The Hiroshima lovers, or shadow lovers, is a graffiti tag depicting a man and a woman in silhouette, embracing like lovers. The tag is common throughout New York in 1985. It is sprayed onto walls with black paint by Knot Tops, and can be easily mistaken for the shadows of two actual people. A possible reference to the acclaimed 1959 French film, Hiroshima Mon Amour

Several characters express uneasiness around the tag. Rorschach described the tag in his journal as follows: "Silhouette picture in doorway, man and woman, possibly indulging in sexual foreplay. Didn't like it. Makes doorway look haunted."^[1]Malcolm Long commented that "It reminded me of the people disintegrated at Hiroshima, leaving only their indelible shadows."^[2]

The symbolism or meaning is not clear. Perhaps it was an analogous of "make love not war" sign, or a reminder of Hiroshima.

Appearances of the graffiti

• Chapter V: Fearful Symmetry:
  • V:11:2 - A group of Knot Tops can be seen defacing an abandoned building with spray cans.
  • V:11:5 - Rorschach inspects the completed tag, which is revealed to be the Hiroshima lovers.
  • V:11:7-9 - A group of Knot Tops (possibly the same one) defaces the wall opposite the Gunga Diner while Rorschach waits inside for a mail drop from Moloch.
  • V:18:1 - The Hiroshima lovers outside the Gunga Diner can be seen when Rorschach collects the message from Moloch.
  • V:23:4 and V:25:1 - Outside the Rumrunner.
• Chapter VI: The Abyss Gazes Also:
  • VI:16:6
  • VI:27:3

Shadows of embracing lovers

• Chapter VI: The Abyss Gazes Also:
  • VI:3:2 and VI:3:3 - A young Walter Kovacs sees the shadow on the bedroom wall of his mother and her client having intercourse.
  • VI:4:8 - Walter's mother attacks him, casting a similar shadow on the wall.
  • VI:8:5-6 - Malcolm and Gloria Long cast shadows on the wall of Malcolm's study before going to bed.
• Chapter VII: A Brother to Dragons:
  • VII:16:15, 16:16, 17:5, and 17:6 - Daniel Dreiberg and Laurie Juspeczyk are silhouetted by a nuclear blast as they embrace in Dan's dream sequence. (Echoing Malcolm Long's comment upon seeing the tag.)
• Chapter XII: A Stronger Loving World:
  • XII:22:7-8 - Daniel Dreiberg and Laurie Juspeczyk cast shadows in the pool room in Karnak. The next frame, has a closeup of Rorschach's mask, whose shape mirrors the abovementioned shadows

References

1. ↑ V:11:5
2. ↑ VI:16:6