Clayface: The Living Mask (1990s Tim Burton Style)

A reimagining of Clayface (Basil Karlo specifically) through the gothic, expressionistic lens of Tim Burton’s early 90s superhero films. The story focuses on Basil Karlo, a once-celebrated and handsome Hollywood B-movie actor whose career is destroyed by a horrifying fire on a movie set, scarring him both physically and psychologically. Driven mad by the loss of his livelihood—his face—Karlo descends into the dark, rain-soaked underbelly of Gotham City, obsessed with regaining his former glory. In his madness, Karlo discovers a cache of experimental, volatile clay-based chemicals (a reference to the original comic's backstory), which he uses to create a mask for himself. Instead of a disguise, the chemicals fuse with his damaged body, transforming him into the monstrous, shapeless entity known as Clayface. The film becomes a tragic horror story: Karlo is trapped between his desire for recognition and the monstrous form he now inhabits. He uses his power of shapeshifting to infiltrate Hollywood and exact revenge on the studio heads and actors who abandoned him, only to find that he has no true form left to love or recognize. The climax sees Batman forced to confront a sympathetic but ultimately destructive monster whose deepest desire is simply to be seen as the man he once was.

Story added by kaueoliveira on October 24, 2025