Top 10 Clayface Stories!
Now we dive into Gotham City's resident mudslinger, Clayface! But for this list, we are not taking a look at just one Clayface, but all of them! For those unaware, there have actually been a total of four characters (five if you count a certain clay child) who have taken the moniker of Clayface over the years; each distinct from the other. These characters include Basil Karlo; the actor turned murderer and later turned into a clay being himself, Matt Hagen; small-time hood turned into a shape-shifting clay creature with immense power, Preston Payne; a deformed scientist who ends up turning himself into a true monster that is deadly to the touch and Sondra Fuller; a female Clayface who later married Preston Payne and birthed his child.
With so many different versions of the character, this list was actually pretty easy to make. Each iteration has been featured in some truly memorable comics, so here they are!
10.) Nowhere Man
by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
During his latest scheme to draw out and eliminate the Batman, Clayface (Basil Karlo) abducts and impersonates the Caped Crusader's public benefactor: Bruce Wayne! Bruce must now escape captivity and confront Karlo before the actor realizes the billionaire's secret.
This has to be the closest Clayface has come to discovering his nemesis's secret, which makes for a tense read. The fact that Basil can now mimic his targets perfectly after touching them only adds to the tension since Clayface does not realize he is wearing a Bat-costume underneath the suit he has duplicated! But beyond the strong scenario, Nowhere Man really shines in giving readers a truly sinister, cruel depiction of Clayface. Karlo really gets a kick out of impersonating his victims/targets and destroying their lives and reputations while disguised as them, often viewing his actions as little more than yet another acting gig, which has always been at the core of Basil Karlo's character.
09.) Clay
by Alan Grant & Quiqui Alcatena
While on a boating date with his new girlfriend, Lisa, small-time criminal Matt Hagen is attacked by a gang of mobsters he had recently stolen money from. Diving underwater in an attempt to escape, Hagen soon finds himself inside a mysterious cave filled with an unknown liquid substance. Hagen ends up falling into this substance, which transforms him into a being made entirely of clay. Realizing this clay has given him extraordinary abilities, Hagen plans to start a new life of crime with Lisa as his unwitting accomplice. Batman has never fought a being as powerful as this new Clayface before is uncertain on how to proceed.
Matt Hagen tends to be a rather dull character more often than not, typically being portrayed as your run of the mill crook who just so happens to have superpowers. However, Clay makes good use of this one-note depiction, as Matt is truly despicable here, caring nothing for anyone other than himself. This is exemplified by the presence of Lisa, who is smitten with Matt but slowly realizes what a monster he is as the story progresses. It is a frightening scenario that may hit close to home for people who have been in relationships with people they thought they knew but turned out to be very different from what they had envisioned.
I also really like Batman's uncertainty and vulnerability here. The Dark Knight has never faced a foe as powerful as Clayface before and is soundly defeated by the villain. This shakes Batman's confidence as he realizes he will not be able to defeat this new rogue by simply using his fists.
08.) Mudnight Madness
by Kevin Shinick & Kelley Jones
Outraged that his most celebrated (and only) film, The Terror, is being passed off as lowbrow schlock horror at a local movie theater, Clayface (Basil Karlo) decides to teach the patrons a lesson they will not live long enough to regret. But much to his surprise, Clayface discovers that these patrons are obsessed fans who want to dedicate their lives to the "great" Basil Karlo. Jumping at the chance to be worshipped the way he has always wanted, Karlo forms a cult that he calls "the Children of the Clay".
Mudnight Madness perfectly plays into Basil's inflated ego and desire to be adored by the masses. The fact that he is outraged over The Terror being treated as a B-movie (which it is) and is not grateful at all for the revival it is receiving in movie theatres really highlights the core of Karlo's character: a second-tier actor with delusions of grandeur. As such, it is no surprise when he jumps at the chance to lead the Children of Clay, despite his "followers" being nothing more than a bunch of lost teens with no direction in their lives.
Basil could not care less of the pathetic state of his admirers because he is finally getting the validation and recognition he has always craved, even if it is at a much more miniscule scale than he would like. Stardom is stardom, after all.
07.) The Murders of Clayface
by Bill Finger & Bob Kane
Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's fiancé, has gotten a starring role in The Terror, a remake of the classic horror film of the same name. However, when the crew begins getting murdered one by one by a masked figure known only as "Clayface", it's up to Batman and Robin to capture this madman.
The Golden Age has admittedly not gotten any representation in my articles so far, but there are some really good stories from Batman's starting years, with The Murders of Clayface being a standout. The story plays out like a classic murder mystery, with plenty of suspects possessing their own unique motivations, red herrings you cannot be too certain about and plenty of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing.
It is also interesting that in Clayface's first appearance, he did not possess any of the signature morphing abilities or clay body he is known for; he was simply a killer wielding a knife and a clay-like mask to conceal his identity. While simple, this proves to effective and memorable for the story being told, making for a highly memorable and enjoyable Clayface debut.
06.) The Curse of Clayface
by James Tynion IV & Eddy Barrows
Rising Hollywood star Basil Karlo has finally gotten his big break by being cast in the leading role of his dream movie: Second Skin. However, these dreams are soon dashed when Karlo gets himself into a nasty car wreck, which greatly disfigures his face. Fearing his career will be ruined, Karlo resorts to using Renu, a dangerous chemical compound that can alter one's features. As expected, this proves to have disastrous results, with the villain known as Clayface being born.
The Curse of Clayface is a great updated, streamlined version of the rogue's origin. Here, Basil got into show business while following in his dad's footsteps, but also to prove him wrong. Basil's father always told his son to hide all negative sides of himself from the public eye because, in spite of what genre fans might say, "nobody truly loves a monster". Basil believes that by taking on darker, more sinister roles in film, he can show off his darker side and still be admired. But as luck would have it, Karlo soon becomes a real monster after his disfigurement, leading him to make every wrong choice imaginable.
This story also highlights the vicious nature of showbusiness, as it will turn on and discard you once you are no longer seen as bankable to them.
05.) Captive Audience
by Gregg Hurwitz & Alex Maleev
During his incarceration at Arkham Asylum, Clayface (Basil Karlo) recounts his origins to his neighboring inmate. Karlo was a nobody who yearned to be a somebody, which led him down a dark, dangerous path. However, after Clayface's friend dies, the muddy menace breaks out of Arkham and searches for a new audience... even if he has to take one hostage.
Captive Audience is yet another origin story for Basil Karlo and another great one at that. Basil being unnoticed through his youth and feeling unimportant as a result is something I imagine many can relate to, as it is not always easy being able to stand out from the crowd. For many, thinking that you do not matter is one of the worst feelings imaginable and they will do almost anything to gain some semblance of purpose for their life. As such, it is not surprising when Basil turns to some dark places in his quest to be seen.
However, Basil soon learns that fame can come with a steep price when he does finally stand out for all of the wrong reasons. At the end of the day, what Karlo truly seeks is attention and validation from others and he will have it... even if he has to force it out of people.
04.) No Notes
by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing & Xermanico
Seeking the leading role in one of Hollywood's latest films, The Killing Joke (ha), Clayface (Basil Karlo) kills one of the auditioners and takes his place. However, when Clayface still does not get the part, he kills the other auditioners and impersonates them, soon murdering his way through the entire production crew until he gets to the "top" of the Hollywood food chain.
Few stories have done as strong a job at showing off how truly demented Basil Karlo truly is as No Notes has. Basil's ego and delusions are on full display here as he kills anyone, whether they are an actor, producer, director, casting agent, etc. who dares to question or inconvenience him in any way.
This is a truly unsettling depiction of Clayface because he is a ticking time bomb that can go off at any moment and woe to anybody caught in his path. Beyond that, No Notes also acts as another critique of Hollywood, with just how selfish and uncaring many of the people working in it tend to be. Almost everyone in this story is shallow, shortsighted and callous towards both the people they work with and the industry in general, further adding to the strong writing of this story.
03.) The Mud Pack
by Alan Grant & Norm Breyfogle
Basil Karlo, the original Clayface, has returned and has a plan to destroy the Batman once and for all: bring every Clayface together to join forces against their common nemesis! Sondra Fuller, Preston Payne and Matt Hagen (kind of) all join up with Karlo to rid themselves of their hated enemy, but Karlo has his own agenda...
In many ways, The Mud Pack is the ultimate Clayface story, as it brings together every villain to have ever used the name for the first time...almost. Matt Hagen had actually been killed off in earlier story, but what they do with him here is quite funny. Preston Payne and Sondra Fuller add a unique wrinkle to this tale, as Fuller is the only person who can keep the incredibly unstable Payne docile and under control to some degree.
02.) Mortal Clay
by Alan Moore (yes, really) & George Freeman
After a lengthy absence, Clayface (Preston Payne) has resurfaced to finally locate his "wife": Helena, a store mannequin he has deluded himself into believing is a living person. Payne finally locates "her" in a department store, where he proceeds to hide out within. All is well for the two "lovers", but Clayface begins to suspect that "Helena" is having affairs with multiple men within the store, which sends the already unstable man over the edge completely.
Hot take: Preston Payne is my favorite version of Clayface and these next two entries are going to explain why. A supervillain being so deeply enamored and angry with a clothing mannequin could easily come off as silly and ridiculous, but Mortal Clay somehow manages to make this absurd scenario both disturbing and sad. Preston truly believes "Helena" is a living person with her own thoughts and feelings, so much so that he will brutally slaughter anybody who gets in the way of their "relationship".
Still, Preston also manages to come off as incredibly sad here as he has been turned so hopelessly insane from his condition that he can no longer distinguish reality from fiction. In his deluded mind, "Helena" is the only thing he has in the world that gives him any form of happiness and the thought of losing "her" to another man is more than his damaged psyche can take. Clayface is extremely dangerous here, but underneath all of his rage is a deeply broken man who has lost the ability to differentiate fact from fiction.
01.) The Coming of Clayface III
by Len Wein & Marshall Rogers
Preston Payne, a gifted but physically deformed scientist, figures he can use Matt Hagen's shapeshifting abilities to fix his ailment. Obtaining a sample of his blood, Payne manages to transform himself into the handsome man he has always longed to be... but only temporarily. Payne's condition soon deteriorates, making him uglier than ever before and turning his mere touch fatal to other people. To make matters even worse, Payne's condition will give him agonizing headaches periodically, with the only way to rid himself of the pain being to pass it onto others...through his deadly touch.
Preston Payne really is one of Batman's most tragic and relatable foes, perfectly demonstrated here. He is a well-meaning man who longs for the companionship of others but is unable to obtain it due to his physical condition. In a desperate attempt to cure himself, Preston only makes himself into an actual monster, one who cannot even touch somebody without killing them.
However, Preston does not actually want to hurt anybody; he is forced to due to the extreme migraines his condition has given him. All Preston truly wants is a cure to the agony he unwittingly foisted upon himself, which has driven him completely insane to the point he falls in love with a mannequin; the only "being" that he can actually touch and will not be horrified by the mere sight of him. The exoskeleton Preston built for himself to contain his condition also greatly enhances his strength, making him a formidable opponent for the Dark Knight. For all of these reasons and more, Preston Payne is my favorite of the Clayfaces (where is his movie?) and The Coming of Clayface III is my favorite story to feature any of the character's numerous iterations.
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