CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT #1 (DC COMICS)

Basil Karlo is Clayface….or is he?

The longtime Batman rogue has escaped Arkham Asylum with revenge on his mind. Once out in the open, he noticed something very drastic has happened.

Basil Karlo is back in Hollywood & acting again?! But how can this be if he’s the real Clayface? Only one way to find out.

CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT #1 by Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Fran Galán, Patricio Delpeche, & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS) sees the clayed criminal hit the comic shops before his horror movie drops in October 2026.

Let’s take a closer look at this latest story.

CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT #1 by Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Fran Galán, Patricio Delpeche, & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Doyle brings the fear early and often in this issue. The opening sequence in Hollywood is grotesque and fitting of the lead character. Once the story swings back to Gotham City, readers find out quickly all is not what it seems. His psych evaluation leads into a headed argument. Dialogue is sharp and paints a certain picture. Karlo’s response is less than understanding. Once this concludes, his escape is vintage Clayface. There’s no room for the squeamish here.

Karlo’s return to civilization is met with pause and uncertainty. It appears his Hollywood return is a smash hit. The psychological look shows Karlo questioning everything. The writing leans heavily into this notion as Karlo absorbs what his “alter ego” has accomplished. Readers watch as this leads to a chilling final act. It feels full circle as the conversation takes a very dark turn. It leaves readers with much to consider as this haunting mystery is only getting started.

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Galán & Delpeche bring out the nightmare fuel early and often with the art. The Hollywood murder is given a gruesome full page look. It moves the story into an unsettling spot for Karlo to make his entrance. His reactions behind bars shows the mounting frustration of his world. His face-off with the doctor gives no inches as both stand their gorund on the current stat quo.

Once Clayface as a small window to escape, he makes his move with a terrifying full page. The overhead shot onto the guard launches the vicious moves. It leads into a more subtle exit before a two page spread shows the new reality. Readers see the huge billboards as Basil Karlo has reclaimed Hollywood as his. The interactions with the shop own throws more confusion into play before the final act. Once here, “Karlo” lets the audience know what his intentions are as he roams LA. The final page is simple but very effective in casting the horror over the City of Angels.

FINAL GRADE: 8.8

Basil Karlo is a master of smoke and mirrors until he walks into a new world unknown to him in a very intriguing debut. Doyle’s writing thrives in establishing the chills of Karlo’s distorted views. Galán & Delpeche spare no expense on craft horrific scenarios via the art. TA chilling look at a broken soul underneath the bright lights of Hollywood.

Let me know your thoughts on CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!