The recent updates to classic DC villains have been surprisingly strange, leaving fans wondering what to expect from Absolute Clayface. However, the initial reveal of the character hasn’t shown much yet.
The first preview of Clayface’s appearance in Absolute Universe shows him shapeshifting to look exactly like Absolute Batman.
This image is the cover art for Absolute Batman #23, created by artist Nick Dragotta, who also illustrates the popular series written by Scott Snyder. It depicts Batman in a fierce fight with an enemy who can change shape, but it’s hard to tell who is Batman and who is the other fighter.
The battle seems to be happening within a heap of Clayface’s clay-like form, and both fighters are covered in it, making it hard to tell them apart. Beyond the main fight, a particularly striking detail on the cover is the creepy sight of hands rising up from the clay beneath them.
People online immediately noticed the unusual fight scene in DC, pointing out that Batman appears to be battling a clone of himself rather than the actual villain. Now, artist Dragotta has offered a closer look by releasing the character’s original design sketches, giving more context to the situation.
The new concept art for Absolute Clayface shows a more human form compared to previous versions, which were usually shapeless masses. However, it’s clear he’s still connected to the mud he comes from. Artist Dragotta’s notes explain that the hands constantly rising from the puddles around him appear to be trapped spirits, shaping him from the earth like an incomplete sculpture.
Clayface Was Previously Teased In The Absolute Universe
Though he first appeared at MegaCon 2026 in March, fans of Absolute Batman had already heard about the character before that.
In the tenth issue of the series, while Bruce Wayne was trying to escape the horrifying labs of Ark M, he encountered the “K.L.A.Y. biome.” There, he saw a disturbing scene: faces marked by trauma and hands reaching out from the clay that filled the room.
We got another clue that Absolute Clayface was about to appear in a recent one-shot comic. This time, looking at files related to Absolute Joker revealed that this version of the villain is also Basil Karlo – the original Clayface from the main comic universe. However, this Clayface isn’t a shapeshifting creature; he’s an actor seeking revenge after losing his job.
The character first appeared in his now-classic form as Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter who gained the power to change his shape after a strange accident in 1961’s Detective Comics #298. A version of Matt Hagen with the added story of a struggling actor was later featured in Batman: The Animated Series, with Ron Perlman providing the voice. The character, originally known as Karlo, was then reimagined as a shapeless blob in the comics, and even revisited by writer James Tynion IV in 2016.
The new DC movie, Clayface, seems to be drawing inspiration from the version of the character seen in Batman: The Animated Series, specifically focusing on Matt Hagen’s story. Starring Tom Rhys Harries and directed by James Watkins, the film is a horror movie written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, and is scheduled for release on October 23, 2026.
Absolute Batman #23 is set to hit the shelves on Aug. 12.
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2026-05-23 23:18