In this review of Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #2, our primary Clayface continues in his bid to expose “Basil”.
CLAYFACE: CELEBRITY DIRT #1
Written by JUDE ELLISON S. DOYLE
Art and Main Cover: FRAN GALAN
Variant Covers: MIKE DEL MUNDO, HAYDEN SHERMAN
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 7/8/26
This review contains spoilers
After an opening scene where a very Manosphere-coded radio host has a literal meltdown, we catch up with our main character. Since we last saw him, he’s taken on the appearance and home of a man named Bob Palmer, who’d died the same night he came to town. Bob’s neighbor Katie regularly checks in on him.
As Katie leaves, she bumps into a guy with a rather creepy looking appearance. She tells him he can come to the diner later before she leaves.
Meanwhile, our main Clayface reaches the studio with the intention of trying to expose “Basil”. He takes on a PA’s appearance, but is told he (or in that case, she) shouldn’t bother Mr. Karlo. He’s a nice enough guy, but there have been issues between him and women. And we see what seems to be one of those encounters…
At the diner later on, in his Palmer disguise, Clay overhears people talking about various celebrity scandals and trying to match Karlo up to them. But his little faux pas involved becoming a literal monster and wrecking a city (as one does).
“Bob” then asks Katie if anyone’s ever given up on her, hoping someone can relate. She tells him about her estranged twin sister, and the hurdle accident that led to a painkiller addiction that drove the two apart.
After their chat, “Bob” heads home. Katie soon sees a figure approaching from the opposite direction…and he looks exactly like Bob. Alarm bells instantly go off as Katie rushes for the diner. But she’s soon intercepted by something suspiciously clay-looking in appearance…
At this point, I’m very curious how many Clayfaces are currently active. The prior issue stated that there were eight known ones, but how many are actually in play? I’m pretty sure the creepy masked figure Katie saw near the beginning and the “Bob” that grabbed her at the end are the same guy, as that would make for a nice bookend for this installment. But is that one actually the one currently known as Karlo? Or is it a different one?
It’s brought up that he’s had negative encounters with young women, like many rich and powerful types. Katie’s not exactly middle-aged, and likely the type of woman “Karlo” would harass.
Unless he’s REALLY fast, those two unsettling encounters with Katie couldn’t be our main one. But I also wonder if it’s possible for someone to be of the Clayface sort without realizing it. The radio host at the beginning mentions using a product on the air, before his face begins to melt…Or would that have been a flashback? If it’s a flashback, then maybe he’s the one impersonating Karlo? He certainly gave off raging misogynist vibes on his show, he has a tendency to attack women…
The artwork continues to be gorgeous, particularly when it delivers on promises of body horror. And with this premise, there’s plenty of that to be found.
Loved the references to various disgraced celebrities, as well, at the diner, when people are trying to recall how they know the name Basil Karlo. Honestly, scandals can be so plentiful at points that it’s hard to keep track of who did what. Not only that, but “Bob’s” expressions of pure shock over the rumors were kind of perfect. He still knows himself as Basil Karlo, so he’s definitely just thinking: “They’re saying I did WHAT now?!”
The expressions in here are pretty great, overall. Utter fear as someone realizes that what’s happening to them just ain’t natural, in particular. One can just about hear the panic that would go with that, as well, and it helps push the horror aspect.
Final Thoughts
In its second installment, “Clayface: Celebrity Dirt” adds even more intrigue, and continues a proud tradition of body horror. The mystery and horror of the tale continue to hold my interest and I look forward to part 3.
