Clayfaces

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“Clayfaces”
The Batman episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 42
Guest stars Steve Harris as Ethan Bennett/Clayface, Wallace Langham as Basil Karlo/Clayface II
Written by Steven Melching
Directed by Adam Youngberg
Production no. 403
Original airdate 7 October 2006
Episode chronology
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"Team Penguin" "The Everywhere Man"
List of The Batman episodes

"Clayfaces" is the forty second episode of the television series The Batman. It originally aired in North America Saturday 7 October 2006 and in the UK on Cartoon Network UK on 17 January 2007.

Contents

[edit] Plot synopsis

Shape-shifting villain Clayface turns himself in, promising to give up his criminal ways and hoping to earn a second chance for his alter ego, Ethan Bennett. But when a new Clayface takes to the streets of Gotham, Ethan wants to prove his worth as a hero by helping take down this threat. Having been burned in the past by a seemingly reformed Ethan, Batman isn’t sure his friend can still be trusted.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

At a dog food factory, the Joker and his two henchmen are preparing to put a dose of Joker Venom into the dog food mixers. As the Joker is explaining his plan, the two henchmen begin to question his plan. Puzzled by their sudden ability to question his authority-as well as the first time they have ever spoken...!-the Joker begins to confront them when they turn into Clayface. Having escaped from Arkham Asylum, Clayface is set to take down the Joker and return him to Arkham once again. Batman and Robin arrive to find Clayface standing watch over the Joker, who is "glued" to the concrete floor via parts of Clayface's body. Clayface reveals to Batman that Ethan Bennett has returned, but Batman is hesitant to believe him. Shortly though the Police arrive and Clayface tells Batman that he called them. When the Police arrive at the scene they congratulate Batman for taking down The Joker. Batman informs them that Clayface actually took down the Clown Prince of Crime, but they disbelieve him and return The Joker and Clayface back to Arkham Asylum.

Later in his specially designed cage, Ethan Bennett is visited by his childhood friend Bruce Wayne, who tells Ethan that the research branch of Wayne Industries is close to developing a cure for his condition. Unfortunately, Ethan tells Bruce that this is something he may not want, hoping to prove his stability, return to the police force and use his powers for good. Bruce retorts that they have been down that road before, and the process failed.

Meanwhile, at a casting call for a dog food commercial, a has been actor is trying to find work. Auditioning for the commercial and failing to be cast, he is dejected. Looking at his own photo at a diner, he views a news report on Ethan Bennett and the prospects for a cure to his condition from Wayne Industries. Appalled at the potential loss of ability to morph into anyone, the actor sets out to make the performance of his lifetime by breaking into Wayne Industries and stealing the sample of Ethan Bennett/Clayface scientists are using there to create an antidote. As he is making off with the sample, he is confronted with guards and hurriedly drinks the entire container and slips away. Batman later finds out that the man who broke in was Basil Karlo and the sample he digested was a super concentrated portion of Clayface.

Karlo returns to the dog food commercial audition morphed as a more attractive male lead. When his audition is passed over again he goes insane and attacks the casting directors. Sitting in the diner again, a news bulletin comes on describing the events at the commercial audition and the antics of an apparently new Clayface. Astonished by his new found fame, and after the waitress recognizes him, Karlo bolts from the diner and begins a crime spree. When he is robbing a bank, he is confronted by Batman. Karlo states that he needs the money to live the life of his newfound celebrity. A fight ensues and Karlo is able to slip away from Batman.

When Bruce Wayne visits Ethan Bennett at Arkham to tell him the status of the antidote, Bennett pleads with him to help him get a short term release so he can take down the new Clayface. Bruce tells him that he cannot, and a short time later when a guard is bringing Bennett his dinner, he escapes.

In the Batcave, Batman and Robin are tracking the new Clayface when the bulletin goes out that Bennett has escaped. The antidote is also ready, so Batman tells Robin to find Bennett while he retrieves the antidote. When the two meet up at the Batsignal later, the new Clayface morphs from Robin and attacks Batman, or so it seems. Bennett, disguised as Batman, attacks Karlo as Batman shows up with the antidote. After a fight between Batman, Bennett and Karlo, the new is trapped after Batman throws freezing capsules at him. Turning to Bennett, Batman askes him to take the antidote, but he refuses and knocks it from Batman's hand. Swooping down from above, Robin is able to catch the antidote and returns it to Batman.

Just as Batman and Bennett are rediscussing the prospect of him taking the antidote, Karlo breaks from the freezing shell and attacks. Throwing himself over Robin as Karlo breaks the supports on a bridge, Bennett falls with Karlo into a shallow ravine. Hoping that they have disarmed Karlo finally, Batman and Robin move away from the scene. Karlo however, as once last performance in him and attacks Bennett. Taking the fight to the next level, Bennett begins to force himself down Karlo's mouth, occupying him from the inside and out and inhibiting Karlo's movements. As they are momentarily stable, Batman fires the antidote at Karlo at Bennett's request and it engulfs both men, returning them to their natural human forms.

Bruce later visits Ethan at Arkham, who hopes that he can prove himself inside Arkham and askes Bruce to "shoot hoops" with him soon after he is released. Karlo meanwhile is playing chess with The Joker, who easily beats Karlo and knocks a piece outside the recreational area bars. Karlo stretching to reach the piece with a finger is able to morph his finger and grab the piece with Clay-like abilities.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Trivia

  • On the roof of police h.q., "Robin" smacks his fist into the palm of his hand and says "Gosh, Batman!" This is likely an homage to Burt Ward's overly hammy delivery in the 1966 live-action version.
  • Near the end of the episode, Basil Karlo plays chess with The Joker, the creator of the original Clayface.
  • The final shot of this episode is reminiscent of X-Men: The Last Stand, hinting that the cure may not be permanent for the second Clayface.

[edit] Quotes

  • Joker: (to Punch and Judy) Ok, 1. You never ever talk to me like that, and 2. When have you two ever talked at all? (Punch and Judy turn into clay) Oh no!
    Punch and Judy: Oooooh yeeeeessss... (they fuse together and become Clayface)
    Joker: Clayface!
  • Clayface: It's time you finally paid for making me into this monster, Joker!
    Joker: Pay? You should thank me. Detective Bennett was so blah. This is an improvement!
    Clayface: This is a curse!
  • Clayface: This time, Joker, there's no escape! (grabs him)
    Joker: How about you put me down and we settle this like gentlem--? [Clayface muffles him]
    Clayface: Oh, we'll settle it alright.
  • Batman: (after arriving with Robin) Don't do it, Clayface.
    Clayface: Hey, Bats, been expecting you. (about Robin) Who's the kid?
    Robin: The name's Robin. Allow me to introduce my foot to your--
    Batman: (about Joker) Put. Him. Down.
  • Female Judge: Next, please. Basil Karlo.
    Basil Karlo: You can stop the auditions because you are looking at the new face of Waggie-Time Dog Food.
    Female Judge: Yeah, well we need to redo anyway, just for formality.
    Basil Karlo: It's magic time. Waggie-time is the only premium dog food that's good enough for my best friend. It has the rich, meaty taste that dogs crave. Waggie-Time! It's Waggerific!
    Female Judge: Ok we've seen enough. I'm afraid you just don't have the right look.
    Basil Karlo: What is it now? My nose? Last time my ears were too big. Before that I was too short. What do I have to do to get a stinking part?!
    Female Judge: Maybe you should thinking about acting classes.
    Basil Karlo: Acting classes?! Fwah! You wouldn't know a good actor if you tripped over one. One day, everyone in Gotham will know this face.
  • Basil Karlo/Clayface II: (Repeated line) It's magic time!
  • Basil Karlo: (after entering the bank) It's magic time! Clayface, a most pitiful freak of nature. But it was not a mutation that turned him into a monster - rather his fellow man ,who viewed this troubled soul as a pariah. (uses his powers to get cash) And, although he knew it was too late, he secretly hoped for a chance of redemption
    Batman: Show's over, Karlo. It's not too late to get help.
    Robin: It is too late for acting lessons, though.
    Karlo: [Starts to transform into Clayface II] Sorry, Batman, but this is the role I was born to play!
  • Reporter: Clayface II continues his week-long crime spree with a robbery of the Gotham Jewerly Exchange. I interview Karlo yesterday in an undisclosed location.
    Basil Karlo: My mother. She walked out on us kids when I was five. We had to beg on the streets. My sister, little Susy used to ask why. She had to go to bed hungry every night. I'm sorry. Are you crying?
    Reporter: No. What about the Batman?
    Basil Karlo: Hey this isn't about Batman! It's about me!
    Reporter: Then you're not concerned the Dark Knight will stop you?
    Basil Karlo: Look, lady, Gotham's got a new leading man!
  • Batman: You're not a criminal, Karlo. Why use these powers to become one?
    Clayface II: Because that's what the role is, isn't it, Batman? Now that I'm a celebrity, I'll need the cash to start living like one! Now answer me a question: how long can your little buddy hold his breath?
    [Batman turns to see Robin being suffocated by a piece of Clayface II. This distracts him long enough for Clayface II to escape.)
  • Basil Karlo: (disguising as a scientist) Okay, people, where are we? Let's go. Talk to me.
    Scientist No. 1: Can I help you, Dr... Norvuum?
    Basil Karlo: Somebody point me to the Clayface mutagen. I need to run an electron scan stat!
    Scientist No. 1: Can I see your clearance?
    Basil Karlo: I got your clearance right here, poindexter! [pushes him aside and runs off with the mutagen]
    Scientist No. 2: Hey, come back!
    [The alarm came and the two guards are trying to find who causes the alarm]
    Basil Karlo: High unstable sample coming through! I need to get to the electron chamber stat!
  • Basil Karlo: (disguising as Brock) And has the rich, meaty taste that dogs crave. Waggie-Time! It's Waggerific!
    Female Judge: Thank you, uh, Brock. I think we've seen enough.
    Basil Karlo: (as Brock) So, when do we start shooting?
    Female Judge: I'm sorry but you're not just right for the role.
    Basil Karlo: Really? Because if my look is the problem, that I can change. [shapeshifts into various forms, before becoming himself] I can even play the dog. [shapeshifts into a werewolf and attacks the judges]
  • Reporter: Three people were hospitalized today following an attack by an unusual suspect with the powers of the supervillain Clayface
    Basil Karlo: Oh, man. What have I done? My life is ruined.
    Reporter: With Ethan Bennett in custody, the police turn their attention towards a second Clayface: a man identified by the victims as actor Basil Karlo.
    Basil Karlo: Great! They know it's me! (suddenly realises something) They know it's me? (he runs through TV channels, seeing he is the subject on each one.)
  • [Karlo disguises himself as Robin and seems to catch Batman off guard, only to discover it is Bennett]
    Ethan: Knew you couldn't resist a chance to take down the Batman.
    Karlo: How did you know it was me?
    Ethan: [smiles] My grandma can do a better Robin than you.
  • Basil Karlo: Why are you even here? You're not a cop anymore.
    Ethan Bennett: I am a cop. Always was. Always be. And I will not rest until I bring you down.
    Basil Karlo: (snorts) Not gonna happen.
    [Ethan becomes Clayface and pounces at Karlo, but Karlo knocks him backward easily]
    Basil Karlo: You see, I've been practicing, (transforms into Clayface II) and this Clayface sequel is even bigger and badder than the original.
    [Clayface and Clayface II fight, resulting in Clayface II having Clayface at his mercy]
    Clayface II: You should have stayed in Arkham.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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