Clayface — dc

Clayface is a legacy codename used by several characters within the DC Universe, mostly consisting of Batman Villains. Each of them has powers that involve malleable clay-like body structures and were patients at Arkham Asylum at some point. They primarily use their abilities to commit crimes and terrorize Gotham City. The name has been associated with the Mud Pack, Injustice League, Anti-Justice League, Secret Society of Super-Villains, and Batman Family.

The original bearer of this codename was Basil Karlo, who was an actor that was driven mad when he heard that a remake of the classic horror film that he had starred in, The Terror, was being filmed. Adopting the persona of the film's villain, "Clayface", he became a serial killer targeting the remake's cast and crew.
Matt Hagen: A treasure hunter who happened upon a pool of protoplasm. He submerged himself in it, granting himself powers that gave him a clay-like body and allowed him to transform into almost any shape or form that he desired.
Preston Payne: Suffered from hyperpituitarism and worked at S.T.A.R. Labs to search for a cure. Using a small sample of Matt Hagen's blood to try to obtain the gene responsible for his shapeshifting power, he then injected it into his own bloodstream in order to be able to perform his own plastic surgery and enable himself to look normal, which ended in temporary success, and a lifelong disability.
Sondra Fuller, also known as Lady Clay, was a member of Strike Force Kobra who was injected with abilities similar to Matt Hagen's as well as being able mimic the super-powers of the beings that she is mimicking. She met and fell in love with Preston Payne, and the two had an illegitimate son named Cassius "Clay" Payne.
Cassius "Clay" Payne was the illegitimate son of Preston Payne and Sondra Fuller, and he became the fifth Clayface.
Peter Malley was a scientist working for the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO) who was turned into the sixth Clayface (a.k.a. the Claything) after a piece of Cassius "Clay" Payne bonded with his skin. He was defeated, and his remains were then stored in the DEO.
The codename has also been used as in a heroic role. The first character to use the name in a purely heroic role was Ethan Bennett, who was one of Bruce Wayne's best friends, and Ellen Yin's partner in the Gotham City Police Department.

The codename of Clayface was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appearing in Detective Comics #40 (1940), making him as old as Joker.

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