AHH, CHARLOTTE IS THE TICKET WHO GIVES...

AHH, CHARLOTTE IS THE TICKET

WHO GIVES MY TROUPE THE WORD “CLASS”!

AND CRITICS CAN GO STICK IT

WHO’VE EVER CALLED ME THIRD-CLASS!

HUH-HA!

AT LAST I’VE MADE THE CLIMB

FROM A HUNGRY, YOUNGER TIME...

IN THE DARK,

CROWDED HOVEL OF MY YOUTH—

‘MID OLD PARENTS,

SIX FAT SISTERS,

FILTH AND LICE...

(terrified but transfixed at the thought)

LI’...

LICE...

AS THE SOOT STAINED THROUGH MY SKIN,

SOMETHING EVIL TOO CREPT IN

AND HAS LEFT ME CONSUMED WITH A FEVER.

LIKE A SHARK

MUST STALK ONWARD, I—IN TRUTH—

CAN’T HELP IF MY SOUL’S LIKE HELL,

MY HEART LIKE ICE..

I’...

ICE...

FOR NO MATTER HOW THIRD-RATE

MY BEGINNINGS, I MUST STATE

THEY MADE ME A FIRST-RATE DEVIL AND DECEIVER!

AHH ... THE DARKNESS OF THAT HOVEL

LEFT MY THOUGHTS DARK AND ONE-SIDED

TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE GROVEL

AND EAT DIRT—THE WAY THAT I DID.

BUT WHY NOT! THAT’S WHAT I’M BEST AT—

WHAT I HAVE THE KNACK AND SKILL FOR!

SOMETHING EV’RYONE’S IMPRESSED AT,

AND WHICH PREDATORS WOULD KILL FOR!

YES, MY DARKNESS BURNS BRIGHT;

AND FOR ME, WRONG IS RIGHT!

EVIL HITS A NEW HEIGHT,

AND RESIST—AS I MIGHT—

AHH...THE DARKNESS...

PURE DARKNESS...

THAT DARKNESS

IS MY LIGHT!