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: "His Name Is Clayface III"
Pages: 12

Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Tom Grummett
Inker: Gary Martin
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Helen Vesik

Reprinted In:
Batman Arkham:Clayface TPB (2017)

Feature Character(s)

• Clayface III (Preston Payne; last appearance in Secret Origins #23; next appearance in Detective Comics #604)

Supporting Character(s)

• Helena (last appearance in Batman Annual #11; next appearance in Detective Comics #604)

Villain(s)

• Matt Hagen (in flashback; last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Detective Comics #604)

Guest Appearance(s)

• Joker (last appearance in Batman #429; next appearance in Secret Origins Special #1)
• Two-Face (last appearance in Batman Annual #13; next appearance in Secret Origins Special #1)
• Mad Hatter (last appearance in Animal Man #10; next appearance in Arkham Asylum HC)

Other Character(s)

• Arkham Asylum security guards (Nate named; no further appearances)
• Preston Payne's date (dies in flashback; no further appearances)

Flashback Appearance(s)

• Clayface III (becomes Clayface; earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Batman Annual #11)

Cameo Appearance(s)

• Batman (in Payne's hallucination)
• Jack Ryder (in Payne's hallucination)

Comments:
This story retells the Post-Crisis origin of Preston Payne, the third Clayface.

Synopsis:
Preston Payne, aka Clayface III, sits in his cell in Arkham Asylum watching television. The program he watches is hosted by Jack Ryder and tells an abbreviated version of Payne's history. Angered, Payne begins telling his mannequin, Helena, what really happened.

Payne grew up with hyper-pituitarism which caused his face to have an inhuman shape. Despite the physical deformity, Payne had a solid mind. As he grew older, he has frustrated that doctor's could not help him. He then heard of the second Clayface, Matt Hagen, who could alter his appearance. Using a sample of Hagen's blood, Payne tried to cure himself. Instead he transformed himself into a hideous monster whose very touch was deadly to others.

As Payne finishes his recounting of past events, the guards look in on him. The television does not work, indicating that the program Payne was watching existed only in his now deranged mind.