Comic Title: Secret Origins #44
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: September 1989
On Sale Date: July 25, 1989 Shipping Date July 27, 1989
Source: Amazing Heroes, #168

Shipping Date July 25, 1989
Source: Previews, #5

Direct Market Date July 27, 1989
Source: Comic Shop News, #106, #108

Copyright Date July 25, 1989
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1989

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $1.50
Page Count: 48
Editor: Mark Waid

Title: "The Coming of Clayface"
Pages: 14

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Mike W. Barr
Penciller: Keith Giffen
Inker: Alan Gordon
Letterer: Agustin Mas
Colorist: Helen Vesik

Reprinted In:
Batman Arkham:Clayface TPB (2017)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (in flashback; last appearance in Secret Origins #13; next appearance in Secret Origins #44)

Supporting Character(s)

• Robin (in flashback; last appearance in Secret Origins #13; next appearance in Secret Origins #13)
• Julie Madison (in flashback; first post-Crisis appearance; no further appearances)

Villain(s)

• Clayface I (Basil Karlo; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Secret Origins #44)
• Clayface IV (Sondra Fuller; last appearance in Outsiders #22; next appearance in Detective Comics #604)
• Roxy Brenner and his men (gangsters; in flashback; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Morris Bentley (a film director; in flashback; no further appearances)
• Lorna Dane (a movie star; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Fred Walker (an actor and Lorna's boyfriend; dies in flashback; no further appearances)
• Kenneth Todd and Ned Norton (actors; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Clayface I (Basil Karlo; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #44)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Kobra (in flashback to Clayface IV's history)
• Looker (in flashback to Clayface IV's history)

Comments:
The flashback in this story reveals the post-Crisis origin of the original Clayface, Basil Karlo. It is an adaptation of Detective Comics #40.

Synopsis:
Lady Clayface visit Basil Karlo, the first Clayface, is the hospital. Karlo tells her his story. He was once a famous actor. When Hollywood was set to remake one of his classic horror movies, Karlo began killing cast members. After two murders, Batman deduced that Karlo, who wore a mask of clay, was the killer. Clayface was stopped when he tried to murder Bruce Wayne's girlfriend Julie Madison.

Since that day Karlo has been in prison and has desired revenge. Lady Clayface is not impressed and leaves, though Karlo begins to covet her powers.