Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2 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 Dan Mora.
Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2 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
Basil Karlo tracks the man who stole his identity to the set of Hollywood’s hottest new film production, but getting close to “Basil Karlo” means sneaking onto the studio lot via forgotten underground tunnels and discovering the nightmare waiting underneath. Meanwhile, a new supplement is causing grotesque transformations across Los Angeles.
Review
With the first issue of Clayface: Celebrity Dirt hitting the ground running with a strong story, a confident visual identity, and a great blend of genres, where on Earth could this series go from there? Well, I can say with confidence it’s only upwards.
After the narrative and tonal setup of the first instalment, this second issue revels in getting the mystery element underway and following Basil Karlo’s hunt to find the imposter. Doyle gives us a consistent throughline, letting us side with Karlo as we see events unfold mostly through his point of view, which is an impressive feat, getting us to instantly side with a villain we’ve known for decades. This series does a great job of empathising with Karlo, really delving into the tragic side of his powers and the situation he finds himself in to a degree not seen in the comics for some time.
On the other side, you have this underlying sense of dread and darkness that permeates any moments where the focus shifts from the actual Boris Karlo. This feeling is only accentuated when the story fully dives into body horror, something which seems to become more and more frequent as the story evolves. The deaths are sporadic, but when they occur, they are genuinely gruesome to see unfold. A lot of that is down to Fran Galán’s artwork and Patricio Delpeche’s colouring, which exaggerates the disfigured kills into something truly terrifying, whether that be because of the detailing or the blending of clay and fleshy colours.
The story isn’t all serious, though, as Doyle occasionally uses the format to throw some political commentary into the mix. Again, this doesn’t take centre stage, but when she does go for it, they’re solid jabs that work within the context of the overall story. This is most prevalent during this issue’s opening death, where we see a loud-mouthed podcaster spewing misinformation and toxic masculinity literally melt during a recording. It’s a disgusting yet brilliantly satirical opening that shows Doyle and co having a little bit of fun with the premise they’ve given themselves.
The closing pages of the issue, as well as other moments dotted throughout, start to raise more questions that broaden what was initially a straightforward mystery. The way certain events and deaths play out appears disjointed or unconnected, leading you to think maybe there’s a third Clayface being thrown into the mix, or is it the same Clayface that has taken Basil’s identity?
Clayface: Celebrity Dirt is constantly proving itself as a great standalone story filled with intrigue, death and underlying themes of trust. From the rich and detailed artwork to the seamless merging of noir and body horror styles, this series is not just a great platform for the character of Clayface to finally come into his own, but it’s also just a damn good read regardless.
Verdict
With issue 2, Clayface: Celebrity Dirt continues its gripping story while doubling down on the body horror and noir sensibilities that created so much intrigue at the start. Jude Ellison S. Doyle and co have certainly found a winning formula here, one that isn’t afraid to critique real-world issues.
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