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Clayface

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Clayface
The different versions of Clayface as depicted in Batman Villains Secret Files & Origins #1 (October 1998). From top to bottom: Sondra Fuller, Peter Malley (Clay-Thing), Preston Payne, Cassius Payne, Matt Hagen and Basil Karlo.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(Karlo)
Detective Comics #40 (June 1940)
(Hagen)
Detective Comics #298 (December 1961)
(Payne)
Detective Comics #478 (August 1978)
(Fuller)
Outsiders #21 (July 1987)
(Cassius)
Batman: Shadow of the Bat #27 (May 1994)
(Malley)
Batman #550 (January 1998)
(Russell)
Catwoman #1 (January 2002)
(Williams)
Batman: Gotham Knights #60 (February 2005)
Created by(Karlo)
Bill Finger (writer)
Bob Kane (artist)
(Hagen)
Bill Finger (writer)
Sheldon Moldoff (artist)
(Payne)
Len Wein (writer)
Marshall Rogers (artist)
(Fuller)
Mike W. Barr (writer)
Jim Aparo (artist)
(Cassius)
Doug Moench (writer)
Kelley Jones (artist)
(Malley)
Doug Moench (writer)
Kelley Jones (artist)
(Russell)
Ed Brubaker (writer)
Darwyn Cooke (artist)
(Williams)
A. J. Lieberman (writer)
Javier Pina (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoBasil "Baz" Karlo
Matthew "Matt" Hagen
Preston "Bill" Payne
Sondra Fuller
Cassius "Clay" Payne
Peter Malley
"Todd Russell"
Johnny Williams
Adaptations:
Chris Cassius
Ethan Bennett
Tanner Freyr
Virginia Devereaux
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliations(Karlo)
Secret Society of Super Villains
Injustice League
Batman Family
(Hagen)
Anti-Justice League
(Fuller)
Strike Force Kobra
(All)
Mud Pack
Notable aliases(Karlo)
Ultimate Clayface
Clayface-Prime
(Fuller)
Lady Clay
(Malley)
Dr. Peter Malley
Clay-Thing
Abilities(All):

(Karlo, Hagen, & Fuller):

  • Power replication

(Payne):

(Cassius):

  • Bio-fission

(Malley):

  • Death glare

Clayface is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Most incarnations of the character possess clay-like bodies and shapeshifting abilities, and all of them are adversaries of the superhero Batman. In 2009, Clayface was ranked as IGN's 73rd-greatest comic book villain of all time.[1]

A prominent enemy of Batman, Clayface has appeared in various forms of non-comics media, and has been voiced by Ron Perlman in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) and Alan Tudyk in both Harley Quinn and the DC Universe (DCU) animated series Creature Commandos, among others, with live-action versions of the character appearing on the television series Gotham, portrayed by Brian McManamon, and Pennyworth, portrayed by Lorraine Burroughs. The character will headline a self-titled film (2026) written by Mike Flanagan, also set in the DCU.

History

[edit]

Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40 (June 1940) as a B-list actor who began a life of crime using the identity of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror film.[2] Kane stated that the character was partially inspired by the 1925 Lon Chaney version of The Phantom of the Opera and that his name was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.[3] The character only appeared twice in the Golden Age, but was the inspiration for the shape-shifting Silver Age version.[4]

In the late 1950s, Batman began facing a series of science fiction-inspired foes, including Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter given vast shapeshifting powers and resiliency by exposure to a pool of radioactive protoplasm, who became the second Clayface. He retained the title for the next several decades of comic book history.[5]

In the late 1970s, Preston Payne became the third Clayface.[6] A scientist suffering from hyperpituitarism, Preston Payne used the second Clayface's blood to create a cure for his condition, but instead became a clay-like creature that needed to pass his new condition on to others to survive.

Sondra Fuller of Strike Force Kobra used the terrorist group's technology to become the fourth Clayface, also known as Lady Clay. She formed the Mud Pack with the original and third Clayfaces. During this era, the original Clayface used the DNA of Payne and Fuller to become the Ultimate Clayface (as he now called himself).

Sometime after the Mud Pack event, Payne and Fuller had a son named Cassius "Clay" Payne, who, as the fifth Clayface, also had metahuman shapeshifting powers.

In a 1998 storyline, Dr. Peter Malley later uses a sample of Cassius Payne's skin to become Clay-Thing.

The Todd Russell version of Clayface was introduced in Catwoman vol. 3, #4 (May 2002), and the Johnny Williams version of Clayface was introduced in Batman: Gotham Knights #60 (February 2005).

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Basil Karlo

[edit]

Golden Age

[edit]

The first Clayface, Basil Karlo, first appeared in Detective Comics #40 (June 1940).[7] He is a B-list actor who is driven insane when he hears that a remake of the classic horror film he had starred in, Dread Castle, would be shot without him acting in the film, even though he is to be one of the advising staff. In response, he dons the costume of Clayface, a villain he once portrayed, and becomes a serial killer.[8][9]

Silver Age

[edit]

Earth-One's Basil Karlo has a similar history to his Golden Age counterpart. However, he is a less major villain and is later killed by John Carlinger during an attack on his yacht.[10][11]

Post-Crisis

[edit]

In post-Crisis continuity, Karlo gains shapeshifting abilities similar to his successors after injecting himself with Preston Payne and Sondra Fuller's blood. He is seemingly killed on two occasions after sinking into the earth, with the first giving him quartz-like crystals across his body.[12]

In Infinite Crisis, Clayface joins Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.[13] In later appearances, he joins the Injustice League and temporarily assumes Donna Troy's form after absorbing her powers.[14]

The New 52

[edit]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Basil Karlo gains his powers from a chemical formula that renders his body malleable. However, his DNA becomes unstable, rendering him unable to return to his original form.[15][16]

DC Rebirth

[edit]

In the DC Rebirth relaunch, Basil Karlo's origin is similar to the DC Animated Universe's incarnation of Matt Hagen / Clayface. He is an actor who is disfigured in a car accident, uses the chemical Re-Nu to restore his face, and transforms into a clay-like metahuman after overdosing on it.[17] Victoria October works to return Karlo to normal, during which Batman has him wear a special wristband that locks him in his human form.[18] Karlo later fakes his death, allowing him and October to leave Gotham City.[19]

Matt Hagen

[edit]
Matt Hagen as Clayface on the cover of Detective Comics #298 (December 1961)

The second version of Clayface, Matthew "Matt" Hagen, first appeared in Detective Comics #298. He is a treasure hunter who gains shapeshifting abilities from a radioactive pool of protoplasm.[2][20]

In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Hagen is killed by the Anti-Monitor's Shadow Demons.[21]

In Infinite Crisis, Hagen resurfaces and joins Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.[22]

In Infinite Frontier, Hagen appears as an escaped inmate of Arkham Asylum.[23]

Preston Payne

[edit]
Preston Payne as Clayface on the cover of Detective Comics #479 (October 1978)

The third version of Clayface, Preston Payne, first appeared at the end of Detective Comics #477 before making his first full appearance in Detective Comics #478–479. He is a S.T.A.R. Labs employee who suffers from hyperpituitarism and transforms into Clayface after using Matt Hagen's blood to cure his condition. However, his body is unstable, forcing him to periodically kill others to survive.[2][24]

In the Mud Pack storyline, Payne falls in love with Sondra Fuller, the fourth Clayface. They later have a son, Cassius.[25]

A stunted, emaciated Payne appears in the graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean.[26]

In Justice League: Cry for Justice, Payne is killed by Prometheus.[27] He later resurfaces in Infinite Frontier.[28]

Sondra Fuller

[edit]

The fourth version of Clayface, Sondra Fuller (also known as Lady Clay), first appeared in Outsiders #21. She is a member of Strike Force Kobra who gains powers from her employer Kobra's technology.[2] She later falls in love with Preston Payne, and they have a son named Cassius.[29]

In Doomsday Clock, Sondra claims that she and other metahumans were created by the government.[30][31]

Cassius "Clay" Payne

[edit]
Cassius "Clay" Payne as Clayface

After the Mud Pack incident, Payne and Fuller escape and fall in love while on the run. They eventually have a child together named Cassius "Clay" Payne,[32] who becomes the fifth version of Clayface and debuted in Batman #550. Following his birth, Cassius is separated from his parents and held in a government laboratory.

Cassius possesses the unique ability to separate parts of his body, which can bond with others and give them his abilities.[33]

In Infinite Crisis, Cassius joins Alexander Luthor Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.[34][35]

Peter "Clay-Thing" Malley

[edit]

The sixth version of Clayface, known as the Clay-Thing, also debuted in Batman #550. Clay-Thing is created when a skin sample from Cassius Payne comes to life and merges with D.E.O. scientist Peter Malley. He has the ability to melt objects simply by looking at them. Clay-Thing is destroyed when Cameron Chase turns his own powers against him, and his remains are stored at the D.E.O. Headquarters.

"Todd Russell"

[edit]

The seventh version of Clayface debuted in Catwoman (vol. 3) #1 (January 2002), but is not actually shown until Catwoman (vol. 3) #3 (March 2002). This character does not remember his true identity, but it is said that he resembles actor Todd Russell. Struggling with his memory loss, he used aliases such as Brian, Greg, and Todd. Having the power to change into virtually any shape and size, he preys upon prostitutes in Gotham's East End until Catwoman is able to contain his severed head inside of a freezer. There are very few background details given about this character's past. He was in the Army, suffered injuries, and was subsequently experimented on (possibly by the DEO) before losing most of his memory and discovering his new powers.[36] After his capture, he is held captive and further experimented upon for almost two years at S.T.A.R. Labs in Gotham before being freed by Catwoman.[37]

Johnny Williams

[edit]
Johnny Williams as Clayface on the cover of Batman: Gotham Knights #69 (November 2005). Art by Claudio Castellini

The eighth version of Clayface, Johnny Williams, debuted in Batman: Gotham Knights #60 (February 2005).[38] Williams is a former firefighter who is transformed into a clay-based creature after an explosion in a chemical plant. He first discovers his transformation after he accidentally kills a prostitute; horrified and stricken with guilt, he plans to commit suicide.

Before he can do so, he is approached by Hush and the Riddler, who tell him that the chemicals turned him into the latest Clayface. They begin to manipulate Williams, promising a cure if he does their bidding. This includes pretending to be Tommy Elliot (Hush's true identity) and Jason Todd to hurt Bruce Wayne.[39][40]

Elliot also takes some samples from Williams to try and determine how he can duplicate the shapeshifting aspects of Clayface without losing his original form, also using these samples to infect Batman's ally Alfred Pennyworth with a virus that allows Hush to exert some degree of control over Alfred, forcing him to commit murder. Eventually, Williams realizes he is being manipulated and Hush will never help him after Hush tries to steal a sample of Cassius.

Knowing that he is going to die, Williams offers Batman assistance against Hush in exchange for protecting his family. He redeems himself by providing Batman with a sample of himself so that Batman can find a cure for the virus infecting Alfred.[41]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Each of the Clayfaces have different powers, but they all share the ability to shapeshift.

  • In his earliest appearances, Basil Karlo had no superpowers, but wore a clay mask. In later comics, his body is made out of mud upon taking the cell samples from Clayface III and IV, thus enabling him to gain their powers combined.[42] In The New 52, these are improved to a level, in which he can mimic the DNA of others.[43]
  • Matt Hagen has temporary shapeshifting, voice mimicry, and a malleable clay-like body, which allows him to manipulate his physical features at will. He must reimmerse himself in a pool of protoplasm that gave him his powers to recharge them every 48 hours or else he would regress back into his human form. Later, Hagan duplicated the protoplasm by scientific means, but only for five hours before needing to be renewed.[44]
  • Preston Payne originally had an amorphous physiology, yet ended up gaining the ability to melt people with his touch. He has immense strength from his anti-melting exoskeleton.[45] Preston's metamorphic abilities were later restored by Prometheus.[46]
  • Sondra Fuller has powers identical to Clayface II, except these superpowers are permanent.[47]
  • Cassius "Clay" Payne possesses the combined powers of both his parents.[48] If a piece of him is separated from his mass, it can develop its own consciousness and even "bond" with human hosts to transform them into "Clay-Things". Hush has noted that Cassius is essentially the only "pure" Clayface as the only one who was never human to begin with, all other Clayfaces retaining some aspect of their human DNA that prevents others simply taking samples to imitate their transformations.
  • Peter Malley gained similar abilities like Clayface V, but is capable of dissolving people via eye contact.[49]
  • Both "Todd Russell" and Johnny Williams have shape-changing capabilities.[50][51]

Other characters named Clayface

[edit]

John Carlinger

[edit]

John Carlinger was a renowned actor and director who held a film exhibition aboard the yacht Varania III. Basil Karlo, the original Clayface, assaulted Carlinger with murderous intent because Carlinger neglected to "invite" him to the event, but Carlinger killed Karlo instead. Feeling threatened by a few actors attending the exhibition who were rumored to be demanding an audit of his production company's finances, Carlinger used Karlo's alter ego to mask his true identity and intentions when he gunned these actors down in cold blood. Batman deduced "Clayface's" true identity by the water-solubility of his makeup, revealing it to be a type of makeup used by modern actors instead of the greasepaint Karlo was more likely to use. Batman punched Carlinger's lights out and exposed his murder scheme, putting the corrupt movie producer's brief stint as Clayface to an abrupt end.[11]

The Clayface of Japan

[edit]

The ninth version of Clayface, the Clayface of Japan, debuted in Batman Incorporated #6 (June 2011) as part of "The New 52".[52] Batman tasks Batman Japan (Jiro Osamu) to fight the Clayface of Japan about 2+1⁄2 months into his Batman Incorporated venture.[53] Not much is known about this Clayface, except that he resembles all of the previous Clayfaces and seems to have their same set of powers. Presumably, this Clayface, as a rival to Osamu, is a native of Japan. Batman states that this Clayface is a newcomer, a samurai, and operates in or around Hokkaido.[54]

Clayface clones

[edit]

In "The New 52", a villain named Jeffrey Bode makes several short-lived clones of Clayface.[55]

Clownface

[edit]

The being known as Clownface began as a stray piece of Clayface's body that became unattached and gained enough sentience to morph itself into a mute old man. This man was found and taken to Arkham Manor because of his unresponsiveness.[56] Later, the Joker infected this portion of Clayface with Joker venom, morphing it into a separate entity dubbed Clownface.[57]

Alternative versions

[edit]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Live-action

[edit]
Clayface as he appears in Birds of Prey.
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in the opening credits of Batman (1966), but was replaced in show with False-Face (portrayed by Malachi Throne).
  • The Cassius Payne incarnation of Clayface appears in the Birds of Prey episode "Feat of Clay", portrayed by Kirk Baltz. This version is a sculptor who is inspired by other people's pain and gains his powers from a special formula created specifically for him by a crooked scientist. Sometime prior to the series, Payne was hired by the Joker to kill Catwoman, but was defeated and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum. In the present, his son Chris Cassius (portrayed by Ian Reed Kesler) takes the formula for himself and gains the ability to turn people into clay. Upon learning of what happened, Payne breaks out of Arkham to stop him despite running afoul of the Birds of Prey. Chris is eventually defeated by Helena Kyle while Payne turns himself in.
  • Basil Karlo appears in Gotham, portrayed by Brian McManamon.[64][65][66] This version is a deceased actor who was revived by Hugo Strange and Ethel Peabody using octopus DNA, which gave him the ability to alter his face to resemble anyone he wants.
  • An original incarnation of Clayface appears in the third season of Pennyworth, portrayed by Lorraine Burroughs. This version is a P.W.E., an enhanced being who can alter her appearance to perfectly mimic someone else's, who poses as Virginia Devereaux, a high-ranking CIA official who travels with Patrick Wayne to England. Throughout her appearances, she has assumed the identities of Mary Pennyworth (portrayed by Dorothy Atkinson) and Martha Wayne (portrayed by Emma Paetz).[67]

Animation

[edit]
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in The New Adventures of Batman, voiced by Lou Scheimer.
  • Two incarnations of Clayface appear in The Batman.
    • Series-original character Ethan Bennett (voiced by Steve Harris)[68] is a GCPD detective partnered with Ellen Yin and was Bruce Wayne's best friend until being mutated by exposure to the Joker's mutagenic Joker Putty. Bennett battles Batman several times, gradually gaining control over his powers, before eventually choosing to reform and turn himself in. After learning Basil Karlo became his own version of Clayface, Bennett joins forces with Batman and Robin to defeat him, with Bennett restraining Karlo so Batman can administer an antidote to them. Re-imprisoned in Arkham, a cured Bennett plans on finishing his sentence and focusing on reforming himself. In a potential future depicted in the episode "Artifacts", Bennett is reinstated into the GCPD and becomes its Chief of Police.
    • Basil Karlo (voiced by Wallace Langham in "Clayfaces" and Lex Lang in "The Batman/Superman Story")[68] is an untalented actor who breaks into Wayne Enterprises and drinks a refined Joker Putty sample. After being rejected once more, Karlo snaps and uses his new powers to attack the people who rejected him, realizing that becoming a supervillain will increase his popularity.
  • A portrait of the Preston Payne incarnation of Clayface appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Joker: The Vile and the Villainous!".[69]
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in Young Justice, voiced by Nolan North.[68] In the fourth season, Young Justice: Phantoms, Superman and Black Lightning consider him, among others, for reserve membership in the Justice League.
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in Teen Titans Go!, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Alan Tudyk,[70] while Jonah Platt provides his singing voice.[68] This version is stated to be a classically trained yet terrible actor who gained his abilities from a "terrible pottery accident" and is considered one of Gotham City's lesser villains. Additionally, his body parts can develop sentience if separated from him. Introduced in the episode "So, You Need a Crew?", Clayface works as a bartender until he is recruited into Harley Quinn's crew. As of the fourth season, he left the crew to become a Las Vegas performer.
    • Basil Karlo / Clayface appears in the Kite Man: Hell Yeah! episode "Sexiest Villain Alive, Hell Yeah!", voiced again by Tudyk.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in Suicide Squad Isekai, voiced by Jun Fukuyama.[71][72] This version is a member of the eponymous Suicide Squad whose human form resembles Michael Jackson.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in the Batman: Caped Crusader episode "...And Be a Villain", voiced by Dan Donohue.[73][74][68] This version was typecast as villains due to his unique appearance, leading him to use an experimental serum to alter his face.[75] After being rejected by fellow actor Yvonne Francis, he adopts a disfigured appearance and murders his co-stars along with the serum's creator until he is defeated by Batman.
  • An unidentified Clayface appears in the Batwheels episode "Clay Date", voiced by Chad Kroeger.[76]
  • An unidentified Clayface appears in the Creature Commandos episode "The Iron Pot", voiced again by Alan Tudyk.[77][78][79]
DC Animated Universe
[edit]

The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface, with elements of Basil Karlo, appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by Ron Perlman.[68]

  • First appearing in the Batman: The Animated Series episode "Feat of Clay", this version is an actor who was previously disfigured in an accident. Corrupt businessman Roland Daggett gives him Renuyu, a beauty cream that restores his face and enables him to change it to that of another person's, but its effects prove temporary and addictive. Daggett hires Hagen to aid him in his criminal activities in exchange for more Renuyu, but Hagen eventually refuses to cooperate, leading to Daggett's men force-feeding him a large quantity of Renuyu that transforms him into Clayface. Following a failed attempt on Daggett's life and being defeated by Batman, Hagen goes into hiding. In the episode "Mudslide", Hagen steals an isotope from Wayne Biomedical Labs to stabilize himself when his body begins to deteriorate before seeing Stella Bates, a former medical adviser on one of his films who fell in love with him. Hagen is nearly restored, but Batman finds them and aborts the treatment. In the ensuing fight, Clayface falls off a cliff and into the ocean, where he dissolves and is presumed dead.
  • Hagen returns in The New Batman Adventures. Following a minor appearance in the pilot episode "Holiday Knights", the episode "Growing Pains" reveals that after falling into the ocean, his remains drifted near a pipe leaking chemicals into the ocean, restoring some of his strength. While recovering, he sent a portion of himself disguised as a little girl named Annie (voiced by Francesca Marie Smith)[80] away to see if it was safe for him to resurface, but she develops her own personality and encounters Robin, who falls in love with her. Hagen eventually poses as Annie's abusive father while committing robberies to make a living before recovering and cornering Robin and Annie, with the latter allowing herself to be reabsorbed to save him. An enraged Robin nearly kills Hagen, but Batman intervenes and Hagen is subsequently arrested and imprisoned in Arkham Asylum.
  • Hagen appears in the Justice League two-part episode "Secret Society". Sometime prior to the series, Morgan Edge captured Hagen until Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society free him and add him into their ranks. Having grown less aggressive and psychopathic, he is initially reluctant to join them until Grodd promises to help Hagen restore his human form while maintaining his shapeshifting powers.

Film

[edit]

Live-action

[edit]
  • An unidentified Clayface appears in the script for the unproduced Batman: DarKnight.[81]
  • In January 2021, filmmaker Mike Flanagan expressed interest in making a standalone "horror/thriller/tragedy" film centered on Clayface.[82][83] Additionally, he had previously discussed a "horror-leaning" iteration of the character, among other properties, for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) in a general meeting with DC Films producer Jon Berg. However, Flanagan felt the meeting "kind of went nowhere",[84][83] saying that DC did not "bite on" his idea but that he was ready to commit to the project "anytime".[85] By October 2022, filmmaker Matt Reeves met with directors and writers for several films and series spin-offs from his standalone DC film The Batman (2022) that were in early development and centered on members of Batman's rogues gallery, such as Clayface.[86] In March 2023, Flanagan and his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy met with James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-CEOs of DC Studios, regarding a Clayface film, in which he would not be the villain that he typically is portrayed as in the comics. If the film were to move forward, it was unclear at the time if it would be part of the DC Universe (DCU) or under the "DC Elseworlds" label. Moreover, Reeves' The Batman – Part II (2026) was also expected to feature the character.[83] Flanagan said the report of him pitching a Clayface film by then was "entirely speculative",[87] further stating in late May that such a film was not in development and that he was participating in the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike that began earlier that month.[88] In December 2024, DC Studios greenlit the Clayface film for the DCU with a script written by Flanagan and a release date of September 11, 2026. Reeves was confirmed to be producing alongside Lynn Harris of his company 6th & Idaho Productions. Filming was expected to begin in early 2025, and the studio was searching for a director while Flanagan was committed to his The Exorcist film (2026) and a Carrie television series.[89][90][91]

Animation

[edit]
  • The unidentified Flashpoint incarnation of Clayface appears in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Similarly to his comics counterpart, he is a member of Deathstroke's pirates who fights Aquaman's army until he is killed by Ocean Master.[68]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in the Batman Unlimited series of films, voiced by Dave B. Mitchell.[68]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in The Lego Batman Movie, voiced by Kate Micucci.[68]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.[68] Sometime prior to the film, Clayface had picked up a corrosive strain of bacteria that makes it harder for him to hold his shape and is offered a cure by the Riddler. In return, Clayface creates a clay decoy to impersonate the Riddler while he was disguised as the Question and takes the form of the Crimson Cloak, the supposed ghost of scientist Leo Scarlett who wants revenge on Batman for failing to save him. As the Crimson Cloak, Clayface steals isotopes to recreate Professor Milo's teleportation device, which both Scarlett and the Riddler worked on, while also framing Batman and Mystery Inc. for the crimes to keep them distracted. Ultimately, Mystery Inc. deduce Crimson Cloak's identity and defeat Clayface.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in Batman: Hush.[68] While operating as Hush, the Riddler brainwashes Clayface and has him impersonate his original identity. After Batman exposes him, Clayface attacks him, but is defeated by Batman and Commissioner Gordon.
  • An unidentified Clayface makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Injustice.[68]

Video games

[edit]

Lego Batman

[edit]

The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in the Lego Batman series of video games.

Other games

[edit]
Clayface as he appears in The Adventures of Batman & Robin
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in The Adventures of Batman & Robin, voiced again by Ron Perlman.[citation needed] In the Sega CD version, he serves as the final boss, takes on Rupert Thorne's likeness, and hires other villains to distract Batman and Robin from his operations. Once the Dynamic Duo discover Clayface, they fight and defeat him, after which Clayface falls into a river and dissolves. The game's cutscenes were later revealed to have come from the "Lost Episode" of Batman: The Animated Series, though it is not considered canonical to the DC Animated Universe. In the SNES version, Clayface appears in the final level and joins several supervillains in an attempt to defeat Batman.
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears as a boss in Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, voiced again by Ron Perlman.[68]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in DC Universe Online, voiced by Benjamin Jansen.[68]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in the Batman: Arkham franchise, primarily voiced by Rick D. Wasserman.
    • In Batman: Arkham Asylum, he is imprisoned in the eponymous asylum within a reinforced glass cell and takes on various likenesses in an unsuccessful attempt at tricking Batman into freeing him.
    • Clayface appears as the final boss of Batman: Arkham City. In between games, he escaped Arkham Asylum by posing as asylum director Quincy Sharp and went on the run from Hugo Strange. Karlo was later found by the Joker, who hired the former to pose as him. Throughout the story mode, Karlo uses the Joker's likeness to distract Batman from the Joker's attempts to acquire a cure for the Titan formula, which was slowly killing the latter, before Karlo eventually reveals himself to fight Batman. Their fight takes them to a Lazarus chamber, where Batman pushes Clayface into a Lazarus Pit to prevent the Joker from using it to gain immortality and retrieves the cure.
  • The Basil Karlo, Matt Hagen, Preston Payne, and Sondra Fuller incarnations of Clayface appears as character summons in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[94]
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears as a boss in Gotham Knights, voiced by Brian Keane.[95][68]
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, voiced again by Nolan North.[68]

Miscellaneous

[edit]
  • The DC Animated Universe incarnation of Matt Hagen / Clayface appears in The Batman Adventures.
  • The Batman (1966) incarnation of False-Face appears in Batman '66 #23, in which his real name is revealed to be Basil Karlo and he obtains a shapeshifting formula that transforms him into Clayface.[96]
  • The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface appears in All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
  • The Young Justice incarnation of Matt Hagen / Clayface appears in the series' self-titled tie-in comic book series.[97] In issue #12, it is revealed that this version was a member of the League of Shadows who romanced Talia al Ghul to gain access to a Lazarus Pit and heal his cancer. After learning of this, Talia takes revenge on him by locking him in it for months, which mutates him into Clayface. He attacks Talia, but is subdued by Ra's and Sensei. Ra's then has Sensei take Clayface to Gotham to attack Batman, leading into his appearance in the animated series episode "Downtime".
    • The Young Justice incarnation of Matt Hagen / Clayface appears in the tie-in audio play "The Prize", which is set between the third and fourth seasons. By this time, he has reformed, changed his name to "Harlan Matthews", and become an employee at Will Harper's company, Bowhunter Security. While guarding a WayneTech shipment, Clayface is kidnapped by Task Force X, who attempt to bring him to Amanda Waller. Clayface is rescued by the Team and offered a spot in the Justice League by Aquaman, which he turns down in favor of continuing to work for Harper.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.
  • An original, female incarnation of Clayface named Mrs. Clayface appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. She is married to an unidentified Clayface.
  • The Batman: Arkham incarnation of Basil Karlo / Clayface appear in the Batman: Arkham Knight prequel comic. Following the events of Arkham City, Karlo was taken in by the GCPD, though he is unable to retake his original form due to his body being exposed to Lazarus particles. Additionally, samples of Karlo are used by several parties for their own ends, such as Simon Stagg for "Project: Meta" and Hush to hide his cosmetic surgery scars.
  • An original incarnation of Clayface appears in the first issue of the Arrowverse comic miniseries Earth-Prime. A teenager named Tanner Freyr was pushed into mud containing a sample of Basil Karlo / Clayface by bullies, which transformed him into a new Clayface. Freyr takes revenge on his bullies until Batwoman defeats him using Mr. Freeze's liquid nitrogen. After being incarcerated in Arkham Asylum under heavy guard, Freyr is contacted by Magog, who breaks him out in exchange for an opportunity to take revenge on Batwoman.[98]
  • An unidentified Clayface makes a cameo appearance in DC Super Friends #15.
  • The Basil Karlo incarnation of Clayface appears in Batman: Resurrection.[99] This version is Karlo Babić, a struggling actor who goes by the stage name "Basil Karlo" and becomes deformed after being exposed to remnants of the Joker's Smylex chemicals.

See also

[edit]

References

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