One thing I adore about Teddy, Clayface's partner, is that despite his new affliction and appearance, he didn't care what he looked like. Not even in the slightest. He didn't run in terror or shame, he stood by his side to the very end. Even when Clayface was shouting and screaming at him. Teddy truly cared for Matt even when he became Clayface, he never ran from him. He tried his damn best to help him. But Matt was gone, and Clayface was all that was left.

This episode is living-proof that you don't need to show actual blood and gore to be completely and utterly terrifying.

Tbh I don't think he's genderfluid (at least not this version the Harley Quinn show Clayface definitely is) I think this version of Mat is just a good actor and is willing to play any role he feels benefits him at the time.

A notable aspect of Annie and Clayface's refusal to accept her identity is possibly thay those that fall into the queer identity but then are abused for it are more likely to, like you said, become abusers, including of their own children. If their children go on to also match their own experience, they feel possibly betrayed, either by their child or the world, that the child gets to live a happy queer life while the abuser had to suffer, and thereby the abuser feels a need to correct this supposed injustice. In this sense, Clayface could not accept that this reproduction of him could both be happy or have a life or their own without knowledge of the hardships of the world that he experienced.

I can’t believe I forgot about Growing Pains. That episode left a major impact on me as a kid.

The clayface episodes are all very complex, and I think it is good how these stories are up to these forms of interpretation. Whether intended or not, a good and deep series of episodes.

Clayface's sex and gender identity is an interesting subject. Personally, i think it's safe to say that Clayface, as an anthropomorphic blob, has no defined sex in the human sense. But, it is impossible to make assumptions on his gender identity simply because we never got to know this version of Matt Hagan well enough beforehand, and it would stand to reason that his gender identity wouldn't change along with his body. Just to clarify my thoughts and how I've come to define these terms...I've always thought of "sex" as the purely physical, biological, and chromosomal components one is born with, whereas "gender" incompasses all the psychological and emotional aspects of the self. For some, these things are in sync, and for others, they are not. Your mileage may vary.

While the official material describes him as becoming as ugly and distorted on the inside as he is on the outside, I would argue the opposite. Matt Hagen was vain, yes, but his biggest issue was his inability to process stress in a healthy way, leading him to become abusive to his lover and lash out at anything and anyone around him. This may or may not have been the case prior to his initial injury, but was absolutely the case before becoming Clayface. Upon his transformation, he could no longer hide from the fact that he couldn't even control himself (both physically and emotionally), and had a constant visual reminder of the monster he had become. If his "I'm not even a man anymore" remark is in regards to shame over his own helplessness, this would further support the idea that the only thing that really makes him a villain is his own inability to look inside himself and accept his own faults. Which, I suppose, does lead back to the point of vanity after all.

I always just took Annie as toxic parents not wanting their kids to make friends with someone they didn't like but the trans angle feels like I missed a stop sign at a 4 way intersection. Like how did I not?

I wonder if Teddy ever found out Matt was still alive or if Stella found out he survived Mudslide.

Wow. I never realised how complex the Clayface episodes were. I knew they were nuanced, but I never knew about the queer subtext. It makes me appreciate Clayface even more.

I always felt Annie deserved some new incarnation. I mean having an ally who has some Clayface powers would be a fun thing to play with if you ask me.

I don't think he's gender fluid he's an actor puting on parts that fit his needs

I see Clayface as bi, but ultimately, he doesn't love anyone other than himself. As for his gender, I think he's male, but an actor. Even back in the day, it was not uncommon for men to play the parts of women even now. Clayface is an actor and whatever form he is taking on is a costume. Moreover, Annie is not really his offspring, but... an extension of something within Clayface that he refuses to let out. Specifically, his conscience. Perhaps that's also why he was fixated on taking her back. Seeing her drove him crazy because she was such a good person. As for the whole suit thing he wore in Mudslide... I think it was just meant to look like an Oscar.

Fun fact: Clay face was voiced by Ron Pearlman who would go on to play Clay in Sons of anarchy

Clayface was the one villain that really felt like a threat. Every time he showed up, you legitimately felt like Batman was out of his depth.

No clue how I never picked up on the inherent transness of clayface. But when you put his transformations all side by side like that it clicked for me. And now it makes so much sense. Of course Clayface is the shapeshifter of batman's rogues gallery, and there is an inherent transness in the shapeshifter archetype. But all of this subtext just makes it that much better in Hagen's case. Also!! Stella in mudslide reminded me of Mudface in James Tynion IV's Victim Syndicate arc in Detective Comics. Glory Griffen was a production assistant on one of Clayface's films and actually tried to stop his rampage but was horrifically disfigured by chemicals in the process. The idea of this person that knew Clayface in his earlier life is a fun little thing character that I appreciate seeing. And both Glory and Stella have an idea of who Clayface is that they want him to conform to. Stella sees the man, but Glory sees the monster.

Clayface was in 3 episodes? Batman TAS was so amazing because I loved characters who were barely in it. Clayface, Ventriloquist, Mr. Freeze, Riddler. Those must have been great episodes

Clayface horrified me as a kid, because obviously, but I also became fascinated with him. That fascination has made me see the many layers of metaphors that create him, more than many other villians. Most other villians are one main concept turned into a person, but Clayface is a mix of queer metaphors, the way actors can be treated, the cycles of abuse... He's surprisingly complex and I'm happy he scared that little me so long ago.

When I watched these eps as an adult I realized the friend of his was his life partner on the spot.

Montgomery Clift was gay….. huh. I never knew that. Great actor

A great video as usual! You can tell the creators had an absolute blast with Clayface. Just look at the animation in Feat of Clay, it's a thing of beauty, especially during his breakdown where he starts flipping through personalities. I feel the show really did a great job capturing the tragedy of the man and his loss of identity, an actor who loses his true self and can only really live through mimicking others. It's a haunting concept for sure.

I really feel sorry for Matt Hagan's Clayface. A life ruined by a corrupt industrialist and made into another of Batman's rogue's gallery. He, like Two-Face and Mr. Freeze, is a tragic character. His moment when he remarks to Teddy that he's not an actor any more, or even human, and breaks down, is heartbreaking. As for queer or genderfluid...that never occurred to me watching the episodes with him.

HOLY SHIT IT JUST HIT ME, HE TAKES ON THE FORM OF AN ATTRACTIVE WOMAN TO GO UNDETECTED BY TEDDY, BECAUSE AN ATTRACTIVE WOMAN IS THE LAST THING A GAY MAN WOULD BE INTERESTED IN

I don't know I think it says more about his state of mind as a narcissist than anything honestly as an actor he honed his ability to project a facade and further Shield has already fragile sense of self as a master of his craft that's why he takes great pleasure in deception whether he's gay, bi or straight it seems like even as a mortal man addicted to the drug that was the more direct metaphor that he can only project for so long and it's exhausting and you pointed out he was basically in a relationship with an alternate version of himself and while he was at a peak an inferior version which would have made him feel even more Superior and secure whatever Dynamic you ascribe to it that screams narcissism

I wouldn’t call Annie a “trans” metaphor thats a bit of a stretch. Id personally call it a display of the parent who can’t see you as a sovereign individual. The metaphorical mother who “smothers” the child’s growth as a person to keep it as a part of them

Annie , Stella and Teddy deserved so much better than they did

I don't think BTAS Clayface is genderfluid. Rather, i think he's someone struggling with dysphoria. Contrary to popular belief, dysphoria is not limited to trans people. A common example of cis people feeling dysphoria is when women have to get one or both of their breasts removed due to breast cancer. Many of them either wear prosthetics or even get implants afterwards because not having breasts gives them dysphoria. Dysphoria is a hatred of your own body, feeling as though it does not reflect who you are. Clayface has been disfigured to the point of no longer being human. His "manhood" - both literally and figuratively - was taken away from him. As such, a core part of his identity was ripped away from him. He no longer knows who he is. In his mind, if he's no longer a man, then what is he? He knows how to put on a mask and pretend to be someone else. His personas are like desperate attempts to find himself. He keeps trying different roles in the hopes of finding himself, of finally finding something that fits. But nothing does. Imo, it would be a bad idea to make Clayface genderfluid. Not only is the "shapeshifting nonbinary/genderfluid" character cliche, but it's really not as progressive as people think.

Ron Pearlman freakin killed it as Clayface! Legit stunning performance from him!

Is Clayface Genderfluid now? Honestly I think Clayface is who Clayface identifies himself as. Despite being able to shapeshift/transform his appearance into either male or female, I think he identifies as male still, even if he can present himself as both.

When "Feat of Clay" first came out, my younger brother (who was 9 at the time!) instantly picked up on the same-sex relationship.

The beauty of Clayface isn't in what was intended. It's what was presented. People can take away whatever they want from art. That's why it IS art. Basil Karlo is just... Fascinating.

When his first episode released my mom walked in to see the gangsters force feeding chemicals scene. I wasn't allowed to watch the show for like a month after that lol

It's fascinating to me how much of this subtext has been reinterpreted in the comics - it may not have been intentional on the BTAS writers' parts, but the stabilization of power as a gender metaphor and the cycle of abuse are both central and unsubtle in Clayface's Rebirth arc, so it's certainly intentional now. Even Annie (well, a riff on her) gets some interesting opportunity for interpretation.

I always thought they were in a relationship but I never felt sure, especially with the way he treated Teddy and the fact that he got so close with that doctor lady. But now I can be sure!

Clayface was so terrifying when i was a kid that i asked my grandpa to watch Batman together to scare him away ! 😅

Actually just noticed that the car they put Matt Hagen inside of after dousing him in chemicals looks very similar to the white topped car Montgomery Clift crashed on the night of his accident. Even Hagen slumped over the steering wheel might be a direct reference.

I don’t know if clayface is gender fluid, but they are literally fluid.

Disney: pay for the gay everybody! Pay for the gay! Batman TAS: That’s ancient history! Been there! Done that!

Clayface is my favorite Batman villain of all time, maybe even favorite dc character period and it’s videos like this that really put it into words. I myself am genderfluid so I can see where the point of him being fluid comes from but I think for him it’s like- no matter what form he is in he is himself deep down. Yes he may appear to be this attractive woman and using she/her at the time but that’s just a face he puts on.

Even as a kid, I knew there was something else going on between Matt and Teddy. Excellent writing.

i think, by the nature of his powers, clayface is bisexual (maybe homoromantic, factoring in his interactions with Stella in Mudslide), but in terms of gender, i think he is genderfuild by means of opportunity. the female forms he takes fall into 2 categories: when going on the offensive, he uses a larger agressive female form; while in hiding, he'll take smaller female forms. the clayface episodes show that he's at a subtextual climax when he has control over not only in his life, but someone else's, like any narcissist would. another way at looking annie's death, while not taking away it's traumatic weight or excusing clayface for his actions, from the perspective of a trauma-victim (turned abuser), annie (even if it was just to use her as eyes for himself while he recovers) is what he believes he is in his weakened (emasculated) state.

Steve Perry response reminded me of the director of the Pixar film Luca where many people had their own interpretations of the movie and what it stood for, and he responded with “that wasn’t my intention but I welcome those readings”

I don't blame you that episode can scare any child.

5:37 The way Teddy grabs Matt arms has so much affection in it.

I've watched this video before, but watching it again, I'm struck by how great of a video this is. This is the peak of film analysis; introducing a new idea that enriches the original content upon rewatch without "replacing" it. As left-field as the interpretation seems at first, each step along the way has evidence that really just clicks into place without really reaching or selectively omitting parts of the original work. When I rewatched this video, it was immediately after rewatching the episode, and the theme you bring up about a deep self-loathing really made everything click to me, explaining a lot of the character beyond "They're mean because we have to establish the villain as mean".

Sounds to me like the queer subtext was intentional on the part of some people from the production team, but neither dictated nor necessarily understood by the directors

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this but I think the supposive death of clayface is suppose to mirror the death of the little mermaid in the original tale where she became seafoam, the original little mermaid story was made by a gay man and is a story about forbidden gay love. I wonder if I am thinking too much into this and is a coincidence or done on purpose 🤔

On being genderfluid I'm also not a pro but since he is an actor I imagine he's fine portraying anyone for a short time and throwing his voice to sell the illusion. Like putting on a feminine voice won't kill you it's just keeping that up constantly and societal expectations or knowing your voice is constantly getting deeper, that's where gender questioning starts. It might be interesting if he sees himself as more "fluid" being less of a human but his normal voice is still pretty masculine or close to his original voice, maybe it's just how getting a voice actor goes. I'd imagine he's still a man at heart but with all the trauma and being able to get away with female characters in an instant I wouldn't dismiss he doesn't consider either sex more often. It's probably a new development unless he acted a skit of Some Like it Hot.

It's been a long time since I watched Mudslide, but I never felt Clayface's attraction to the female doctor was remotely genuine, especailly since pretty much everything he said to her romantically was basically copied verbatim from his old movie scripts as we saw him parroting lines she had watched in his movies in another part of the episode. So I think his hetero leanings there were literally performative.

What a great analysis. Subscribed to the channel. Looking forward to more great content, brother.

What’s confusing is, correct me if I’m wrong it’s been awhile since I’ve played both games, in “LEGO Batman the Video Game” the console version says his name is Basil Carlo while the handheld version is Matt Hagen. It’s the same with the Riddler too, in the console versions his name is Edward Nygma while the handheld version has it as Edward Nashton. I personally prefer Basil Carlo. A lot of the things like Mr. Freeze’s origins, Harley Quinn, and the black and white suit for Two-Face, Batgirl, Nightwing, Man-Bat, Mad Hatter, etc I experienced for the first time from LEGO Batman. In fact the designs for Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Man-Bat, Two-Face, the Joker, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Clayface were pulled straight from the animated series. I’m not including Robin because that was the Robin costume that Tim Drake was wearing in the comics during that time, and the Robin suit design for Dick Grayson was based heavily on that. Tim Drake would go on to wear the red and black Robin suit seen in the New Batman Adventures in the comics which was later adapted into “LEGO Batman 2”. Strangely enough in the animated movie, “Batman: Under the Red Hood”, Jason Todd is wearing that Robin costume when he’s killed by the Joker.

My memories of the show are a bit different than your prognosis of the themes of the characters so bear with me here. I think this is less about sexual identity as this is more about the philosophy and struggle of the human condition. Mat Hagan's tragedy is that he's a failed actor who suffers a tragedy himself. The blessing in his tragic fate is that he's given a gift into make up for his inability to act by becoming whatever he imagines; except himself. There is a real danger in method acting that we see time and again damaging actors to the point of being beyond repair; or something worse. This is why Batman will know what Hagan wants: to become HIMSELF again. That's why the episode of him trying to reclaim his old shape and face is so palpable. His humanity is at stake, and he sees Batman is trying to rob him of his humanity. Dehumanizing others is a constant in society and I feel like a lot of people can sympathize with Clayface in that we can often become a monster if we're forced into his circumstances. That's my take, anyways.

Wow! I've always thought Clayface would make an awesome live action villain. Really glad I've stumbled across your videos. Really well discussed 😊

This is very fascinating as a queer person myself. And I’d love to talk about it. I’ve been part of the lgbt community as a trans bisexual woman for a while now and have learned a lot when it comes to sexuality and gender identity. Now that isn’t to say I’m as educated as I’d like to be but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been around the block. What I want to help possibly clear up is clayfaces gender identity. Now we can see he doesn’t even feel like a man anymore and soon feels comfortable changing into different sexes and styles that relate to genders. I wouldn’t say this means that he has now changed his gender though. not at all more so he’s just simply comfortable with the idea of putting on a face regardless of what that looks like. Gender is a feeling a state of mind and identity that a person chooses to feel most comfortable and like themselves. It really doesn’t have to do with the sex of the person or anatomy at all. Not even the stereotypical styles a man or woman and what they wear or “should” act like apply since why can’t a guy wear nail polish right? No what I think is that he still wants to identify as a man and misses the man he was. We see this especially in the next episode mudslide as he is trying desperately to revert back to what he feels like is him and what is normal to him. So really he still identity’s as a man but doesn’t feel like one cause how could he? He’s turned into this monster melting around like a freakish blob his original body is gone forever that would be horrifying and make anyone feel less human. So do I think this changed clayfaces gender? No not at all. With that I love the idea of the next episode in the new Batman adventures with his daughter being a trans allegory. As a trans person myself I say while I doubt that was the original intention it can 100% be seen as such and can really show what it’s like to be a trans person with a unaccepting parent who wants to fit you into their mold their idea of what you should be. And so they want to consume you into that idea. I’ve dealt with this in my personal life and once you brought it up it blew my mind with how that episode really relates to the experience. So yeah that’s my 2 cents. I also of course understand and love the implication and tragedy of feat of clay parts 1 and 2 as I think that also really shows a hidden message of the aid crisis. Though I must say it is very sad and it’s hard seeing more tragic queer art as we have a lot of that already that takes much more problematic toxic forms though I don’t think that was really the intention here. So yeah I’m queer af and love Batman

I felt bad for Matt hagen in 2 first episodes........but after see kill Annie........never NEVER...he doesn't deserve to be human again.

this video is such a nice analysis and i can't help but just love the way you put this all into context lovely video

Amazing video, the end caught me off guard

I mean ngl if my Spleen started walking around and had a mind and relationships of its own I'd probably just let it have it. Maybe try to give it bad dating advice, send it a cake after puzzling out if we share the same birthday or if we should count the day it left as its. I guess the latter makes more sense? Can spleens eat cake? Congratulations, Spleen, you've graduated to just being a really weird looking child.

I rewatched Feat Of Clay just a few hours ago and Matt and Teddy being a couple completely went over my head, but in hindsight I can definitely see it.

I just watched Feat of Clay episodes. I was just comparing the animations between the two parts and missed all the good writing completely. Great essay.

Personally I wouldn’t say clayface is genderfluid at least the btas version isn’t. He’s just an actor playing whatever role he has to.

6:55 TW:SA mention maybe it could also be an allegory for being SAed (especially since clayface is closeted)

Wow another great episode, love your work.

Lol. The perfectly timed grin on Clayface's face.

You know, I did get some vibes that Teddy and Clayface had something more than friendship going on, at least after watching it as an adult. But I didn't know that he was supposed to be an actual partner.

I mean, bad pun aside: He is quite literally gender fluid~

The Clay Face episodes are excellent, but so sad. They made me feel sad for a villain.

With all due respect I agreed on some if not most of your points but I think some of the gender and sexual analogies is on my opinion overplayed but I agree maybe a factor. In my opinion I think has more do with actors struggling with identity problems in general and we must remember modern day opinions on sex,gender and unfortunately politics can affect people talking about their past work giving it more credence than it was at the time to fit in with the modern cultural and political ideas to look cool to their peers or future potential employers just my opinion I maybe wrong myself we all are we are only human afer all. Thanks for Reading.

I have never seen, for the longest time, the word queer being used in a title or something of the like in a modern setting. Good, I like that.

I’m wondering. What in the show would indicate that his friend is more than a friend? I kinda thought he was his assistant. Clayface never seemed to treat the guy as an equal, much less like an intimate partner. Granted I’m straight, and lack reference points. Is this like the time JK Rowling considered Dumbledore to be gay, even though it was never hinted at in the story proper?

I watched this. At least 20 times. When we still had TAPES!

I don’t see growing pains as a trans thing I see it more a family abuse coming to its conclusion if no one truly steps in and saves the child or in the case of Robin, trying to save someone, but in the end, not strong enough to save her

I really enjoyed this analysis.

i love this video so much, great work.

Hello. Recently found your channel. Im really liking your videos, especially this one. Anyways, I wanted to respond to your question at 8:20 about clayface being gender fluid. I am a trans person and a comic book nerd so I think I have an interesting perspective to bring to this question. In my opinion, a shapeshifting character in fiction being willing to switch between being male and female doesn't necessarily mean they are trans. Gender has an internal component. What makes someone trans is not really about how they look, its about how they perceive themselves. Shapeshifting changes the person's body, but that doesn't necessarily mean it changes how they perceive their own identity. Some shapeshifters might change from male to female (or vice versa) in order to hide from an enemy, or trick an opponent, etc. This change might be a disguise rather than a reveal of their true inner self. To be fair, I understand why someone might assume a connection between being a shapeshifter and being trans. Its actually quite common in sci-fi/fantasy stories for characters to be both trans and a shapeshifter or for shapeshifting to be used as an allegory. Thats not necessarily a bad thing either. The first trans character I ever read was a character named Xavin from the comic The Runaways. They were a shapeshifting Skrull who was equally comfortable in a male or female form. That character was really important for me when I was a teenager and still figuring myself out. Personally, I just think that not every shapeshifter willing to change their body like that is trans. Some are, some aren't. What matters in regards to this question is how the character perceives themselves. Based on what Ive seen of this version of clayface, I think he uses his female forms more as disguises rather than self expression. I don't think he is gender fluid. At least, thats my interpretation.

I never picked up on Mat and his standin being in a relationship. Call it naivete being that I was in my 20s at the time.

Man...I just feel so bad for Matt/Clayface. Was he a good person? No. But he definately didn't deserve this. But my heart freakin SHATTERED when Annie died. Like holy fuckin shit

The one moment of BTAS that made me hate Batman was when Clayface was being turned back into a human, and Batman severed the tubes feeding his body the chemicals. They spilled onto the floor, useless, so it wasn't about reclaiming the stolen materials. He just didn't want Matt to be happy. It would have made WAY more sense to wait until the treatment was done, *_then_* swoop in and take him down. There was no reason to cut the feed, none.

God I can't wait to see Clayface in The Batman 2, if he's still in it.

Just found your channel and have been watching your villain videos, but just wanted to say how insightful this one was. Can't believe how much of this I missed even as a trans adult myself watching them a second time, but it all certainly makes sense.

I remember (within the last few years) seeing a youtube video that mixed the BTAS/STAS/Justice League reality with the anime like "Teen Titans", where TT Terra and Cinderblock retrieve Clayface, but Clayface refuses to join them. Terra says something that reawakens Annie, resulting in Terra's attack on Clayface (that killed him) separating Annie from him. Then the two girls fight each other. I want to see that video again; how do I find it?

The coolest thing about the story of Clayface is that it molds into so many different world views. I for example am Catholic and I also struggle with SSA (same sex attraction) and Clayface could as easily be a reminder as to how all our sins are connected. His vanity and pride leads to wrath. He can be viewed as a reminder that sin can rob you of your humanity.

man, i hope Annie appears in the comics/series someday😢😢

I watched the episode of clay face for the first time in 30 plus years today and realized teddy was his lover. Something totally missed as a kid cause I was a kid 😂

Mudslide gives me a Frank/Julia Cotton vibe. She's in love with a persona, while the man uses that persona, and violence, to get her to help him, and both are ultimately almost successful, but foiled at the last minute.

and to think the writing is for a cartoon, not a movie

Hmm, to be honest, I never thought about undertones of Clayface being gay or bi until today. But hey, I grew up with the show and never thought about the messages all that much and saw how villains, with the acceptation of Joker and Ra's, becoming villains and Batman understanding his foes to get the upper hand. As for the gender thing, Clayface see himself as the ultimate actor and play the roles that interests him. So still a guy but could play a woman's role. Like in the Middle Ages where women weren't allowed to be in plays, only men and teen boys. As for the Annie part, I see that it was more in the line that an abusive parent didn't want to have a child and see them as something that is a thorn on their side and not a child that needs care. So, an allegory for child abuse.

There were four people who took on the name Clayface in the Batman comics. The first Clayface was Basil Carlo who was a movie actor who went mad after his movie, The Terror, was being remade and the second Clayface was Matt Hagan who was a treasure hunter who fell into a pool of magic clay and became the shape shifting Clayface. This Clayface is a fusion of both the first and second Clayface!

I kinda like the idea of a gender-fluid shapeshifter.

Clayface is a type of gender fluid and also a gender solid. Like a gay oobleck

I feel like you could make some connections with Clayface and plastic surgery. I'm not gonna go into it right now but while watching the video I kept thinking about plastic surgery and comparisons that you could make, just something I thought that was interesting

Whether intentional or not "gender fluid" is a great pun

Omg I didn’t know there were lgtbq representation in the 90s (or lack of any) I thought that started becoming a thing in the 2010s with shows like Steven universe being praised for it.🤯🤯🤯

I totally missed the queer subtext in Clayface's episodes of BTAS--and I was a gay rights ally in college when I watched the show! Damn, Autism! I had no "gaydar!"

This was a great two-part episode and very tragic episode

People project what they want to see...not what there necessarily is.

Hm... weirdly, I never picked up on that.

Matt Hagan looks like Bruce Wayne but with more lines on his face.

The only thing I didn't like is who poison ivy was shown. Clayface and Croc. Someone like Joker and Riddler would be more fitting since they're just terrorists and killers. Croc was abused and excluded because of the way he looks. He was hunted like a myth and forced to live in the sewers. The first time he met Batman he literally said "Please.. whoever you are, just leave me alone". Eventually, he went mad and was forced to adopt the Killer Croc persona. Clayface was the famous movie star Matt Hagen who, after a tragic accident resulting in him becoming deformed, used a substance known as Renu to shape his face. He became an adduct and when he ran out, he broke into the factory that made it. He was caught soon after and was pinned down while being force fed the Renu. His body was hid in a car and dumped in an alleyway. He could never live his normal life again