CREATURE COMMANDOS Episode 5 Introduced Us To the Clayface of the DCU

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As a long-time fan of DC Comics, I must say that the introduction of Clayface in the new Creature Commandos series has left me both intrigued and puzzled. With my extensive knowledge of the many iterations of this iconic villain, I can’t help but wonder which version we are seeing in this animated show.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel the thrill that Batman’s live-action debut is imminent, possibly in the film “The Brave and the Bold.” However, one of his iconic foes has already stepped into the DC Universe limelight. Clayface made his debut in the fifth episode of “Creature Commandos,” titled “The Iron Pot.” This character originated from the comics as Basil Karlo, who first appeared in Detective Comics #40 back in 1940, a mere year after Batman’s initial appearance. Interestingly, DC Studios have announced a standalone “Clayface” film, penned by the horror mastermind Mike Flanagan. Yet, the question remains: Is this upcoming Clayface the same one we met in “Creature Commandos”? It’s plausible, but equally possible that it could be one of the numerous other Clayfaces that have graced the comics. In fact, there have been a total of eight shape-shifting villains known as Clayface!

Clayface in Creature Commandos

In the comic series, Creature Commandos, the leader of Task Force M, Amanda Waller, is given guidance by Professor MacPherson, an authority from Themyscira. She persuades them that the claims made by Circe about Princess Ilana’s intentions to dominate the world are accurate. However, in episode five, Rick Flag and Eric Frankenstein uncover a shocking truth: Professor MacPherson is actually the disguise of Clayface. Recognizing him as a notorious supervillain, Flag and Frankenstein engage in a fierce battle with Clayface (voiced by Alan Tudyk, who also lends his voice to Clayface on Harley Quinn). The fight leaves both Clayface and Flag somewhat injured. Unfortunately, the episode does not clarify which version of Clayface they encountered, leaving room for various speculations.

The Many Clayfaces of DC Comics

In the world of DC Comics, the original Clayface character was introduced as Basil Karlo, a movie actor who adopted the name of his horror film persona and transformed into a serial killer. Fast forward to the science fiction era of the 1960s, DC unveiled another Clayface antagonist for Batman – Matt Hagen, a treasure seeker who obtained shape-shifting abilities after immersing himself in a radioactive pool. Later on, during the Bronze Age, in a 1978 edition of Detective Comics, a third Clayface character emerged: Preston Payne. He acquired his powers by utilizing the genetic material of Hagen.

Multiple characters, each possessing Clayface-like abilities and appearances, have been introduced over time, but these transformations were usually temporary. Some of these characters include Cassius “Clay” Payne, Peter Malley, Todd Russell, and the only female Clayface, Sondra Fuller. Despite minor differences in their powers, they generally had limited duration shape-shifting capabilities, often returning to a muddy, claylike form when not in use. The character became particularly well-known when Basil Karlo and Matt Hagen were combined for the iconic “Batman: The Animated Series” in 1992.

Batman: The Animated Series Introduced the Most Iconic Clayface

As a gamer, I’ve always been captivated by the character Clayface, especially in the “Feat of Clay” episode from Batman: The Animated Series (B:TAS). Unlike the adventurer Matt Hagen of the comics, B:TAS reimagined him as a Hollywood actor, more like Basil Karlo. Yet, his powers were true to Hagen’s comic book counterpart – transforming into a towering mass of clay. This is the visualization that eventually became Clayface’s iconic look in comics. Since B:TAS, various media have used different individuals bearing the name Clayface. However, the distinctive appearance they created for the character has endured, from Batman: Brave and the Bold to Harley Quinn. Interestingly, the recent Batman: Caped Crusader returned to the original Basil Karlo version for their period piece series.

Creature Commandos‘ Clayface Hints Toward His DCU Future

In the comic series “Creature Commandos”, the character resembling Clayface seems to be influenced by Matt Hagen from Batman: The Animated Series (B:TAS). Though not explicitly revealed, he might be any number of Clayfaces, including Hagen or Karlo. This Clayface appears to have a more rough and crude personality compared to previous iterations, similar to the one in “Creature Commandos”. It’s uncertain if this specific character will headline a solo film. This version portrays a cold-blooded killer rather than a tragic figure. If the DCU maintains its interconnected narrative, this character could provide a glimpse into the live-action DCU’s Clayface design. We’re eagerly anticipating the future development of this classic villain in the DCU.

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2024-12-26 11:02