Although Matt Hagen is used as the DC Animated Universe's Clayface, the character take elements from Karlo, mainly his background as an actor. Similarly, elements of the character's origin were integrated into the DC Rebirth version of Karlo.
In his earliest appearances, Basil Karlo had no superpowers, but he wore a clay mask based on one of his movie roles. In later comics, his body is made out of mud upon taking the cell samples from Clayface III and IV, thus enabling him to gain their powers combined.
Basil Karlo is Clayface, a former criminal in Gotham City with the power to change his clay-body to become anyone or anything. He formerly acted as an enemy of Batman but now works alongside him as one of his allies.
History. At one time, Matt Hagen was a famous actor, but he became facially disfigured after a car accident. Finding work became difficult, and he feared the worst for his career. Things took a change, however, when he was visited by Roland Daggett, who offered Hagen a second chance.
The most well-known of Cassius Payne's Claythings eventually combined with Doctor Peter Malley in Batman #550, and his powers are very similar to Preston Payne's abilities.
Although Matt Hagen is used as the DC Animated Universe's Clayface, the character take elements from Karlo, mainly his background as an actor. Similarly, elements of the character's origin were integrated into the DC Rebirth version of Karlo.
The Clayface story is constantly evolving and pulling new people into the muck and mire. With a total of eight different characters officially holding the mantle at one time or another, knowing just whom—and what—to expect from a Clayface can be a tricky affair.
Vulnerability to Water: Being made of clay-like substances, which is like mud, Karlo is vulnerable to water and water-based substances. Having enough of said substances poured into his body starts breaking down its bonding ability and making Clayface weaker.
Back in his 1940 debut, Clayface was the B-list actor Basil Karlo, who assumed the identity of one of his past characters — complete with the clay mask — to pursue a life of crime. The 1950s version of Clayface was treasure hunter Matthew Hagen.
Bio: Once a man named Ethan Bennett, Clayface was born when Bennett inhaled a deadly dosage of Joker's "Joker Putty;" this putty turned his entire body to a putty/clay like substance, giving him the ability to take any form, any voice and mold any shape into his hands.
Together, Ethan, Batman and Robin confronted Basil Karlo, the new Clayface. At the end of the episode, Ethan was cured from his condition when Batman fired an antidote into the two, and he was taken away to Arkham.
All the Clayface appearances I have read in the New 52, he was a bad guy. Then suddenly out of nowhere at the beginning of Rebirth he is a good guy now.
Thomas "Tommy" Elliot, also known as Hush, is a villain from DC Comics, appearing as an enemy to Batman and Batwoman. He and Bruce Wayne/Batman were childhood friends, but they were also each others opposite.
It is then revealed that the Joker's real name is "Jack Oswald White." Martha then shares that she visited the Flashpoint universe's version of Jack Oswald White, discovering him to be a struggling family man supporting his wife and a child as a janitor at Wayne Casino.
The second Clayface, Matt Hagen, first appeared in Detective Comics #298. A treasure hunter, Hagen finds a mysterious radioactive pool of protoplasm in a cave. Immersing himself in it, he is transformed into a malleable clay-like form which could be shaped into almost anything he desires.
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.
Despite his reputation for lameness, Aquaman is quite a formidable warrior in his own right and would be able to defeat Clayface soundly. Firstly, his thick skin would be difficult for Clayface to pierce, even if he molded his body to a sharp edge. Secondly, Aquaman could overpower Clayface quite easily.
Wiz: So, while SandMan had speed, possibly better abilities and more versatility, ClayFace's pure strength, durability, agility, intelligence, and regeneration was too much for SandMan to handle.
Joker eventually used Clayface to disguise himself as various TYGER personnel to infiltrate their locations and obtain their equipment and even the card keys and codes that were needed to access structures right outside Arkham City's perimeter walls.
Who Was Annie In The New Batman Adventures? Annie's story was far darker in "Growing Pains." There, she also served as the daughter of Clayface, who created her to act as his eyes and ears in Gotham while he was recovering from a near-death experience where he almost melted in the ocean.
