Clayface

Alias
Clayface
Nick Name
\|
Civilian ID
Clayface I Basil Karlo Clayface II Matthew (Matt) Hagen Clayface III Preston Payne Clayface IV Sondra Fuller Claything Cassius and Peter Malley
Occupation
Clayface II Criminal Fortune Hunter Clayface III Scientist Clayface IV Criminal Claything Monster
Legal Status
Clayface II Citizen of the United States with a criminal record. Clayface III Citizen of the United States. Clayface IV Unknown Claything Monster
Nation or Planet of Origin
Clayface II United States Clayface III United States Clayface IV Unknown Claything Gotham City
Group Affiliation
Clayface II None Clayface III Mud Pack Clayface IV Kobra Mud Pack Claything None
Base of Operations
Clayface II Gotham City Clayface III Gotham City Clayface IV Gotham City Claything Gotham City
Height
Clayface II 5' 10" - Varies Clayface III 6' 4" Clayface IV \| Claything Varies
Weight
Clayface II 175 lbs. - Varies Clayface III 265 lbs. Clayface IV \| Claything Varies
Eye Color
Clayface II Blue - Now Clay Clayface III Red Clayface IV Green - Now Clay Claything Red
Hair Color
Clayface II Blonde - Now Clay Clayface III Black - Now Clay Clayface IV Red - Now Clay Claything Clay
Skin Tone
Clayface II Caucasian - Now Clay Clayface III Caucasian - Now Clay Clayface IV Caucasian - Now Clay Claything Clay
Known Powers
Clayface II Normal human who uses a protoplasm to temporarily alter his biology to transform into any shape his mind could conceive. The natural protoplasm gave Hagen his ability for about 48 hours. A synthetic version was effective for about five hours. Clayface III Biologically altered human with the ability to reduce flesh to protoplasm via physical touch. Payne possesses superhuman strength, speed and stamina via an exoskeleton used to keep his body coherent. Clayface IV Biologically altered human capable of transforming into any shape her mind could conceive. Claything Mutation resulting in a creature with the ability to alter its mass and shape at will.
Accessories
Clayface II Protoplasm capable of altering human biology to take different physical structures for temporary time periods. Clayface III Exoskeleton used to contain the physical structure of Preston Payne. Clayface IV \| Claything \|
Common Enemies
Clayface II Batman I Robin I Clayface III Batman I Robin I Clayface IV Batman I Outsiders I Claything Batman I
Regularly Appearing
Clayface II Detective Comics World's Finest Comics Clayface III Detective Comics Clayface IV Detective Comics Outsiders Vol. 1 Claything Batman
First Appearance
Clayface II Detective Comics #298 (Dec. 1961) Clayface III Detective Comics #478 (July - Aug. 1978) Clayface IV Outsiders Vol. 1 #21 (July, 1987) Claything Batman #550 (Jan. 1998)
Creator
Clayface II Bill Finger & Sheldon Moldoff Clayface III Len Wein & Marshall Rogers Clayface IV Mike W. Barr & Jim Aparo Claything Doug Moench & Kelley Jones
Origin
Matt Hagen was searching for sunken treasure when he discovered an underground grotto that contained a bizarre glowing pool of protoplasm. Accidentally slipping into the pool, Hagen emerged with his skin transformed into a clay-like consistency. Desiring to return into his formerly handsome form he found that he could mentally control the shape of his body. Using his new found ability he engaged in a life of crime as Clayface. Hagen discovered that his abilities were limited by a 48 hour time period and he returned time and again to bath in the protoplasm. Hagen even developed a synthetic form of the protoplasm, but it began to have deleterious effect on his body. While in prison after being apprehended yet again by the Batman, Hagen was visited by S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Preston Payne, who desired to use the protoplasm to make himself handsome. Isolating an enzyme in Hagen's blood, Payne injected himself with a serum which made his body malleable. Transforming himself into an Adonis, Payne became quite the ladies man - unfortunately the serum manifested into a nasty side effect which liquefied his body and made his touch reduce others to protoplasm. Realizing that his condition was contagious, Payne isolated himself within a powerful exoskeleton. To his additional horror Payne discovered that his survival periodically demanded that he unleash his destructive power upon hapless victims as the monstrous Clayface. Years later in events unrelated to Hagen and Payne, Sondra Fuller had herself biologically altered by the terrorist group Kobra. She used her powers to control the shape of her body to attack the Outsiders as Lady Clay. Eventually she joined with Payne and the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, to exact revenge upon Batman as the Mud Pack. Failing in their revenge Fuller and Payne retreated from humanity and bore an offspring which has been dubbed the Claything.