View Full Version : Clayface stories?
Armadillo
08-01-2009, 12:32 PM
Can anyone tell me about good Clayface stories?
Ben Akers
08-01-2009, 12:39 PM
Batman Annual #11.
Detective Comics #604-607.
Armadillo
08-01-2009, 12:57 PM
Are they collected somewhere?
Are they collected somewhere?
Yes, they were collected in single-issue form as Detective Comics #604-607 and Batman Annual #11.
Other than that, no.
Ben Akers
08-01-2009, 01:40 PM
The Batman Annual is collected in the Across the DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore trade paperback.
Yes, they were collected in single-issue form as Detective Comics #604-607 and Batman Annual #11.
Other than that, no.
He only asked a reasonable question, no need for the attitude.
Armadillo: someone's selling 604 - 655 for $15 on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DETECTIVE-COMICS-lot-of-16-604-655-VF-Batman-1989-1993_W0QQitemZ150149379439QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item22f599b56f&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177), which seems like a good deal.
agentofthebat
08-01-2009, 05:45 PM
when was the last time clayface was seen? Red Hood or hush?
Tigereyes
08-01-2009, 06:40 PM
The Batman Annual is by far the best Clayface story. Anyone remember the name of his g/f? its driving me bonkers now
The Fruit of the Earth Arc from No Man's Land is the only other one worth mentioning of merit, but if you want to brush up Detective's Mudpack is just ok.
Watch the old school Batman cartoon
He only asked a reasonable question, no need for the attitude.
It was a joke. Unclench.
Batman Fan 31593
08-01-2009, 09:21 PM
Batman Annual #11.
Detective Comics #604-607.
The "Mudpack" story arc from Detective #604-607 was really good.
I'll add some to that list:
Legends of the Dark Knight #89-90
Detective Comics #478-479
Secret Origins #44
Shadow of the Bat #26-27
Batman #550
Shadow of the Bat #75
The Mud Pack would be the best of the best (Tec 604-607) though Matt Hagen (Clayface II) doesn't really play a role in the story. At the same time this storyline was released, DC also put out a special edition of Secret Origins entitled Secret Origins featuring Batman vs The Mud Pack in which the three first Clayfaces have their origins retold.
It's an interesting collection - Basil Karlo's origin is pretty faithful to the one presented in Tec 40, but it's updated so that the events portrayed are clearly set during the 1980's. This fact coupled with Keith Giffen's distinctive style of drawing gives it a unique enough look that it would be difficult for me to guess if you'd like it even if I knew what where your particluar interests lay. For what it's worth, while I don't think it compares to the original, I got a kick out of it.
The second story reinterprets Matt Hagen's career as Clayface and it's title "The Tragic Though Amusing History of Clayface II" gives a pretty fair indication of what to expect from this tale. Hagen has more power than he knows what to do with and doesn't understand why hiding in a kiln isn't the best way to escape Batman if you're made of clay or why if he's running from Batman he should look where he's going if he's about to run onto the highway. Not really an accurate depiction of a foe who during the first half of the 1960's was considered to rival the Joker's importance to the caped crusader as an enemy.
The third chapter doesn't take the liberties the other two did with Karlo and Hagen. Instead, this story does a good job of summarizing who Clayface III is both from a historical persepctive and a psychological one.
Batman Legends of the Dark Knight 89-90 featured a two-part Clayface story which I'd recommend. Since this title didn't operate within regular continuity, Alan Grant was able to bypass Basil Karlo and present Matt Hagen as the first Clayface. For his part, artist Quique Alcatena chose to pencil Batman as he looked in 1939 so this story not only has a cool look to it, but by having a Batman who's still new at this facing off against a being of almost supernatural abilities for the first time, we get an interesting take on Batman as well. Essentially, imagine if Bruce had spent his first three months as Batman taking on armed gangsters and then without warning, went up against a foe who could change into the Sphinx.
As far as collections go...
Basil Karlo's first two appearances were in Tec 40 and 49. You can find these collected in the Batman Archives volume 1 or together in probably the second Batman Chronciles tpb or seperately in the second and third (which either way should be a lot cheaper than the Archive).
He didn't reappear again for some 40 years until Michael Fleisher and Don Newton brought him back in Tec 495. I think he was out of the picture again for the next 10 years or so until the Secret Origins/Mud Pack storyline cited above.
Clayface II first appeared in Tec 298 and reappeared in Batman, Tec, and World's Finest on and off for the next five or so years. I think his first appearance is reprinted in Batman in the 50's. He made a cameo in Tec 526 (as part of the Joker's plot to take down Killer Croc and Batman) and died in an issue of Crisis (it would have been a one or two panel appearance at most in issue 11 I think). I have a feeling that he appeared a bit elsewhere in the 70's (perhaps as part of The Secret Society of SuperVillains) but couldn't say where.
Clayface III debuted in Tec 478-479 in a story which has been reprinted in the Steve Englehart/Marshall Rogers collection Batman:Strange Apparititions. His next appearance would have been Batman Annual 11 and then the Secret Files/Mud Pack series.
Clayface IV appeared as part of Kobra's plot against Batman and the Outsiders at some point during that series initial run.
The Batman Annual is by far the best Clayface story. Anyone remember the name of his g/f? its driving me bonkers now
Helena though he's now married to Clayface IV.
The "Mudpack" story arc from Detective #604-607 was really good.
I'll add some to that list:
Legends of the Dark Knight #89-90
Detective Comics #478-479
Secret Origins #44
Shadow of the Bat #26-27
Batman #550
Shadow of the Bat #75
Whoops! That Secret Origins Special I mentioned above wasn't actually a special afterall I guess. After reading Batman Fan's post, I realise now that it was a regular issue of the series. Thanks Batman Fan.
Batman Fan 31593
08-01-2009, 10:02 PM
Whoops! That Secret Origins Special I mentioned above wasn't actually a special afterall I guess. After reading Batman Fan's post, I realise now that it was a regular issue of the series. Thanks Batman Fan.
Thank YOU for your excellent post!: :biggrin:
I had fogotten about the Fleisher/Newton Basil Karlo appearance in Detective Comics until you mentioned it, though it was actually in issue #496.
Thank YOU for your excellent post!: :biggrin:
I had fogotten about the Fleisher/Newton Basil Karlo appearance in Detective Comics until you mentioned it, though it was actually in issue #496.
You DARE correct me?! You've made a powerfull enemy Batman FAN!
Though yeah, it was Tec 496.
Brack360
08-02-2009, 12:36 PM
Batman: Strange Apparitions contains a good story of the Preston Payne version of Clayface. Batman: Shadow of the Bat #25-26 are also recommended.
Captain Jim
08-02-2009, 04:46 PM
Clayface III debuted in Tec 478-479 in a story which has been reprinted in the Steve Englehart/Marshall Rogers collection Batman:Strange Apparititions.
This is the story I was going to mention. Actually, Clayface III is the only version of the character I've ever cared for. But I *loved* him. This story was written by Len Wein, by the way.
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