The Queer Tragedy of Clayface | Batman the Animated Series

In this video essay I look at all of the queer subtext in the Clayface episodes of Batman the Animated Series.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction
1:43 Feat of Clay (Parts 1 & 2)
9:31 Mudslide
14:03 Growing Pains
15:55 Steve Perry Speaks
17:24 Conclusion

#batmantheanimatedseries #clayface #lgbtq

[ScrambledAndBenedict]

This episode is living-proof that you don't need to show actual blood and gore to be completely and utterly terrifying.

[Inferno]

One thing I adore about Teddy, Clayface's partner, is that despite his new affliction and appearance, he didn't care what he looked like. Not even in the slightest. He didn't run in terror or shame, he stood by his side to the very end. Even when Clayface was shouting and screaming at him. Teddy truly cared for Matt even when he became Clayface, he never ran from him. He tried his damn best to help him. But Matt was gone, and Clayface was all that was left.

[tommylangstrom]

HOLY SHIT IT JUST HIT ME, HE TAKES ON THE FORM OF AN ATTRACTIVE WOMAN TO GO UNDETECTED BY TEDDY, BECAUSE AN ATTRACTIVE WOMAN IS THE LAST THING A GAY MAN WOULD BE INTERESTED IN

[tsyko]

A notable aspect of Annie and Clayface's refusal to accept her identity is possibly thay those that fall into the queer identity but then are abused for it are more likely to, like you said, become abusers, including of their own children. If their children go on to also match their own experience, they feel possibly betrayed, either by their child or the world, that the child gets to live a happy queer life while the abuser had to suffer, and thereby the abuser feels a need to correct this supposed injustice. In this sense, Clayface could not accept that this reproduction of him could both be happy or have a life or their own without knowledge of the hardships of the world that he experienced.

[waffleless]

I can’t believe I forgot about Growing Pains. That episode left a major impact on me as a kid.

[icetide]

Clayface horrified me as a kid, because obviously, but I also became fascinated with him. That fascination has made me see the many layers of metaphors that create him, more than many other villians. Most other villians are one main concept turned into a person, but Clayface is a mix of queer metaphors, the way actors can be treated, the cycles of abuse... He's surprisingly complex and I'm happy he scared that little me so long ago.

[empatheticrambo]

The clayface episodes are all very complex, and I think it is good how these stories are up to these forms of interpretation. Whether intended or not, a good and deep series of episodes.

[dbzcupcake]

Tbh I don't think he's genderfluid (at least not this version the Harley Quinn show Clayface definitely is)

I think this version of Mat is just a good actor and is willing to play any role he feels benefits him at the time.

[King_Hehehe]

While the official material describes him as becoming as ugly and distorted on the inside as he is on the outside, I would argue the opposite. Matt Hagen was vain, yes, but his biggest issue was his inability to process stress in a healthy way, leading him to become abusive to his lover and lash out at anything and anyone around him. This may or may not have been the case prior to his initial injury, but was absolutely the case before becoming Clayface. Upon his transformation, he could no longer hide from the fact that he couldn't even control himself (both physically and emotionally), and had a constant visual reminder of the monster he had become. If his "I'm not even a man anymore" remark is in regards to shame over his own helplessness, this would further support the idea that the only thing that really makes him a villain is his own inability to look inside himself and accept his own faults. Which, I suppose, does lead back to the point of vanity after all.

[therongjr]

When "Feat of Clay" first came out, my younger brother (who was 9 at the time!) instantly picked up on the same-sex relationship.

[BiteSized_]

Fun fact: Clay face was voiced by Ron Pearlman who would go on to play Clay in Sons of anarchy

[zemox]

Wow. I never realised how complex the Clayface episodes were. I knew they were nuanced, but I never knew about the queer subtext. It makes me appreciate Clayface even more.

[Xehanort]

I wonder if Teddy ever found out Matt was still alive or if Stella found out he survived Mudslide.

[ProfessM]

I always just took Annie as toxic parents not wanting their kids to make friends with someone they didn't like but the trans angle feels like I missed a stop sign at a 4 way intersection. Like how did I not?

[mollydixon]

Clayface's sex and gender identity is an interesting subject. Personally, i think it's safe to say that Clayface, as an anthropomorphic blob, has no defined sex in the human sense. But, it is impossible to make assumptions on his gender identity simply because we never got to know this version of Matt Hagan well enough beforehand, and it would stand to reason that his gender identity wouldn't change along with his body. Just to clarify my thoughts and how I've come to define these terms...I've always thought of "sex" as the purely physical, biological, and chromosomal components one is born with, whereas "gender" incompasses all the psychological and emotional aspects of the self. For some, these things are in sync, and for others, they are not. Your mileage may vary.

[johntheechidna]

I really feel sorry for Matt Hagan's Clayface. A life ruined by a corrupt industrialist and made into another of Batman's rogue's gallery. He, like Two-Face and Mr. Freeze, is a tragic character.

His moment when he remarks to Teddy that he's not an actor any more, or even human, and breaks down, is heartbreaking.

As for queer or genderfluid...that never occurred to me watching the episodes with him.

[williamswonderland]

I don't think he's gender fluid he's an actor puting on parts that fit his needs

[tashibalampkin]

5:37 The way Teddy grabs Matt arms has so much affection in it.

[cyclopsboxhead]

No clue how I never picked up on the inherent transness of clayface. But when you put his transformations all side by side like that it clicked for me. And now it makes so much sense. Of course Clayface is the shapeshifter of batman's rogues gallery, and there is an inherent transness in the shapeshifter archetype. But all of this subtext just makes it that much better in Hagen's case.
Also!! Stella in mudslide reminded me of Mudface in James Tynion IV's Victim Syndicate arc in Detective Comics. Glory Griffen was a production assistant on one of Clayface's films and actually tried to stop his rampage but was horrifically disfigured by chemicals in the process. The idea of this person that knew Clayface in his earlier life is a fun little thing character that I appreciate seeing. And both Glory and Stella have an idea of who Clayface is that they want him to conform to. Stella sees the man, but Glory sees the monster.

[destroyer]

I always felt Annie deserved some new incarnation. I mean having an ally who has some Clayface powers would be a fun thing to play with if you ask me.