Clayface, one of Batman’s greatest villains, is heading to the big screen this weekend as part of James Gunn’s DCU. Directed by James Watkins, and starring Tom Rhys Harries, Clayface promises to be a comic book movie unlike any other, as it mixes in body horror, a logical choice in light of the character’s powers and abilities.
The legacy of Clayface in the comics is a long one, going all the way back to the medium’s Golden Age, and encompassing many characters. The first Clayface appeared a little over a year after Batman debuted, and some variation of the villain has been a thorn in The Dark Knight’s side ever since. The powers of the various Clayfaces range, but all of them possess the ability to make their bodies malleable, which expresses itself in different ways. Some can shape-shift, while others possess a highly lethal touch, capable of melting flesh off the bone.
To date, there have been eight Clayfaces in DC continuity, and the film only utilizes one. While this iteration of the character may be the best known, the other Clayfaces are worthy of attention as well. Here is a guide to all eight versions of Clayface in DC’s regular continuity.
1
Clayface I: Basil Karlo
Basil Karlo, the first person to hold the mantle of Clayface, was firmly rooted in the horror tradition. According to legend, the character’s name is a tribute to screen legends Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff, whose style of movie influenced Clayface’s development. Like them, Karlo was a horror-movie actor whose career was in decline, and he took his frustrations out on the citizens of Gotham. This brought him into conflict with Batman.
Karlo only made a handful of appearances during the Golden Age, but it was enough to kick off a dark legacy that extends to the modern era.
Karlo only made a handful of appearances during the Golden Age, but it was enough to kick off a dark legacy that extends to the modern era. Karlo got a second lease on life at the beginning of DC’s Rebirth initiative, when Batman asked him to join a special team he was putting together to fight Hugo Strange and his Monster Men.
2
Clayface II: Matt Hagen
The second, and perhaps best known, version of Clayface is Matt Hagen. A deep-sea treasure diver, Hagen discovered a special substance that, when he immersed himself in it, gave him the ability to change his shape. Hagen then christened himself “Clayface” and began a crime spree across Gotham. This version of Clayface met his end during 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, and has not been seen since, making him one of the few comic book characters to stay dead.
This version of Clayface proved to be highly influential on everyone else who took the name later. Hagen injected into Clayface the body horror element that would become the character’s trademark. The Matt Hagen Clayface has also appeared in other media, including Batman: The Animated Series, which gave him Karlo’s backstory. Hagen is also the protagonist of the upcoming feature film.
3
Clayface III: Preston Payne
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Body horror is a huge aspect of the Clayface character, and nowhere was this more so than in the third version of the character, who debuted in the late 1970s. Preston Payne, who has hyperpituitarism, worked at STAR Labs to find a cure for his condition. Payne learns of Hagen’s shape-shifting abilities, and injects himself with a sliver of the shape-shifter’s blood, which gives him the same powers. Payne shifts into a more conventionally handsome form, but it does not last, and he returns to his original self.
What truly separates Payne from Hagen, Karlo and the rest is that he must “transfer” his condition to others, via touch. Doing so, rather than turning the victim into a shape-shifter, actually melts them into a disgusting blend of flesh and bone, making for some horrifying visuals. Despite this, Payne never caught on in the way Hagen and others did, and he only makes sporadic appearances today.
4
Clayface IV: Sondra Fuller
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Clayface IV: Sondra Fuller (Lady Clayface)
Also known as “Lady Clay,” the fourth Clayface, Sondra Fuller, has powers similar to Matt Hagen’s, in that she can shape-shift. However, Fuller one-ups Hagen by also being able to mimic the powers of those she impersonates. Working as a terrorist, the fourth Clayface would meet up with Payne and Karlo in the classic “Mud Pack” storyline. After meeting Payne, Fuller fell in love with him, and “The Mud Pack” ended with the two eloping.
Fuller’s origin has changed since her introduction nearly 40 years ago. In her first appearance, she was given her powers by the fanatical cult leader Kobra. Most of the Clayfaces sat out the New 52 era, but when DC began restoring elements from before, Fuller returned, this time with a new origin, one tied in with the mysterious Superman Project introduced in 2019’s Doomsday Clock.
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Clayface V: Cassius Payne
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At the conclusion of “The Mud Pack” story arc, the third and fourth Clayfaces run off together, deeply in love. A few years later, fans were stunned to learn that the union had produced a child, named Cassius. With his shape-shifting abilities, the fifth Clayface seemingly took after his mother. Appearing human at first, Cassius’ powers manifested when the villainous Abattoir tried to harness them for himself. Only Batman’s intervention kept the child safe.
The “Mud Pack” story line ran through 1989’s Detective Comics -607.
Yet, this new version was able to do something no other Clayface before could: when parts of himself broke off, they took on a life of their own until he reabsorbed them. Furthermore, these pieces could “bond” with a person, similar to the Venom symbiote. This happened on more than one occasion, leading to the next Clayface on the list.
6
Clayface VI: Peter Malley
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The sixth Clayface owed his existence to Cassius Payne. A few years after his first appearance, Cassius fell into the hands of the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO), a government agency handling metahumans in the DC Universe. Cassius was being studied by Doctor Peter Malley, who took a sample of Payne’s flesh. The sample took on a life of its own, and bonded with Malley, turning him into the sixth person to call themselves Clayface.
Peter Malley’s first and only outing as Clayface is also the first appearance of Cameron Chase, a DEO operative who headlined her own title in the late 1990s.
Malley only made one appearance before being hauled off to a DEO facility, but he introduced some cool new abilities to Clayface’s lore. As noted earlier, the Preston Payne Clayface could melt people with but a touch. However, Malley, who also called himself “Clay-Thing,” could melt people simply by staring at them, making him even deadlier. This power, coupled with his child-like intellect, makes Malley maybe the most dangerous Clayface of all.
7
Clayface VII: “Todd Russell”
Perhaps the most enigmatic Clayface on this list, this seventh version of the character, like many others, was a shape-shifter. With no knowledge of his past, or even his real name, Clayface VII began killing prostitutes in Gotham, which brought him into conflict with Catwoman, who was eventually able to defeat him.
The seventh Clayface’s life was full of mysteries that were never fully explained, namely his origin. In addition to not knowing his name, he had no idea how he got his powers. Catwoman (Volume Two) gives some tantalizing hints, namely that Clayface was the product of a government experiment. None of these clues were ever fleshed out, and intrepid creators could mine gold from the seventh Clayface’s backstory.
8
Clayface VIII: Johnny Wiliams
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Created By: AJ Lieberman and Javier Pina, First Appearance: Batman: Gotham Knights
The last Clayface on this list, Johnny Williams, is, like all others who carry the name, a tragic figure. A former firefighter, Williams gained shape-shifting powers after a lab explosion. Drifting and in anguish, Hush and the Riddler found Williams during the infamous Hush storyline. The villains tricked Williams into fighting Batman, and had him impersonate Jason Todd as a way to get under Batman’s skin.
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At the same time, Johnny Williams may have been the most heroic of the Clayface family. Williams never intended anyone harm, and was the victim of circumstances beyond his control. Hush continued using Williams for his own ends, but Clayface was able to break free of his control, and even gave his life to clear Alfred Pennyworth of murder charges. Williams is proof that, just like the character, Clayface is malleable, and still full of potential, both good and bad.
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