jefferson Pierce

One of the rare Arrowverse protagonists who is almost as much a dad as he is a superhero, Jefferson Pierce has his work cut out for him. As Black Lightning, Jefferson invokes fear in the villains of Freeland, but as a school principal—then teacher—he is but a regular man desperately trying to protect his students and daughters from a world that is constantly out to do more harm than good.

Jefferson had a difficult early life—as so many Arrowverse protagonists have—losing his dad in front of him to the villainous Tobias Whale. But this trauma, and his subsequent transformation into Black Lightning, didn’t stop him from being the best version of himself, and a great dad.

Unlike many of the dads on this list, Jefferson has his cringey dad moments, when his daughters, Anissa and Jennifer, want to make a quick getaway before they die of embarrassment.

But that’s what makes Jefferson such a great character. His powers, his life, and the burden on his shoulders don’t stop him from being what he truly is—an amazing dad to two outstanding young women.

Jefferson can be overly protective of his daughters at times—and he gets plenty of pushback from them and his ex-wife, Lynn, about it—but he’s also the first one there to help them realise their potential as superheroes.

As Black Lightning has worn on, Jefferson has grown as a father and team player, realising his daughters’ strengths and weaknesses so he can work better beside them. A dad who knows when to step back and let you grow, while also being there for you if you fall? That’s what makes Jefferson such a great fictional dad.

1. Best Dads from the Arrowverse: Joe West

The dad to beat all Arrowverse dads—Joe West is a man who is unflappable, dedicated, and just loves being a dad to his kids.

For the majority of his dad-life, Joe was a happy father to Iris, but he also took in young Barry Allen and brought him up like his own son. The two became immensely close and though it took Barry till his adult life to realise it, he figured out that Joe was as much a dad to him as Henry was.

Later in The Flash, when it was revealed that Joe’s ex-wife had hidden his son Wally from him, Joe embraced the discovery and brought Wally into his life.

With new-born Jenna, Joe had his hands full, but happily took on more parenting duties so his partner, Cecile, could get back to work.

Joe isn’t infallible—he forbade Iris from joining the police force, and often accidentally compared Wally to Barry, making Wally feel like he had been replaced even before he had come into Joe’s life.

But to err is human and that’s why Joe is such a wonderful dad—he makes mistakes and learns from them, using every moment to become a better dad to his children.

Listening to Joe talk to his children is like listening to a real father—a testament to how well the character has been written and acted throughout his appearances in the Arrowverse.

With his sense of humour, his unfailing love for his children, and determination to do right by them—even without having superpowers—Joe is the epitome of what makes dads so great.

There you have it, folks—seven of the best dads from the Arrowverse. Which dad is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below.