Rorschach observes his city, and all of the changes it has seen over the years.

Now, female sexuality is paraded incessantly in front of “decent folk,” and the signs and billboards all around the city depicting them are constant reminders of how this city, and the world is very much not what it once was.

Tom is constantly surprising Aunt Polly with his mischief, and she admits that he often outsmarts her.

She is completely aware of Tom’s apparent control over her. He knows her exact limits and he knows how to avoid getting spanked or punished one way or another.

Aunt Polly actually finds relief in Tom’s ability to get away with certain things using his intelligence and wit alone, as it shows his independence and overall street savvy-ness.

A switch is a long, thin length of branch used to hit kids for acting up (like a spanking, but much worse). Parents make the kid go get the switch from a tree, and if they returned with a small switch, they would be hit more times.

The hits would sting and leave red lines where the thin branch lashed across the skin.

Tom, however, knew this was coming, and using hit cunning, he creates a diversion to escape the punishment altogether.

Her glasses do not serve her vision well at all, but are worn more for decoration. She cherishes them enough to put up with the poor eye sight just to sport them, using them just as accessories. She was thinking they would make her seem more serious.

This line is foreshadowing the idea later that “the things you own end up owning you”

Chop hires people to do his dirty work for him as he sits comfortably drinking Cognac.

Chop needs full financial control, starting with your money.

Note “monopoly” continuing the board game theme.

Chop leaves red dots in you with his .44 like Connect Four

A shout out to MF Doom and further, Madvillain, the mask reflecting the mask DOOM dawns.