While We Wait For The Clayface Movie, There’s A New Batman Story That Fans Of The Shapeshifting Villain Need To Check Out

As a lifelong fan of the Dark Knight and his rogue gallery, I have to say that the portrayal of Clayface in Batman: Resurrection truly resonated with me. Having grown up watching Universal’s classic monster movies, it was refreshing to see such an adaptation within the context of the DC Universe.

The tragic figure of Basil Karlo, who was merely a man in the wrong place at the wrong time, reminded me of the timeless tales of Frankenstein or Dracula. It’s a testament to John Jackson Miller’s writing that he managed to breathe new life into such an iconic villain while still paying homage to the origins of the character.

Now, I’m not saying that the upcoming Clayface movie should be a straight-up remake of those classic monster films, but if it even comes close, I’ll be one happy Batman fan! And who knows, maybe they could throw in a joke about how Karlo couldn’t keep his clay together when the lead actress rejected him. A little humor never hurt anyone!

Was it expected that Clayface would receive so much attention as we approached the end of 2024 and began 2025? I must admit, I didn’t foresee it either, but with the recent announcement last month that Mike Flanagan is penning a Clayface film set within the DC Universe, here we are. Admittedly, we had previously learned that Creature Commandos would introduce the Batman adversary into this interconnected universe, and his appearance in that series has only heightened my curiosity about what his movie in the DC Universe will bring.

As someone who has been a devoted fan of Batman for decades, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as we eagerly await the arrival of Clayface in fall 2026. With such a rich history and diverse portrayals of this iconic villain, it’s natural that fans like myself have many questions about how he will be brought to life on the big screen.

One thing I can say with confidence is that we still have quite a wait until we learn the specifics of his “live action” appearance and the nuances of his characterization. From what has been reported, it seems that the creators are intent on presenting a version of Clayface that differs from past iterations, particularly in terms of avoiding the stereotype of him being solely a villain.

In the meantime, I would highly recommend diving into the recently-released book Batman: Resurrection for those who can’t wait to get their Clayface fix. This adaptation offers a fresh take on the character that resonates with me as someone who has been following his story for years. It serves as a reminder of how adaptable and versatile this villain truly is, and I have no doubt that the upcoming live-action version will capture the essence of what makes Clayface such an enduring part of the Batman universe.

Note that the discussion ahead might include some subtle spoilers regarding ‘Batman: Resurrection’, however, I assure you, there won’t be any significant plot points or surprises disclosed.

How Batman: Resurrection Uses Clayface

Written by John Jackson Miller, “Batman: Resurrection” is a story that unfolds between the two movies directed by Tim Burton, specifically “Batman” (1989) and “Batman Returns” (1992), which starred the Caped Crusader. The narrative primarily occurs several months following the conclusion of The Joker’s chaos in Gotham City, but the prologue of “Resurrection” introduces us to its Clayface character, Karlo Babić, as the events of the first movie are unfolding. To be more precise, it occurs after the Joker contaminates various goods within Gotham City with Smylex, yet before he organizes the grand parade to poison as many citizens as possible with the toxic substance.

Initially, Karl has struggled for years on stage within his theater group, mainly working behind the scenes and often being disregarded. One fateful night, he’s unexpectedly chosen as a substitute to play Caliban in a performance of The Tempest, marking what seems like a major breakthrough in his career. In this new role, he decides to adopt the stage name Basil Karlo, which is reminiscent of the first character known as Clayface from the comic books.

Sadly, Karlo was never able to showcase his talent on stage due to the lead actor forcing him to try makeup purchased off the street. This street vendor claimed the product came from out-of-town and wasn’t tainted with Smylex, but it turned out that wasn’t true. Instead of dying with a smile on his face, as one might expect from laughing gas, Karlo fell into a coma for several months. Upon regaining consciousness, he was shocked to discover his face had transformed into a pliable mass. While escaping the hospital, he attracted the attention of Michael Keaton’s Batman.

Instead of being condemned to spend the remainder of his life concealed, Karlo discovers that due to his encounter with a particular strain of Smylex, he can alter his appearance to resemble any person he observes and perfectly imitate their voice. With these abilities combined with his acting skills, Karlo becomes an exceptional master of disguise. However, he yearns to revert to his original self. Eventually, he encounters Dr. Hugh Auslander, who heads Gotham General’s Smylex Ward and promises he can restore Karlo if provided the necessary resources. As a result, they decide to collaborate.

Why Batman: Resurrection’s Clayface Is So Great

In my opinion, when it comes to the cinematic portrayal of Clayface, he’s often depicted as a towering, monstrous being who not only masterfully mimics anyone but also transforms his body into deadly weapons. However, the Clayface we encounter in “Batman: Resurrection” is strikingly different. Granted, there are instances where Basil Karlo exhibits enhanced strength, yet it’s his shape-shifting prowess that takes center stage. What sets this adaptation apart is that Clayface remains human-sized, albeit disfigured when not disguised as someone else. To give you a vivid image of the Clayface in “Resurrection,” artist Joe Quinones has beautifully conceptualized him.

n this sense, not only is the Burtonverse’s Clayface harkening back to the earliest depictions of Basil Karlo in the comics (albiet with actual powers), but he’s also quite similar to the Clayface we got last year in Batman: Caped Crusader, which can be streamed with a Prime Video subscription. But this Clayface gets extra points in my book for being more of a tragic figure, as Caped Crusader’s Basil Karlo was fell into the straightforward villain mold who started killing the co-stars from the movie he was in after his advances towards the lead actress were rejected. Resurrection’s Karlo, however, was just a guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is reminiscent of the classic Universal movie monsters played by actors like Basil Karloff or Lon Chaney. In fact John Jackson Miller admitted on Instagram he was influenced by them when he was thinking of the character in his head.

In this context, I can imagine a film about Clayface featuring this interpretation of the character as a more relatable human figure. It doesn’t mean that I think the upcoming DC Universe Clayface movie will be poor in any way, and I’m eager to see how they portray him with greater sympathy after his violent spree in “Creature Commandos”. However, I find the idea of watching an old-school, pulp-style Clayface movie intriguing. This film would explore how he deals with the tough hand life has dealt him, much like the classic monster movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age.

On September 11, 2026, Clayface hits the big screen, but if you’re eager to see the villain before then, you can do so by checking out their appearance in the “Creature Commandos” with your Max subscription. Meanwhile, you can grab a copy of “Batman: Resurrection” from any bookstore, and this fall, look forward to the release of its sequel, titled “Batman: Revolution”.

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2025-01-04 16:37