Mars
After getting involved in a disagreement with the world leaders, Manhattan took the decision to leave Earth and live on Mars. From there, he continued to observe what was happening on Earth but from a more detached place. Thus, because of this, Mars is used here as a metaphor for impartiality and detachment.
The secret closet
When Rorschach investigates the murder of Blake, he stumbles upon a hidden closet where Blake stashed his costume. Also in the closet, Rorschach finds an old picture with the members of the team from which Blake was a member. Thus, because of this, the hidden closet is used here as a metaphor for the truth.
Blood on the pin
After Blake's murder, Rorschach takes it upon himself to go and warn his former colleagues about a possible plot to kill them. To make a point, Rorschach takes Blake's pin, covered in his blood. The blood on the pin shocks everyone who sees it and it is used here as a metaphor to represent the violent nature of the lives lead by the vigilantes.
The streets of New York
The streets of New York appear many times in the comic book and they are portrayed as being an extremely dangerous place where questionable characters are lurking around every corner. For many, the streets are a dangerous place and represent all that is worse about human society. Thus, because of this, the streets are used here as a metaphor for the degradation of humanity as a whole.
Metaphor for anonymity
The most important metaphor in comic books is the costumes every main character wears. These costumes are used as a metaphor for anonymity since it allows the people under the costumes to be able to help humanity and yet live a relatively normal life when they are in their time off. The costumes are also a metaphor for security since it prevents those who wear the costume from being under constant attack.
