DC Drops Clayface Special 9 Days Before Tom Rhys Harries’ Movie, Where To Find It

Published Oct 14, 2026, 1:39 PM EDT

TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. 

Tom Rhys Harries’ Clayface movie is fast approaching and arrives in theaters in just nine days, on October 23, 2026. The film marks a major milestone for DC Studios, serving as its first official horror movie and the DCU’s first theatrical release led by a Batman villain. This genre shift under James Gunn's DCU could signal the beginning of an exciting new era of R-rated, villain-led stories for DC. However, if nine days feels too long to wait, or you want a classic take on Clayface before his live-action debut, a new special featuring the iconic Batman villain dropped today.

As an introduction to Clayface ahead of the villain’s live-action debut, DC Comics released Clayface: Special Edition #1, a 32-page special collecting a selection of Clayface’s best stories. This collection was specifically put together ahead of the Clayface movie’s release, so fans can assume DC is using it to introduce readers to some of the most quintessential Clayface lore. In doing so, the special serves as an introduction to the character while also potentially piquing interest in the comics side of the villain’s legacy.

While Joker (2019) previously brought a DC villain to the big screen as the lead of his own movie, it exists outside the DCU's continuity. As a result, Clayface will mark the first theatrical DCU movie led by a Batman villain.

This is the perfect special for those who want a quick introduction to the character before his silver-screen debut, or for readers looking for a starting point in the comics. In this special, readers will find Matt Hagen’s first appearance in “The Challenge of Clayface” from Detective Comics #298, the iconic “If a Man Be Clay” from Batman Villains Secret Files and Origins 2005 #1, and a preview of the hit DC All In series Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1. DC's Clayface: Special Edition #1 is available through comic book retailers for $1.00.

Where To Start Your Clayface Adventure, For New And Returning Fans

Main Cover for Clayface: Special Edition #1 (2026)

If you're experiencing Clayface for the first time, or returning to the character after a long hiatus, we highly recommend starting with Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Fran Galán’s Clayface: Celebrity Dirt after reading Clayface: Special Edition #1. Celebrity Dirt is a new miniseries that launched its first issue in July and is part of DC’s NEXT LEVEL initiative, which has introduced a slew of new titles that all serve as great jumping-on points within DC’s vast bibliography.

The official synopsis for Celebrity Dirt reads, “Before he was Clayface, Basil Karlo was one of the hottest stars in Hollywood. As he breaks out of Arkham once again, he's ready to stage his comeback, but there's just one problem: Someone already beat him to it, and Basil Karlo is already a massive star. But if that's true, what's next for the real Basil? And what does his predicament have to do with young women disappearing in Los Angeles and a new supplement causing hideous transformations in its users?”

Fans excited about the horror aspect of the Clayface movie will likely find plenty to love in this comic, as the six-part series delivers equal parts body horror and Hollywood glamour. It's brought to life by acclaimed horror writer Jude Ellison S. Doyle, who is more than practiced in the genre.

Matt Hagen vs. Basil Karlo: The Difference Between The Two Clayfaces, Explained

Main Cover by Fran Galán for Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 (2026)

If you’ve been paying attention, you may have noticed we’ve been switching between two names for Clayface: Matt Hagen and Basil Karlo. This is because the character has two civilian identities that are attributed to him, which isn’t surprising given that Clayface has been around for a whopping 86 years.

In short, the biggest difference between the two versions is that Basil Karlo was the original Clayface and an actor, while Matt Hagen was the second Clayface and a treasure hunter who gained shapeshifting powers. Over the years, their stories have blended, with significant overlap between the two identities.

This blending will become especially apparent in the Clayface movie, since Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen. However, in the movie, Hagen will have the Hollywood actor background typically associated with Karlo. In short, the movie identifies Clayface as Matt Hagen, but the character’s background more closely resembles Basil Karlo.

Clayface’s Special Disappointed Us In One Major Way

Main Cover by Xermánico for Batman: One Bad Day – Clayface #1 (2023)

While Clayface: Special Edition #1 was marketed as “a selection of Clayface's best stories,” the collection notably left out what is arguably Clayface’s BEST story: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Xermánico’s Batman: One Bad Day – Clayface #1 (2023). This is quintessential Clayface, telling the story of the villain leaving Gotham to obsessively pursue his dream of becoming a Hollywood star.

All Basil Karlo ever wanted to be was an actor... no... one of the greatest actors there's ever been. However, his life went off course when he became the shape-shifting monster known as Clayface. After years of doing battle with Batman in Gotham City and distancing himself from his dream, Clayface goes out west to Los Angeles. Creating a new identity, he pursues his dream of acting only to find that Gotham City isn't the only place with an overwhelming sense of dread to it, and that he might not have what it takes to make it in the City of Angels. So he'll reshape the city to fit his needs in a deadly pursuit of stardom.

This title is part of DC’s Batman: One Bad Day collection, a series of standalone stories exploring the Dark Knight's most famous adversaries. Each story takes a deep dive into its respective villain, exploring the motivations and experiences that drive them toward their darker impulses. One Bad Day is a highly acclaimed collection, with Clayface’s edition especially well received.

So, while the Clayface Special and Celebrity Dirt are great places to jump into a comic book exploration of Clayface, if you want to experience the character at his very best, we highly recommend DC Comics'One Bad Day – Clayface.

Clayface: Special Edition #1 from DC Comics is now available to read!

Clayface