Clayface (real name Matthew Hagen) was a shape-changing supervillain with a monstrous mud-like appearance. He has since reformed, taking the name Harlan Matthews and working for Bowhunter Security.[2]
Before his transformation, Matt Hagen was a muscular Caucasian male, with blond hair. As a Shadow, he wore the required uniform: a black, zip front jumpsuit, a harness for equipment, gloves, and shin guards.[1] After the transformation, Clayface became a large, humanoid mass of wet clay. He has sharp teeth set irregularly in his jaws, resembling dried clay. His eyes took on a blank white appearance after the transformation.[4]
History[]
Early life[]
Hagen was a member of the League of Shadows, but not a very good one. When he found he had terminal cancer, he devised a plan to gain access to the Lazarus Pit, by dating Talia al Ghul.[1]
Ra's al Ghul did not approve of the relationship, but after several pleas, he reluctantly agreed. When Talia told Hagen, he revealed his true motive. Talia, still not fully recovered from being rejected by Batman, was heartbroken, and out of spite, showed him to the pit. Once he was fully submerged, she closed the lid and locked it. Hagen was stuck.[1]
After Talia and Sensei were unable to stop the transformed Hagen, Ra's used his powers of persuasion to order him to sleep. Hagen was shipped to Gotham City to bother Batman, out of revenge for stopping his plans.[1]
Clayface was delivered to the Wayne Foundation in a canister. Once he escaped, he was not fully aware how he got there and what Talia did to him. He attacked the guards, and Batman and Robin. Clayface could withstand all their actions, even two tasers, and managed to escape to the sewers.
Batman had called in the Team to track Clayface, and not engage him until he had come up with a solution. Clayface discovered his pursuers, and attacked them.[1] He pinned down all the members, but they managed to free themselves. Clayface feigned defeat, and when his opponents were resting, struck them down and escaped.[6]
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He decided to take down all the members of the Team one by one. It helped that they had split up looking for him,[6]and he had studied them to learn more about them.[3] His first victim was Superboy, whom he trapped by pretending to be Miss Martian. He then lured the others into his trap, one by one.[6]
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Miss Martian was next. Clayface made her drop her guard by pretending to be Superboy and calling her "gorgeous"; it was easy to take her down.[6]
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Kid Flash similarly fell for Clayface's trick. He pretended to be Miss Martian again, and with the speedster distracted with the premise of a kiss, overpowered him.[6]
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Robin proved more difficult to trick. Clayface created two Kid Flash replicas to confuse him; it worked. Robin thought one of them was the actual Kid Flash, but was wrong, and Clayface attacked him from both sides.[6]
The last to take down was Aqualad. He caught the deception sooner than the others, and was able to defend himself against the attack. But even he was not powerful enough. Clayface slammed him against the wall, and prepared to give the finishing blow.[6]
Luckily, Batman arrived on the scene and intervened, using a stronger taser against him. The electricity prevented Clayface from maintaining his form, and he dissolved into a puddle of mud on the ground.[4]He was taken to Arkham Asylum.[7]
Clayface was waiting to ambush Superboy in the Gotham City sewers. Miss Martian and Robin arrived to help, but still Clayface was confident he would win. Superboy threw a pill in his mouth, which solidified him from the inside. Clayface was then sent to Arkham Asylum.[8]
Clayface impersonated Hatter, maintaining the appearance that Hatter was following the rules of his parole. He was followed by Robin's squad, who came to suspect he was really Clayface. Orphan attacked him and during the ensuing battle Spoiler hit him with a liquid tracker before saying they should go after Hatter. Clayface immediately left to protect Hatter, allowing the squad to follow him. Hatter was less than pleased when Clayface arrived at his headquarters, but relieved to have him after Robin's squad showed up. Hatter ordered Clayface to protect him, as he set a self-destruct and escaped with Shade. Though Robin called for him to evacuate, the mind controlled Clayface could not, and was caught in the explosion. Clayface soon began to piece himself back together, and was placed in a pod. Robin then used a control device from Hatter's facility to order Clayface to act under his own free will, much to Clayface's gratitude. He was then sent to Belle Reve Penitentiary.[9]
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At some point, Clayface was tranferred to Arkham Asylum, where Clayface expressed a desire to start over with his life and leave his criminal past behind. Batman requested that Miss Martian give Clayface a psychic scan to ensure his honesty. When she deduced that Clayface's desire was genuine, it was agreed that Clayface should be given the opportunity to begin a new life under the name "Harlan Matthews". At some point, Will Harper hired him to work at Bowhunter Security and was pleased with Harlan's performance.[2]
Clayface worked with Jim and Roy Harper in guarding Wayne Tech hardware prepared to be shipped to the new Wayne Tech skyscraper. Unfortunately, Task Force X overpowered the Harpers, captured Matthews, and reverted him back into his Clayface form to take him to Belle Reve Penitentiary and work under Amanda Waller. He failed to break free and was furious that he was forced back into the criminal life. However, members of the original Team, dressed in Bowhunter Security uniforms, defeated Task Force X, with Miss Martian saving the pod containing Clayface from the swamp.
Clayface then joined the original Team for a barbeque at Lucas Carr's house in Happy Harbor. Kaldur'ahm asked if he might be interested in joining the Justice League, but Harlan reaffirmed his commitment to Bowhunter Security.[2]
He was among those considered as a possible Justice League reservist.[10]
Bowhunter Security was assigned to protect Queen Perdita Vladek during her visit to Star City. Harlan was part of the squad that picked her up from the airport runway. They took Perdita in a three car convoy. Harlan drove the third car, and reported no trouble.
The first stop was a tour of STAR Labs. After meeting with Serling Roquette, and an undercover Green Arrow and Black Canary, a group of armored attackers broke into the facility. Though Harlan used his full abilities as Clayface, he was reduced to a puddle by the attackers' sonic weapons. They took down Arrow, Canary, Roquette and Perdita's bodyguard with poisoned darts, then flew out with Perdita.[11]
Harlan was present with the Arrow family at Royal Memorial Hospital as the coma patients began to wake up. Everyone was relieved that everyone had come out okay.[13]
Powers and abilities[]
Before his transformation, Hagen was in shape, but not very skilled at being a Shadow.[1]
Shape-shifting: After his transformation, he can change the density and size of his body mass, allowing him to take a variety of shapes and mimic the appearance of others.[6] As a result, he is able to fashion his form and limbs into weapons, like spiked anvils, and use them at any time he wants.[4]
Weaknesses[]
Dehydration: Clayface's ability to maintain or change shape relies on him remaining hydrated, requiring him to consume large quantities of water.[9] He can be desiccated, reducing him to a pile of dust. This does no lasting harm, and he returns to normal once rehydrated.[2]
Sonic attacks: Sonic weapons make it difficult for Clayface to maintain shape, and can reduce him to a puddle.[11]
Former weaknesses[]
Electrocution: When he first became Clayface, he was unable to maintain shape when shocked at certain frequencies.[6][4] By 2016, he had overcome this weakness.[8]
In the comics there have been eight versions of Clayface: Basil Karlo, Matt Hagen, Preston Payne, Sondra Fuller, Cassus "Clay" Payne, Dr. Peter Malley, Todd Russel, and Johnny Williams.
This is the fourth animated appearance of Clayface, but the second animated appearance of the Matt Hagen version. Previous versions of Clayface include The New Adventures of Batman, the DC Animated Universe (Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures and Justice League) and The Batman.
The appearance of this Clayface bears a strong resemblance to the DCAU Matt Hagen, and the current comic incarnation of Basil Karlo. This version is named after Matt Hagen, but his origin is revised.
