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 Tragic Though Amusing History of Clay Face II"
Pages: 13

Writer: Dan Raspler
Penciller: Bernie E. Mireault
Inker: Denis Rodier
Letterer: Albert Tobias De Guzman
Colorist: Helen Vesik

Reprinted In:
Batman Arkham:Clayface TPB (2017)

Feature Character(s)

• Clayface II (Matt Hagen; first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Secret Origins #44)

Guest Star(s)

• Batman (in flashback; last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Secret Origins #20)

Villain(s)

• Clayface I (Basil Karlo; last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Detective Comics #604)
• A shadow demon (in flashback; no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Commissioner Gordon (in flashback; last appearance in Batman #436; next appearance in Batman #408)

Comments:
The story reveals the post-Crisis origin of the second Clayface, Matthew Hagen.

Synopsis:
Matthew Hagen was a small-time criminal who read an article on treasure hunting. Inspired, he sought out a sunken treasure, but instead found several clay pots will chemicals inside. When exposed to the chemicals, Hagen found that he could mold his body like clay and was bulletproof. He used these powers for crime. However, Batman stopped him multiple times. Hagen became Clayface one final time when the Earth was threatened by the Crisis on Infinite Earths. He was apparently killed by a shadow demon.

Year later, Basil Karlo, the original Clayface, locates the alley where Hagen was killed. He finds and collects the remains of Matt Hagen, intending to use them in his own scheme for vengeance.