Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3
Chad Burdette
Recap
Ahead of DC Studios Clayface movie, witness Basil Karlo bring the mud and pain back to the DCU.
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A Hollywood scandal, a monstrous legacy, and a villain with a messy past is the basis for the a new Batman universe noir horror comic book miniseries from Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Fran Galán, Patricio Delpeche, and Tom Napolitano, about Basil Karlo’s twisted journey through fame, transformation, and self-destruction
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Starring Basil Karlo in a twisted tale of fame, transformation, and self-destruction,the six-issue series follows the classic Batman villain as he escapes Arkham Towers, ready to stage his comeback, only to discover that someone else has stolen his name, his face, and his long-lost stardom.
Comic Watch Review:
Hot on the trail of his double, Basil Karlo’s investigation continues with shocking videos of a designer supplement’s side effects. Surely there’s no connection to the missing women in the other Basil Karlo’s orbit … And how will the real Basil convince Dr. Victoria October to help him after she learns his most deeply buried secret—especially now that his only friend in L.A. has gone missing?
Clayface’s comeback is about to become a horror show as acclaimed writer Jude Ellison S. Doyle and rising-star artist Fran Galán continue to push their body horror noir to terrifying new extremes in Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3
Review
Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3 finds the series hitting its stride and ramping up the horror and mystery after the second issue which more so positions Clayface in Los Angeles, following his escape from Arkham. As Basil begins looking into who is impersonating him, the supporting cast is introduced, giving the needed development and context for the bigger story being told.
It was refreshing to see the more human side of Clayface as he adopts the identity of an elderly man who made a miraculous recovery after a trip to the hospital, briefly poses as a member of the crew, while also appearing in his monster form as a reminder that this is a Clayface story.
The series also continues to do an excellent job of addressing some heavy issues such as addiction and issues the trans community faces on a regular bases and the interactions and conversations surrounding these issues feel natural and a part of the story and not just Doyle getting on a soapbox.
The reveal of the villain/impersonator continues to be a nice steady progression, adding to the horror elements of the story. While motivation and just who is impersonating Basil remains a mystery, there is enough character development to keep readers anxious to return next month for more.
The art and colorwork continue to be top notch and Galen gets the opportunity to have some fun with the body horror aspects of Clayface and his impersonator. The different panel layouts keeps the graphic narrative flowing and the action jumping off the page.
Final Thoughts
Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3 continues to pace the story well, allow for character development, with some beautifully rendered body horror art that will keep readers waiting for the next issue and the climactic finale
Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3: Fill It With Devils and Dust
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 8.5/108.5/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10
