Clayface I

CLAYFACE I

Real Name: Unrevealed, alias Basil Karlo

Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Supervillain, former actor

Group Affiliation: Mud Pack

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gotham City

First Appearance: Detective Comics #40 (June, 1940)

Powers: Originally Clayface possessed no superhuman powers, but was a fierce and strong combatant charged by insanity. He was also armed with a knife. Clayface later gained a malleable clay-like body that was resistant to most conventional forms of damage. He could shapeshift into any form he could think of.

History: (Joker's Asylum II: Clayface #1 (fb)) - An unnamed actor chose the stage name Basil Karlo as a tribute to the actors he revered from the old monster movies. He landed the role of Clayface, the monster for a movie called The Terror. He hated lead actor Joseph Williams, because he mocked Karlo's love of movie monsters, and he had received top billing in The Terror. It was Karlo's hatred that made his performance as Clayface so believable.

Basil Karlo was a famous actor in monster movies whose mind became unhinged when one of his old films was remade with new stars., Basil assumed the identity of Clayface, one of his former roles, and killed two of the actors in the movie remake. Before his murder spree was finished he was captured by Batman and Robin, and committed to Arkham Asylum.

Clayface formed the Mud Pack, a team consisting of all the villains who had taken the name Clayface. He injected himself with a serum made from the blood of Clayface II-IV, giving him a malleable clay-body and superhuman powers.

(Joker's Asylum II: Clayface #1) - Clayface was incensed that the Vista Theatre was showing The Terror as part as a schlock-movie fest, and was determined to teach them not to disrespect his cinematic work. He rampaged through the theatre and met a young boy dressed as Clayface, who told him he idolized his work in The Terror, as well asthe monster he'd become. He threatened the boy, who told him he didn't care if he lived or died, and Clayface killing him would actually make the life he'd led mean something. Clayface realized he'd found a kindred spirit, and the boy gathered the rest of his teenage friends, all of whom worshipped Clayface and were willing to sacrifice themselves to him. They lacked a sense of identity, but when they gathered and dressed as Clayface, they found one, calling themselves the Children of the Clay. Batman was on Clayface's trail after noting all the boys going missing in Gotham, and caught Clayface in the basement of the Vista absorbing the boys into his body. Clayface roared for Batman not to interfere, that he was bringing the Children salvation, and his followers that had yet to sacrifice themselves attacked Batman. Clayface knew Batman wouldn't hurt the Children, so he disguised himself as one of them and slipped away. Although Batman stopped Clayface, the villain's actions gave him a new notoriety in Gotham that he only dreamed of in his days as an actor.

(Titans II #28-30) - Deathstroke’s Titans came to Arkham to liberate inmate Allegra Garcia on behalf of a client, and bribed a guard for the run of the asylum. After they double-crossed him he flipped a switch that released all the inmates. Clayface and his fellow inmates were looking forward to freedom, and attacked the Titans, not wanting them to stand in their way. Batman responded to the breakout, and Deathstroke had Allegra use her electromagnetic powers to disable the Arkham inmates security collars. Deathstroke told them they were free to play with Batman, and they allowed the Titans and Allegra to leave.

Comments: Created by Bill Finger & Bob Kane

Clayface received a profile in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #5. Clayface received profiles in Who's Who in the DC Universe #3 and Batman Villains Secret Files #1 under the Mud Pack entry.

Clayface had a cameo in Catwoman II #60.