Watchmen: Chapter VII - page 22

PAGE 22

Panel 3:  Archie entering the tunnel (after Dan and Laurie have finally given up the shame of being “normal” people and decided to pursue costumed adventuring again, though they may not have admitted this to themselves yet) is an obvious sexual symbol – the phallus (Archie) entering the vagina (the tunnel) – representing these two giving in to their baser thoughts, and it also foreshadows what will happen between these two at the end of this chapter.

Panel 6:  Dan’s remark – in regards to the ship’s smokescreens – that “Archie breathes smoke as well as fire,” hearkens back to the chapter title – A Brother to Dragons.