Credits: Alan Grant (writer), Bret Blevins (pencils), Bob Smith (inks), Todd Klein (letterer), Adrienne Roy (colorist)
Summary:
While searching for the Abattoir, Batman is ambushed by Lady Clayface.
Meanwhile, Clayface invades a therapy session Leslie Thompkins is
holding for the children who witnessed the Abattoir’s fight with Batman.
He demands Graham Etchison turn himself over. While fighting Batman,
Lady Clayface flashes back to her life with Clayface. She recounts
Clayface’s escalating pain, which can only be alleviated by touching
another person and passing his contagion on. During a respite from his
pain, she was impregnated. Following her flashback, Lady Clayface
regains the upper hand on Batman.
Irrelevant Continuity: The Clayface in this story is Clayface III, Preston Payne.
Total
N00B: My only knowledge of Clayface comes from the ‘90s animated
series and the recent video games. Consequently, any image of Clayface
with an oatmeal can head and supervillain cape just looks wrong to me.
And I have no idea who Lady Clayface is.
Review:
This Abattoir storyline certainly has its share of detours, doesn’t
it? Alan Grant has apparently been roped into the Batman arc (which
even Doug Moench doesn’t seem too enthused about finishing), and has
decided to use it as a springboard for…a Clayface/Lady Clayface story.
Sure, whatever. The second chapter of the story makes the connection
clear, but at this point, the Clayface material comes across as a
totally arbitrary diversion. However, even as a diversion it’s still
more entertaining than anything directly related to Abattoir. Grant
does a good job of making the Mr. and Mrs. Clayface sympathetic
characters; more sympathetic than the person who’s actually Batman at
this point, to be honest. And the mystery of why they’re simultaneously
trying to kill Batman and kidnap Abattoir’s cousin makes me curious
enough to read the next issue. So far, this is the best Shadow issue
reprinted in the Knightfall books.
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