REVIEW: ‘Clayface: Celebrity Dirt’ Issue 1

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 is published by DC Comics, written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle, art by Fran Galán, colors by Patricio Delpeche, and letters by Tom Napolitano.

Clayface escapes from Arkham with an identity crisis, leading to a body count as he tries to find out who he is.

So much of this issue is unreliable. The Clayface mythos is murky at best and confusing at its worst. There have been so many versions of the shape-shifting, malleable villain over the years, and Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 acknowledges that. The one in prison, at the start of the issue, thinks he’s Basil Karlo. In fact, it is one of the later incarnations, but it and no one else really seems to understand.

In the early pages, when Clayface is a patient within Arkham Asylum, another name is given to the being in the cell. But as Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 progresses, that name becomes unclear as well. This identity crisis interlaces with a violent and terrifying escape, transforming the comic into a serial killer thriller. This is a genre that better fits Karlo, a name that becomes much more integral to the story.

Karlo becomes a focal point for Clayface as the escapee immerses himself in celebrity culture. The story and plot are perplexing and mind-melting, but the book maintains forward momentum, and that’s the one tether readers have to stay attached to. The final death is perhaps the most important to the story, because it embeds this creature within a new culture.

The protagonist of Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 is also the antagonist. It is fascinating to have this version be the focal point of the series because he has no clue who he is. The statement at the start is definitive and strong, until the psychiatrist treating him instantly dispels that idea. One name becomes important: Basil Karlo. That name is so crucial that it becomes a fixation for Clayface.

Another key element with this iteration of the character is that it is an absolute monster. Murdering is second nature to it, and any consideration for human life is nonexistent. It makes for disturbing reading at times because there is no moral compass within the heart of this opening chapter—just someone with a desperation to be Basil Karlo. There are moments of silliness and humor that cut through the absolute blackness of the tone. We are witnessing the very start of a murder spree, and no heroes can be found yet.

The art is remarkably gruesome in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1. Galán enjoys the disgusting fluidity of Clayface. It isn’t solid in the slightest; it is a congealed mass of clay. The murders could have been expected, but the brutality is revolting and jaw-dropping. The victims seem to burst from the inside out, bits of them melting away until there are horrific piles of flesh. It’s disturbing enough to see Clayface melt away when shot, his disguises’ faces simply oozing away. But seeing human bodies burst is extreme.

The first example of this violence is genuinely terrifying in its execution. In the glimpses of other Clayfaces (Clayfaci?), Galán brilliantly showcases the difference in expression and body shame. Some are more rounded than others, and the Karlo that appears in a news broadcast has much sharper teeth. There’s a terrific detail given to the human forms Clayface takes, too. There’s an uncanny valley to their look, a face that looks overly emotive and never hides true feelings.

The colors are fascinating because they shift throughout Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1. During the breakout, there is a heavy use of an ominous red. The brown that makes up Clayface is very good at absorbing the shade, making him look more dangerous, and it accentuates the blood and gore.

When Clayface breaches the surface of Gotham, entering that city’s recreation of Times Square, the brightness and extravagance are nullified somewhat. The neon on the giant screens is green, sickly, and unsettling. The lettering is fantastic at capturing the monster’s voice and adapting as he changes form.

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 tries to knead a lot of material into one solid story. This is a book filled with grime and gore, exposing the reader to a world that seems devoid of light. Doyle gathers multiple threads of Clayface lore, trying to consolidate them into one humonculi.

The story in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 is hard to process, with even the protagonist confused about who he is and what his name is. It means that the foundations the comic is built on are like soft sand. But the intense brutality of the action and the sudden focus at the end of the issue are gripping enough to hook you. The hero of the book is a confused, vicious serial killer, and that sets it apart from other superhero comics.

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.