- "Easy... The role of a LIFETIME!"
- —Clayface[src]
Originally an actor in Horror B-Movie films, Basil Karlo went mad when he found out that a classic film of his was to be remade without his involvement. He then took on the mask of the film's villain, "Clayface", and killed several of the remake's cast and crew before eventually being stopped by Batman and Robin.
Later, Karlo stole some experimental compounds, injected himself with the compound, and became a superhuman imbued with the abilities to change shape, melt into protoplasm with a touch, and mimicked the powers of heroes or villains that he copied.
Incident Reports
Arkham Origins Incident
During the night of Christmas Eve, Basil Karlo played in an impressionist show at the Monarch Theatre. It seemed that he hadn't been turned into Clayface at that point.
Between Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum Incident
When Karlo learned that the studio he worked for was remaking of his classic film, The Terror without his involvement, he was driven insane. Karlo then put on the costume of the film's killer Clayface and started to murder the actors and actresses in the film. Karlo's plot was eventually thwarted by Batman and Robin (Dick Grayson) when he was about to kill Bruce Wayne's fiancée (Julie Madison). Not long after, Basil managed to escape prison when his prison ambulance fell off a cliff and he tried to murder Julie once again, but was stopped by Batman once again. A couple of years later, Basil was broken out of prison by Clayface IV (Sondra Fuller). He joined her and Clayface III (Preston Payne), and they gathered the dead remains of Clayface II (Matt Hagen), and called themselves the Mud Pack. Basil tried in vain to revive Matt Hagen, but the Mud Pack had only managed to briefly revive him. Later, after the Mud Pack was defeated, Basil tricked his allies by stealing samples of their blood and managed to escape. Basil took the samples to a science lab and mixed the blood samples together and injected himself with it and became the ultimate Clayface. He then gained all of the other Clayface's powers such as Clayface III's melting power and Clayface IV's ability to gain the powers of anyone he/she was mimicking. The blood of Clayfaces II, III, and IV also give him super strength, stamina, and speed, and also made him capable of growing to an incredible size so he became a major threat to everyone who got in his way.
Road to Arkham Incident
When Clayface was committed to Arkham Asylum over the years, he was put in the Penitentiary. The doctor treating him was most likely Dr. Young, as she made personal notes about him.
Arkham Asylum Incident
Batman, while searching for Arkham's Warden, Quincy Sharp, came across a cell behind a clear wall with no bars. A sign next to it read "Danger. Do not approach. Inmate may be impersonating other personnel." The cell contained a female mannequin, white hand-prints, and excessive Clayface goo. What appeared to be security guard Aaron Cash was pacing behind the wall, and urged Batman to let him out.
The imprisoned Clayface impersonating James Gordon in the Security Control Room at the Penitentiary on Arkham Island
However, after rescuing the warden in the room above, another man looking like the warden appeared in the cell, claiming that the one rescued was an imposter, and begged to be let out. When Batman turned around, a morphing noise was heard and in the cell appeared what seemed to be Commissioner Gordon. He simply laughed at Batman. Detective Mode revealed that the shapeshifter had no skeleton, and scanning him revealed him as Basil Karlo/Clayface. His profile could then be read and the Riddler's riddle, "A case of mistaken identities?" was solved. Clayface commended the detective for discovering his identity, and asked him to keep it a secret, as he had a reputation to keep.
After all but one of the hidden chronicles are found around Arkham, Quincy Sharp had disappeared from his sanctuary. Clayface mentioned how the warden had left in a hurry despite Batman's insistence that he stay hidden, all the while impersonating Commissioner Gordon.
Between Arkham Asylum and Arkham City Incident
When the rescue teams of the GCPD swept through the ruined Asylum after Joker's plans, one uninformed guard believed that Sharp was trapped within the same cell that Batman saw and let him out, while in reality, it was simply Clayface taking advantage of the situation to finally escape. It was only after the real Warden Sharp was found, did the guard realize his lethal mistake, but Clayface was long gone by that point and at-large.
Basil Karlo entered Arkham City completely undetected. Assuming the guise of numerous inmates and security personnel alike, the monstrous mudman eventually made contact with the Joker, who was revealed to be his cryptic employer. At first, Karlo was reluctant to form an alliance with the dying clown, but was quickly convinced to aid the Joker and embroiled himself in the Clown Prince of Crime’s last megalomaniac master plan.
Arkham City Incident
Despite not actually being imprisoned in Arkham City, Karlo sided with the Joker. At the request of the Joker, Karlo mimicked his appearance prior to being affected by the TITAN sickness, to fool Batman, Talia al Ghul, and Hugo Strange. Karlo also agreed to move a large amount of explosives into Arkham Asylum.
With Karlo’s vast and nearly unstoppable abilities, Joker knew he had all but conquered Arkham City. Next to doubling as him, Joker used Karlo to carry out his most extreme tasks; including having the shape-shifter shut down Black Mask’s base of operations, and opening up the Sionis Steel Mill to the Joker and his gang. Karlo also impersonated Deadshot when infiltrating Penguin's operations, which resulted in Joker receiving arms directly from Penguin's armory. Joker could hide while Karlo did his bidding.
The plan was not realized by Batman until Talia was taken prisoner by the Joker at the Monarch Theatre. However, Talia managed to free herself and disarm the Joker, and proceeded to stab him. Not long afterwards did Batman deduce that Joker had been impersonated the entire time.
The actual Joker, dying from the sickness, revealed himself and shot Talia dead. Karlo arose and took on his natural form. After Batman questioned Karlo's motives for joining Joker, Karlo justified his actions, and stated that once he killed Batman, he would get the role of a lifetime (by impersonating Batman).
Batman was forced to fight Karlo by goading him into charging at the explosives placed around the theatre to hurt him, and by using Freeze Blasts to retrieve the cure and grab Talia's sword to slice him. As Batman froze Karlo, he sliced him into pieces. Batman and Karlo end up in the Lazarus Pit Chamber beneath the Theatre because the Joker placed explosives around the floor. Batman fought against many Clayface soldiers with his sword. Eventually, Karlo succumbed to the Freeze Blasts which Batman threw at him and then jumped into Karlo's body to retrieve the cure and sliced free from Clayface, incapacitating him. Batman then threw Talia's ceremonial sword in the Pit's controls to prevent Joker from entering the Pit. As a result, one of the generators fell down and knocked Karlo into the Lazarus Pit, creating a large explosion that destroyed most of the chamber and incapacitated Karlo, for the time being.
After Arkham City Incident
Karlo's dry mud was collected by GCPD when Arkham City shut down. Later, the explosives set by Clayface in Arkham Asylum were detonated, almost claiming the life of Batman who made a narrow escape.
Before Arkham Knight Incident
Samples of Karlo's mud were acquired by various parties including Simon Stagg, who created Project: Meta, and Hush which he used for his face to hide his cosmetic surgery scars. Karlo also appeared during one of Joker's fantasies, and briefly during one of Batman's simulations for Robin. Karlo is still alive within the mud collected by GCPD but unable to take form again because of the Lazarus Particles mixed with his mud and the explosion from the generator.
Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum Incident
Some time after Joker’s death, Karlo had since regained his form since being defeated by Batman in Arkham City, though he was not at full strength. News of his survival on Gotham City Tonight’s “Prisoners of Arkham” spotlight would catch the attention of King Shark, who had seen this on television at the Belle Reve Penitentiary. In the years since Batman’s identity had been outed by Scarecrow, Clayface was locked in a cell in an A.R.G.U.S. controlled Arkham Asylum, which neighbored the cell occupied by King Shark. Overhearing a conversation between King Shark and Amanda Waller, he waited for her to leave and spoke up, in Waller’s voice, telling Nanaue that Waller was up to something. King Shark assumed this to be Waller until he turned to realize that Clayface was speaking to him in Waller’s voice, recognizing Clayface from having seen him on television at Belle Reve, before asking him for clarification . Clayface then partially assumed the form of Waller, and stated that Waller was sizing Shark up, likening him to a chess piece to be moved, much to King Shark’s surprise. Later, during the breakout orchestrated by Amanda Waller, after King Shark had slaughtered a squad of prison guards, Clayface, along with Killer Croc and what appears to be Man-Bat (or She-Bat) burst through the nearby door. Together, King Shark, Killer Croc, and Clayface would rampage through Arkham Asylum, killing prison guards who were foolish enough to stand in their way, coming across Solomon Grundy in the process, allowing him to accompany them. Unfortunately, after they had broken out, bloodlust had overcome the four of them, resulting in them fighting one another, which went on until King Shark acknowledged his limits and fled. Later, whilst Waller and Rick Flag were doing a head count for who would be a part of Task Force X, several A.R.G.U.S. soldiers had noticed that someone was emerging from the Arkham Asylum sewers drainpipe. The escapee bore a resemblance to a cadaverous Amanda Waller, only to send tentacles made of clay out and grabbed the real Amanda Waller, who recognized the escapee as Clayface and ordered the A.R.G.U.S. Squad to attack. Unfortunately, they did not know which was the real one. The real Waller and Clayface (who had assumed his true lower form but not his entire form; his upper half still resembled Waller) attempted to call out each other as being Clayface. King Shark saw what was happening and called off the soldiers, as he pounced at Clayface, recognizing the real Waller based on scent, chomping Clayface’s head off, finally ending his threat to society once and for all.
Personality
As Clayface is rarely seen in his true form, and thus does not speak very much apart from a few lines and the occasional battle taunt during his boss fight, much of Clayface’s personality is unclear. Based on his speech patterns and tone of voice during his boss fight and game over screens, it is clear that Clayface is overly-dramatic when he speaks (in reference to his time as an actor), and more than a bit over the top. It is clear, based on his reaction to not being involved in the remake of “The Terror” that he was vengeful, as evident by his actions. He is also shown to be a bit sardonic, as he is seen laughing derisively at Batman when the latter is hit by his attacks.
Psychological Profile
Clayface
Real Name: Basil Karlo
GCPD Profile
Basil Karlo
Batman's Database Profile
Karlo's impression to get all the time to work it to another but soon has his career as a film actor which he is more to his condition for results of another. Karlo started to his movie "The Terror" with anything that has to along with the casts to be mindful for his actions like that way to be able for the film as Karlo's resistance.
Dr. Penelope Young
While his bizarre ability to shape-change opens him up to the obvious, if controversial, diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, Karlo seems instead to be suffering from borderline personality disorder, with a special emphasis on identity disturbance. He is difficult to pin down on any subject, and defends his wild changes in affect as evidence of his dramatic abilities, which he considers to be wildly underrated. Rarely does he take his own shape, but frequently mimics me when I attempt to interview him.
Additional notes His identity is at risk of splintering, due to the growing frequency of his adopting the identities of others to the exclusion of taking on his own.
I find his imitation of me to be especially unflattering; I am most certainly not the bitter, calculating academic he attempts to portray me as.
STRONG ESCAPE RISK!
Dr. Hugo Strange
Horror film icon Basil Karlo went mad when he uncovered plans for his most classic film to be remade with a different actor in the lead role. He took on the mask of the Film's villain, Clayface, and killed several of the remake's cast and crew before being stopped by Batman and Robin.
Later Karlo stole and injected himself with experimental compounds that transformed him into a mass of living clay who can alter his composition to mimic anything... or anyone.
Attributes
- Superstrength, speed, and stamina
- Able to obtain the powers of others he was mimicking
- Could alter his physical form, and adopted the appearance of nearly anyone
- His malleable physical form made him extremely difficult to injure or contain
- His malleable form granted him tremendous regenerative and reformative capabilities
- His touch could be poisonous
Quotes
Batman: Arkham Asylum
- "You need to get me out of this cell" - while impersonating Aaron Cash.
- "It's me. Cash. I'm needed out there. I can help you." - while impersonating Aaron Cash.
- "I'm the only person here you can rely on, Batman." - while impersonating Aaron Cash.
- "C'mon, man. Get me out of here." - while impersonating Aaron Cash.
- "So, you figured it out. Good job. Please, keep it to yourself. I got a reputation to keep up." - while impersonating Aaron Cash.
- "Get me out of here!" - while impersonating Warden Quincy Sharp.
- "You rescued the wrong Warden. He's an impostor. You know how many freaks are in this place" - while impersonating Quincy Sharp.
- "You can't leave me locked up in here." - while impersonating Quincy Sharp.
- "Batman! It's me, the Warden. You know me." - while impersonating Quincy Sharp.
- "So, you discovered my true face, detective. Please, keep it a secret." - while impersonating Quincy Sharp.
- "Why did the Warden take off so quick? I thought you told him to stay put" - while impersonating James Gordon.
Batman: Arkham City
- "Suprise! You fell for the ol' fake Joker gag, Batman." - while impersonating Joker and incapacitating Batman.
- "Good evening, troops. This is General J with a quick update on what's going on down here in Arkham City. As you can see, I'm looking much better. In fact... I thnk I'm looking better than ever, huh. Oh, I can hear you all now: "How did this happen?" "Can I get me some that crazy cure?" "I want answers, damn it! Now!" Well, here's the thing. Answers don't give everlasting satifactions. Sometimes you need to brace yourself for disappointment. Think about it. Imagine your favorite TV show. You've been through it all. The ups the downs, the crazy coincidences, and then: Bang! They tell you what it's all about. Would you be happy? Does it make sense? How come it all ended in a curch? You guys just need to know one simple thing. I'm back. Back for good. Now arm yourselves, boys. We've got a prison brake to plan. No hostages. No surrender. I know. It sound like suicide, but listen. Whatever happens. I'll be right behind you." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Let's make this quick, boys. I've got an important operation that I'm just dying to have done." - while impersonating Joker.
- "You guys are like family to me. And you know how much pain I went through killing my family." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Are you guys OK? It's just Batman. He's probably never really killed anyone. Still, you never know when he plans on starting, do you?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Do you guys want me to get Abramovici for a motivational speech? I hear he's got a way of hammering the point home." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Hey, Batman. You took out those idiots like a man who hasn't only hours left to live. Well done. I'll be seeing you soon. I can't wait." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Manners, cost nothing Batman. A please wouldn't go amiss. I mean... If you wanted to be cured so badly, you only had to ask. Hahahahahahaha. It looks like I need to teach you some respect." - while stnding in front of Joker matching his movements and dialogue.
- "Oh hoho, come on. There's always something to learn. Let's start with "Getting your ass kicked 101". Seconds out!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Just you and me, Batman." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Give me your best shot!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Please... stop. I can't take anymore. You win! you beat me." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Hang on, did I say me? I meant me... and these guys!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "You remember Mr. Abramovici, right? Don't worry, Batman, he's mostly arm-less. Get it?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Let's give a big hand to Mr. Abramovici. I maen, it's not like he couldn't use one." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Oh, Batman. This is getting boring. Maybe a little TITAN will spice things up." - while impersonating Joker.
- "What are you waiting for?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Any last requests? How about a joke?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "I'll handle the jokes around here." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Well, bully for you." - while impersonating Joker.
- "What? What you mean she's telling the truth?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Immortal?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Oh, shut up!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "After you, my dear." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Hello! Is anyone there?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Hello, Batman. I know you can hear me. I've not caught you at a bad time, have I? I was worried that you may have forgotten about little old me. Take a look at your girlfriend, who, as you can see, is in danger of having her pretty little barins splattered all over this camera." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Ah, how romantic. Only problem is, I've never felt better, and we both know, you really can't ignore me. Can you? So, listen, Batman. I'm putting on a little show for you. It's going to be a doozy. a real red carpet affair. You'd better hurry though, if you take too long the leading lady may be found dead in her dressing room." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Where are you, Batman?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Your leading lady's waitng, Batman!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Helloooo! Batman! You can her me right? It's just, you don't seem to be getting to the movie theatre and I'd hate for you to read the spoilers on Internet gain!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Why are you taking so long, Batman? Oh, hold on. I get it. You want me to off this annoyng woman, right? I mean, she does go on a bit with with all that I am the great blah, blah, mystical mambo jumbo. I tell you what. I'll do it. But you owe me, OK?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Well, this is just rude Batman, Batman! I've laid on all this entertainment at the movie theatre and you can't even be bothered turning up!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "This is the big opening night, Batman. What's keeping you? Get your cute little ass to the movie theatre, NOW!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "I'll see you soon! BYEEEE!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Hurry up and take your seat, Batman. The show's about to begin." - while impersonating Joker.
- "Now you want to talk? Too late, Batman!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Give me the cure!" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Easy... The role of a LIFETIME!"
- "Encore."
- "Let's do this."
Game Over Lines
- "Get up, Bats. Hey, you ain't lookin' so good."- while impersonating Joker.
- "Oh, Bats. If only you knew what I have planned. You'd just die!"- while impersonating Joker.
- "Aren't you supposed to be up on your feet and tryin' to stop me?" - while impersonating Joker.
- "Next, I will become YOU, Batman."
- "It was a performance of a lifetime."
Gallery
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham City
Trivia
- Clayface most likely had his sessions with Dr. Young in his own cell, Dr. Young stayed outside and talked through the glass, as he would be a serious threat to the people on the island if he were to be let out. This would explain the glass wall.
- Also, the cell he was in, appeared to be too small for him if he were to be in his natural form. He was most likely put in a smaller cell so he couldn't change into his natural form and easily escape.
- In Batman: Arkham Asylum, Clayface did have a cameo. Although he, himself, wasn't physically seen in the game, he did have a character bio and was seen in a cell trying to impersonate Aaron Cash, Quincy Sharp, and James Gordon. If the player was to walk away (to a place where he was not visible), he may change into one of the three characters.
- Clayface would only congratulate Batman for discovering who he was if he was disguised as Sharp or Cash. As Gordon, he would laugh mockingly.
- Clayface's page in Dr. Young's book had a question mark. The reason was that the riddle said something about mistaken identity which was what Dr. Young wrote. Clayface was known to have bars on his window in his cell, so Riddler told him to escape since he was known for escaping and identity theft. It may also be a reference to LEGO Batman: The Videogame, where Clayface worked with Riddler to rob Gotham Billion Fortress.
- The mannequin and handprints in the cell were a reference to the third Clayface from the comics, Preston Payne, who was 'married' to a mannequin he referred to as 'Helena'. A mannequin that might be Helena could be found on a desk chair next to a frozen rooftop swimming pool in the Amusement Mile district of Arkham City. This hinted at him being inside the mega prison the whole time, and furthermore, the possible connection to The Joker, who operates from the Amusement Mile.
- Another possible indication of Clayface's arrival in Arkham City is a van that curiously has windows completely mudded up and covered in handprints, nearly identical to how the glass which covers Clayface's cell appears in Arkham Asylum. If this is the case, this implies that Clayface may have infiltrated the prison complex (as opposed to having been brought in by Strange), following Joker's offer to be apart of the "role of a lifetime."
- It is possible that Clayface has survived, as the Lazarus Pit was supposed to replenish life. However, the pit was also clearly destroyed during this sequence, with large steel beams falling in over Clayface and an explosion occurring.
- Batman may not have been sure if Clayface was still alive or not, since he immediately deleted Joker from his training program upon Joker's death, but left Clayface in it.
- You could find out The Joker's trick earlier on in Arkham City when, during the boss fight in the "Ghost Train" roller coaster in the Funhouse, you use Detective Mode. You'll see that Joker had no skeleton (just like Clayface was lacking if you scanned him in the last game).
- The method described as how Basil Karlo gained his powers seemed to be yet another reference to The Batman where Basil Karlo gained his powers by ingesting a chemical compound that was stolen from Wayne Enterprises.
- It can also be assumed that Batman had encountered all previous Clayfaces by the time of Arkham Asylum, as Karlo's final Clayface form was a combination of all others.
- In Origins, a building in the Bowery has a poster which shows that Karlo was an impressionist.
- In Arkham Origins, when looked through Detective mode, Mad Hatter had no bones. This led many to speculate that he was actually Clayface in disguise, but it was more likely an oversight.
- In Arkham Asylum, Clayface and Bane were the only villains who physically appeared in the game, but had no unlockable Interview Tapes. The reverse occurred with Riddler, who did not appear but had tapes.
- Karlo's name appeared on the Joker's Party List. This may either be foreshadowing their alliance in Batman: Arkham City, or implying that they had already begun to scheme together prior to the events of the first game.
- His real name, Basil Karlo, was a parody of real-life horror actors Basil Rathbone and Boris Karloff.
- Some character models found in Arkham City indicate that Clayface was supposed to impersonate Talia in some scenes, but were cut.
- In the Arkham Knight demo, there was a billboard with a picture of Clayface.
- Posters for The Terror (the film Karlo was most famous for) can be seen in Batman: Arkham Knight, most notably around Panessa Studios.
- A poster for The Dark Interlude, a movie from an episode of Batman: The Animated Series, can also be found in Panessa Studios, with each of the starring actors and actresses listed actually covering all of the different incarnations of Clayface in the comics.
- Concept art found in Knight depicts Clayface atop Panessa Studios, leading some to believe that Clayface may have once been intended to make an appearance despite his presumed death--however, the actual pose of Clayface in this art bears striking resemblance to the iconic image of King Kong grappling onto the Empire State Building. Thus, it's more likely that this reference was intended to be made in the final game, not that Clayface was to appear.
- Clayface browbeating Batman into coming to the Monarch theatre if the player delays seems to be a callback to Arkham Asylum, where Poison Ivy would to something similar.
External links
Clayface on the DC Comics Wiki