Clayface III

CLAYFACE III

Real Name: Preston Payne

Class: Human mutate / technology-use

Occupation: Supervillain, former research scientist

Group Affiliation: Mud Pack

Known Relatives: Cassius

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Gotham City

First Appearance: Detective Comics #478 (July-August, 1978)

Powers: Clayface's body was made of a malleable clay-like substance and could not function without an exoskeleton that also gave him superhuman strength and agility. His body secreted an enzyme that reduced any living matter it touched into protoplasm.

History: Preston was born with acromegalia, and was shunned due to his hideous appearance. As an adult he became a research scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs in hopes of curing his condition. He met with Clayface (Matt Hagen) and used cell-samples of his malleable body to produce an enzyme he hoped would give him shape-shifting powers. He injected the enzyme, and initially worked. Preston gave himself a handsome appearance and enjoyed re-entering society until the enzyme permanently mutated his body into a clay-like substance. Worse still, his touch killed anyone he came in contact with. He designed an exoskeleton to support his body and prevent his touch from killing others, but his transformation snapped his mind, and he became the new Clayface. As Clayface he fought Batman on a few occasions.

(Swamp Thing II #52) - Swamp Thing visited Arkham Asylum and witnessed Clayface having an argument with his mannequin lover.

(Swamp Thing II #66) - Dr. R. Huntoon took a nightshift at Arkham to research his new book on superhuman psychology, and kept close watch on the inmates. He observed Clayface spending intimate time with his mannequin lover.

Clayface joined the Mud Pack, a team consisting of all the villains who had taken the name Clayface.

Comments: Created by Len Wein & Marshall Rogers

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.