Batman: The Animated Series – Episode #020 – Feat of Clay: Part 1

Episode #020 – Feat of Clay: Part 1
Original Airdate – September 8th, 1992

Matt Hagen, a popular actor is addicted to a strange chemical formula developed by Roland Daggett’s labs. This chemical gives him the ability to alter his facial features without makeup, keeping his looks so that his public doesn’t know he was horribly disfigured in an accident years ago. But in return for the stuff, Daggett has him play ‘roles’ that aren’t entirely legal. After a disagreement, Hagen is doused in the formula, becoming the deadly shape-shifter, Clayface.

Media by Jim Harvey, Borg4of3
Review by Robin III

Credits
Story Marv Wolfman & Michael Reaves
Teleplay Marv Wolfman
Directed by Dick Sebast
Supervising Composer Shirley Walker
Music Composed by Jeff Atmajian, Carl Johnson
Animation Services by Akom Production Co.

Voices
Kevin Conroy as Batman / Bruce Wayne
Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth
Ed Asner as Roland Daggett
Ed Begley Jr. as Germs
Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson
Dick Gautier as Teddy
Ron Perlman as Matt Hagen / Clayface
Brock Peters as Lucius Fox
Scott Valentine as Bell

Screen Grabs:

Pans
     

Quotes

BELL: Let’s finish this fast, before we have the law on our necks.
BATMAN (off screen): Too late, dirtbags.
BELL: Huh? Who said that?
BATMAN SLIDES DOWN HE ROPE UPSIDE DOWN AND WRAPPED IN HIS CAPE.
BELL: The Batman! Not him!
—
HAGEN (as Bruce Wayne): I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Wayne… Bruce Wayne.
—
BATMAN: Listen up, Scum Wad, ’cause I’m only going to ask you once.
BELL: Ahh!
BATMAN: Who was Lucius Fox meeting at the tram?
BELL: Wayne! Bruce Wayne!
BATMAN: You lying sleaze! You want to rethink that answer?
BATMAN DIPS THE BATWING’S FRONT AND BELL INTO GOTHAM BAY.
BELL: Ohh, no! Okay, okay, it wasn’t Wayne!

Review:

A poorer first part of Clayface’s origin is made up for in the second episode. The main highlight of this episode is Batman’s interrogation of Raymond Bell in the Batwing. Although the animation is not extremely well done, it is the best Batman interrogation scene ever.

This episode also brings Clayface’s origin to new levels, with Hagen being a disfigured movie actor who is the victim of thugs rather than a pretty boy jumping into a mystical pool in the comics. This Clayface is worthy of the Batman rogues gallery.