Every Clayface Movie & TV Show Appearance, Ranked

Unless you’re a diehard Batman fan, there’s a good chance you don’t remember Birds of Prey. No, not the one starring Harley Quinn. The one that was DC’s attempt at making their version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997). It may have only lasted for a single season, but to its credit, it did feature the first onscreen debut of Clayface.

In the show’s penultimate episode, “Feats of Clay,” two people are actually shown to have Clayface’s signature ability of turning themselves and objects into clay, and they’re actually father and son. It makes for an interesting dynamic between the two villains, as the elder Clayface is already serving time in Arkham Asylum for crimes he’s committed and doesn’t want his son to follow the same path as him. It’s rare to see a familial connection between villains in any Batman story, so seeing Birds of Prey explore that dynamic does make the episode somewhat interesting. He’s still ultimately a villain of the week for the series, which puts him all the way at the bottom of this list, but there are specks of a good idea within Birds of Prey’s take on the character.

Batman rarely, if ever, gets to be goofy. There’s a certain subsect of fans who will stick their noses up whenever Batman movies or shows dare to have a bit of levity to them, and Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants is the kind of lighthearted film they would detest. Those people are party poopers, though, because this film is goofy and silly fun.

Based on an action figure line, Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs Mutants sees Batman and members of the Justice League attempt to stop a group of mutated supervillains. While Clayface isn’t the main antagonist of the 72-minute film, he does receive the coolest transformation, turning into a gigantic lava monster. The concept of turning Clayface into a volcanic creature is a cool one, and most of the film’s climax has our heroes taking control of giant robots to stop him. Does it make a whole lot of sense? No, but just like Batman Ninja (2018), it’s a premise so stupid that it circles back around to being awesome. It’s the first time in a while that Clayface was seen as a genuine threat, and that alone deserves respect.

The longer a comic book character exists, the more opportunities there are for them to be reinvented in unconventional ways. Clayface is no exception, and Pennyworth offers up probably a fairly fresh take on the character. 

Pennyworth’s Clayface is, on the surface, a CIA agent tasked with assisting the Waynes, but over the course of the show’s third and final season, we find out there’s more to her than meets the eye. And yes, this incarnation of Clayface is a woman, which has only happened a few times in the comics. Clayface is very logical and tactical in Pennyworth, using her ability to disguise herself as whoever she needs to to accomplish her tasks. It matches the show’s more serious and comic-booky nature, which shows like Preacher (2016) balanced perfectly. While Pennyworth’s Clayface may not be a prominent threat and only somewhat resembles her comic book counterpart, it’s still a solid take on the character that separates her from the other live-action adaptations. 

As a prequel to the Batman mythos, Gotham explored several interesting avenues with its villains. We saw many of their rises and downfalls, all while witnessing what made them turn into Batman’s archenemies. Clayface was one of these characters, but Gotham’s interpretation was unique, to say the least.

Typically, Clayface is shown as a monster made of clay able change its shape and size. Here, he’s a zombie resurrected by Hugo Strange via octopus DNA, which allows him to mold his body. It’s an unusual take on the character to be sure, but one that strangely works for him. It’s rare to see an established character like Clayface be experimented with as wildly as in Gotham, but the show’s darker storyline, reminiscent of Smallville (2001), does help give his character some grit. Basil may only appear for a handful of episodes in total during the show’s five-season run, primarily seen in season two, but his appearance in Gotham did create one of his more creative live-action appearances. 

There’s something horrific about Clayface when you stop to think about him. He’s a man who has lost all sense of self, and without anything to anchor him, he becomes a villain. Few shows have offered a dark depiction of what that descent to villainy looks like, except for Batman: Caped Crusader.

The Basil Karlo of Batman: Caped Crusader became a villain because he felt like he had no choice. After being rejected by his love, being typecast as a villain for years, and being physically disfigured, he mentally snapped and embraced his role as a villain, gleefully killing his co-stars and attempting to murder his crush. It’s a dark take on the character, one who’s genuinely unsympathetic and remorseless in his actions. What helps make this version stand out is how much of his appearance is based on Vincent Price’s role in Theater of Blood (1973), giving him plenty of opportunities to ham it up and relish in his evil. He’s the right mix of theatricality and mania that makes pulp villains oh so fun to watch.

Scooby-Doo has crossed over with a lot of franchises over the years. Mystery Inc. has gone toe to toe with Dracula, the WWE, Courage the Cowardly Dog, as well as several crossovers with Batman, but Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the only time Clayface tagged along for the ride.

Much like Batman Unlimited: Mechs vs. Mutants, the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a lot of fun mixing elements from both franchises together, including its villains. Clayface frequently torments both Mystery Inc. and Batman, but unlike in other films where he’s a secondary antagonist, he’s given top billing here. The film is still a kids' movie, and one that doesn’t stray too far from the format of other Scooby-Doo films of the era, like Scooby-Doo!: Moon Monster Madness (2015), so it doesn’t mine any of the drama that one would expect from the character, but even then, the film does effectively humanize him. Maybe not to the extent of other shows, but for a movie primarily targeting young kids and families, Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold does a remarkable job at delivering one of the better on-screen renditions of the character.

Gotham and Pennyworth may have taken some creative liberties when it came to adapting Clayface for television, but Suicide Squad Isekai took some even bigger swings at reimaging Clayface as an anime antihero.

First and foremost, the man looks like Muzan Kibutsugi from Demon Slayer (2019). That alone is pretty wild, but making him into a vain pretty boy with an explosive temper is all kinds of entertaining. Suicide Squad Isekai’s Clayface absolutely chews the scenery at every opportunity over the show’s 10-episode run. But Clayface isn’t just a ham who’s head-over-heels in love with being isekai’d into a fantasy world. He’s actually fairly smart as well, and frequently comes up with solid plans and ideas that save himself and help the Squad protect the fantasy world they were transported to. This Clayface is a total dork, but for a character who is usually shown as a violent brute, it’s a welcome take on a character that could use some levity.

Speaking of levity, Clayface saw a surge of popularity in the early 2020s, and that sudden rise can almost certainly be attributed to his appearance in Harley Quinn. It’s also one of the most divisive interpretations of the character, since it eschews all of the character’s drama in favor of comedy.

The Clayface of Harley Quinn is a terrible actor who lives and breathes theatre. He speaks dramatically 24/7, concocts complicated backstories for disguises that don’t need any, and is, in every definition of the word, a hack. His commitment to his passion for the arts makes him a great source of comedy, where he’s so self-absorbed at all times that you can’t help but wonder how someone like him can even function. It’s as if he’s the animated equivalent of every cast member of Galaxy Quest (1999), only completely unaware that he’s literally unbearable. And yet, his continuously rising fame never fails to get a laugh. He may not be a tortured artist in Harley Quinn, but Clayface seems to be making the most of his life as a nigh invulnerable mass of mud.

For many, Batman: The Animated Series has many of the definitive versions of Batman’s villains. Whether it be Mark Hamill’s iconic portrayal of the Joker or the tragic revitalization of Mr. Freeze, BTAS elevated its villains to new heights, and Clayface is no different. 

While he only appears in a handful of episodes, the two-parter “Feats of Clay” helped sell audiences on the horror of his transformation. While it explores a lot of the same ground that Batman: Caped Crusader did, it makes sure to sell the emotional devastation of the character. Here, he’s depicted as a drug addict who is turned into a villain against his will and rages out at the world because of it. There are direct parallels to the original Clayface’s origins as well as Phantom of the Opera (1925), and while Batman: The Animated Series may have already perfected the tragic villain with Mr. Freeze’s creation, Clayface stands as one of the most underrated villains of the show.

There’s a theory that Batman’s villains are all reflections of himself. The Joker symbolizes the chaos within Bruce that he holds at bay. Scarecrow is the fear that he inspires within criminals. Clayface is his loss of self, a manifestation of the blurred nature between Bruce Wayne and Batman, but The Batman decided to go one step beyond and make its version of Clayface a reminder of Batman’s failure.

It’s a note that fans of BTAS should be familiar with, since The Batman’s Clayface essentially functions as this show’s Harvey Dent. Clayface, or rather, Ethan Bennett, was a close friend of Bruce, but thanks to the Joker, he’s transformed into Clayface and vows revenge. We sympathize with his twisted pursuit of justice, but we also understand why he needs to be stopped, and he can hopefully be redeemed. Not only that, but the show’s stylized depiction of the character, reminiscent of Teen Titans (2003), helps him stand apart from all other on-screen adaptations thanks to his almost alien appearance, which is why he’s first on the list. The Batman’s Clayface is the best the character’s ever been, since he has more screen time than BTAS, more pathos than Harley Quinn, and actually serves as a major character, much like Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold.