Clayface: Celebrity Dirt # 3 Cover A First Printing 2026 BN

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #3 is the pivotal mid-point issue of DC Comics' six-part noir body-horror miniseries. Written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle with artwork by Fran Galán, the issue was officially released on September 9, 2026. 

Key Details

• Creative Team: Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Writer), Fran Galán (Artist), Patricio Delpeche (Colorist), and Tom Napolitano (Letterer).
• Release Date: September 9, 2026.

Plot Summary & Major Revelations

The issue shifts into high gear as Basil Karlo plays detective in Los Angeles to uncover who is stealing his spotlight and identity.

• The Missing Neighbor: Basil's only true friend in Los Angeles, his neighbor Katie Palmer, goes missing. Basil investigates her disappearance by physically melting through a letterbox to search her apartment for clues and tracing her phone. 
• The Massive Continuity Retcon: Basil seeks out his former Arkham Asylum physician, Dr. Victoria October. During their tense conversation, a massive secret is unearthed: Dr. October reveals that "Basil Karlo" was actually just a Hollywood stage name adopted by a man originally named Matt Hagen. This bombshell merges the identities of the first two classic comic book Clayfaces (Basil Karlo and Matt Hagen) into a single individual who has largely forgotten his true past due to decades of shape-shifting.
• The Villain's Side: Meanwhile, Katie has been abducted by a clay-powered killer wearing a clown mask (later revealed as Preston Payne, the third Clayface). He uses a grotesque pink clay formulation and forces Katie to look into a bucket containing the melted remains of his previous victims, offering her the grim choice to either drink a mutating chemical elixir or join them. 
• Clay vs. Clay Action: The issue features an atmospheric, dark battle where another clay-powered attacker attempts to ambush Basil. Basil ultimately triumphs by demonstrating far superior control over his morphing abilities.