DC Comics released Absolute Batman #23, written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Nick Dragotta, marking the full villainous debut of Clayface and the death of Tim Drake's Robin.
Clayface's Full Introduction
Clayface finally makes his proper entrance following initial setup in issue #10, where the character was first teased at Ark M's Transmutation and Plasticity ward. In the new issue, the shapeshifting antagonist launches a brutal assault on the Bat-Family, absorbing and smothering Jason Todd before targeting Tim Drake. During the confrontation, Clayface skewer Tim Drake on a pauldron spike, resulting in the character's death.
The Battle with Batman
Following the attack on the sidekicks, Clayface engages Batman directly. The villain utilizes his ability to mimic appearance, duplicating Batman's look during the combat to complicate the physical confrontation. Snyder and Dragotta utilize this sequence to escalate the stakes of the ongoing narrative arc within the Absolute Universe imprint.
Issue #23 is available now through comic book retailers and digital platforms. The elimination of a core member of the Bat-Family and the establishment of Clayface as a lethal physical threat permanently alter the power dynamics and character roster for the remainder of Snyder's run.
