5 Batman: The Animated Series Episodes To Watch Before Clayface

Jul 25, 2026 - 07:19

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5 Batman: The Animated Series Episodes To Watch Before Clayface

Published Jul 24, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT

Adam has been writing in the entertainment news space for over a decade. Beginning his career of covering film and TV at CinemaBlend, he has also appeared on The Flash Podcast and done several radio spots.

Following in the footsteps of Joaquin Phoenix’s two Joker movies, another member of Batman’s rogues gallery is getting the cinematic spotlight all to themselves. Clayface, the third movie in the DC Universe franchise, comes out in October, starring Tom Blyth, Naomi Ackie, and Max Minghella. Though Clayface previously appeared in Creature Commandos season 1, this movie is turning back the clock to show how the Caped Crusader’s shapeshifting adversary came to be.

Clayface has been a member of Batman’s rogues gallery since 1940’s Detective Comics #40, and multiple individuals have gone by that moniker. Basil Karlo and Matt Hagen, the first two in that lineup, are the most famous, with Hagen making his first appearance in 1961’s Detective Comics #298. Clayface blends those two characters together, as Blyth’s Hagen is an actor like Karlo rather than a treasure hunter. The upcoming DC movie will follow him undergoing an experimental treatment to restore his appearance after he’s disfigured by an angry gangster.

Karlo and Hagen were previously blended together into Batman: The Animated Series, with this Clayface amalgamation being voiced by Ron Perlman. Ahead of Clayface’s release on October 23 opposite Klara and the Sun and Wildwood, it’s worth revisiting Perlman’s outings in both the aforementioned TV series, as well its follow-up The New Batman Adventures. Doing so will result in gaining a better understanding of the character and make watching the movie more enjoyable.

4 "Feat Of Clay Parts 1 & 2"

Clayface reacting in shock to the TV screens depicting his past movie roles

Airing on September 8 and 9, 1992, the “Feat of Clay” two-parter introduced Clayface to Batman: The Animated Series. Similar to what's happening with Blyth’s Hagen, Perlman’s version of the character was an actor whose face was disfigured in a car accident. Worried that the disfigurement would destroy his career, Hagen immediately accepted an offer from businessman Roland Daggett to try out an experimental drug called Renuyu cream to restore his face.

Initially, the cream did work, and Hagen also gained the ability to reshape his face to look like other people. However, it came with a cost, as Dagget demanded that Hagen use his new disguising ability to commit crimes on his behalf in exchange for a continued supply of Renuyu. Upon failing to complete one of these crimes, Daggett cut off the supply, leading the now-addicted Hagen to break into Dagget tIndustries to find more Renuyu. Unfortunately, he was forcibly exposed to a large quantity of the cream, turning him into Clayface.

“Feat of Clay” ranks among Batman: The Animated Series’ best episodes. Just like what was done with Mr. Freeze in “Heart of Ice,” the beloved superhero TV show put a tragic spin on Clayface, giving viewers a reason to sympathize with him as he fought Batman. Clayface co-writer Mike Flanagan has also confirmed that these episodes inspired his screenplay for the DCU movie.

3 "Mudslide"

Clayface returned to Batman: The Animated Series on September 15, 1993, for “Mudslide.” With the Renuyu inside him now destabilizing his body, Hagen came back to Gotham City to seek out help from Dr. Stella Bates, who had worked as a medical consultant on one of his movies. Hagen believed Bates could cure him of his condition, and she was successful by using an experimental isotope called MP-40.

The problem was that MP-40 belonged to Wayne Biomedical. So, when Clayface broke into the facility to steal more of the isotope to continue his treatment, Batman interfered with the theft. The Caped Crusader later interfered in the restoration process Hagen and Bates were carrying out with the limited supply the former did manage to take. Clayface was ultimately defeated when he was exposed to rainwater and fell into the ocean during his fight with Batman.

While most of Batman: The Animated Series’ villains commit their crimes for money, power, revenge, or simple chaos, in the case of “Mudslide,” Hagen just wanted to repair his body. While an argument could be made that Batman should have let him continue with the MP-40 treatment, since the process would have also increased Hagen’s shapeshifting abilities, it’s understandable why Gotham City’s shadowy protector intervened.

2 "Holiday Knights"

“Holiday Knights,” the first episode of The New Batman Adventures, technically qualifies more as one-third of a suggestion, as the episode is divided into three different stories. The first follows Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy when they brainwash Bruce Wayne into taking them on a Christmas season shopping spree, and the third follows Batman and Robin foiling Joker’s plan to kill Gotham City citizens on New Year’s Eve with a sonic bomb. The middle story, however, places Clayface front and center.

Rather than fight Batman again, Clayface tangled with Batgirl, Renee Montoya, and Harvey Bullock in this “Holiday Knights” segment. The latter two GCPD officers went undercover at a mall to apprehend a thief, and Barbara Gordon was there at the same time to buy a gift for her father. Upon discovering that the thief was Clayface, who had separated his body into multiple children, the three protagonists teamed up to stop him.

While the Clayface story in “Holiday Knights” isn’t as deep as his two Batman: The Animated Series appearances, it does provide a unique showcase of his evolved abilities. Furthermore, like Harley and Bullock, as well as Two-Face and Alfred Pennyworth, Clayface is one of the few Batman: The Animated Series characters whose designs largely stayed the same for The New Batman Adventures.

1 "Growing Pains"

Clayface walking down darkly-lit catwalk

Although “Growing Pains” aired on February 28, 1998, five months after The New Batman Adventures debuted, it’s set before “Holiday Knights.” Despite Clayface being presumed dead at the end of “Mudslide,” it was revealed he not only survived, he had been exposed to chemicals that allowed him to duplicate himself into other individuals. His first spawn was a young girl, whom he sent out to scout while he was weakened, but she quickly lost her memories.

That girl became Annie, whom Tim Drake, the second Robin, rescued from a street gang. Annie eventually learned the truth about her existence with Tim’s help, including that Clayface was trying to reabsorb her so he could be complete again. Though Tim did his best to protect Annie, she ultimately sacrificed herself to save the young superhero.

Though Clayface is arguably depicted in a more antagonistic light in “Growing Pains” than he was in Batman: The Animated Series, this thoughtful and compelling episode still portrays him somewhat sympathetically since all he wants to do is become complete again. Conversely, Annie was a sentient being, thus introducing the moral implication that Clayface is “killing” her by reabsorbing her. Tim even told Bruce at the end of “Growing Pains” that Clayface should be charged with murder for what he did to Annie.

Following these appearances in Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, Perlman reprised Clayface one last time in the Justice League two-parter “Secret Society,” where he was a member of the title group. While there are other animated TV shows that have showcased Clayface, such as The Batman and Harley Quinn, the DC Animated Universe’s version of the character is the most similar to the one Blyth is portraying in Clayface, which opens in theaters on October 23. That makes these five episodes the perfect preparatory material.

Release Date 1992 - 1995-00-00

Network FOX, Fox Kids

Showrunner Bruce Timm

Directors Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick Sebast

Writers Michael Reaves, Brynne Stephens, Randy Rogel, David Wise, Len Wein, Marty Isenberg, Richard Mueller, Sam Graham, Peter Morwood, Dennis O'Neil, Carl Swenson, Beth Bornstein, Steve Hayes, Chris Hubbell, Martin Pasko, Henry Gilroy, Elliot S. Maggin, Eddie Gorodetsky, Diane Duane