CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT (2026-) #1 Review

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 is written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Fran Galán, colours by Patricio Delpeche and letters by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by Fran Galán.

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.

Synopsis

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?

Review

For many, myself included, Clayface has always been one of the more underrated villains in Batman’s rogues’ gallery. Sure, he’s popped up occasionally in media such as Batman: The Animated Series and very briefly in the Arkham video games, but it’s only in recent years that the character has been given their time to shine, whether that be in the Harley Quinn animated show or in DC’s upcoming horror film named after the character. To piggyback off the momentum that has come with the new film, DC has rightfully given Clayface his own comic series…and boy is it worth the wait.

Now, for a character as rooted in horror as Clayface is, you’re going to need a more than capable writer at the helm to bring the best out of the story and for this series, Jude Ellison S. Doyle takes the reins and does so with ease. Doyle has impressed many with her horror output in the last few years, with comics such as Be Not Afraid and Dead Teenagers. Clayface: Celebrity Dirt is yet another great title to add to her rapidly growing catalogue of brilliance.

From the word go, this series dives headfirst into the body horror angle with a striking opening that is truly disgusting and sets the scene perfectly. From that point, the story plays out from Basil’s perspective, playing up to the noir influences with extensive narration and a general sense of brooding that permeates every page.

Fran Galán’s artwork and Patricio Delpeche’s colouring also do a fantastic job of establishing that noir tone with a visual aesthetic that looks and feels like old, hand-drawn film posters from the 1940s and 50s. This choice alone allows the pair to use this style and play around with it in many creative ways. The distribution of panels purposefully builds tension, even during smaller moments, while the art itself utilises Clayface’s unorthodox appearance and form to create some genuinely unsettling images. This is especially evident during a moment when he attacks two security guards.

With every page, Doyle makes it abundantly clear that she does just have a strong understanding of what makes a good horror story tick, but also that she knows how to make a mystery storyline fit around a character with an already complex backstory. For those unaware, Basil Karlo is not the only Clayface to inhabit the streets of Gotham. In total, there are roughly 11 different Clayfaces, and this story seems to be using this fact to enhance the mystery at its core. During an interview early on, Basil is referred to as one of eight Clayfaces, which, given Doyle’s writing, will certainly become a major factor moving forward.

This first issue sets the playing field for what could be a great piece of horror storytelling for DC. The artwork and writing work hand in hand to create a palpable atmosphere from page one that will only get stronger with each issue. This is a fantastic start for this series, and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here.

Verdict

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt kicks things off in grotesque fashion with a gripping story, intense artwork and a perfect balance of body horror and noir sensibilities that proves why Jude Ellison S. Doyle is still one of the most exciting horror comic writers working today.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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