Comic Title: DC Universe by Alan Moore HC
Publisher: DC
Cover Date: 2012
On Sale Date: March 14, 2012 Direct Market Date March 14, 2012
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Direct Market Date February 8, 2012
Source: Previews, #277

Cover Price: $39.99
Page Count: 464

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "Mortal Clay"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Batman (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: George Freeman
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski

Reprinted From:
Batman Annual #11 (1987)

Feature Character(s)

• Batman (last appearance in Outsiders Special #1; next appearance in Batman Annual #11)

Supporting Character(s)

• Commissioner Gordon (last appearance in Batman Annual #13; next appearance in Batman Annual #11)
• Vicki Vale (last appearance in Suicide Squad #1; next appearance in Batman #412)

Villain(s)

• Clayface (Preston Payne; first post-Crisis appearance; last appearance in Secret Origins #44; next appearance in Swamp Thing #66)

Other Character(s)

• Helena (a mannequin; next appearance in Secret Origins #44)
• An unnamed security guard (dies in this story; no further appearances)

Synopsis:
Preston Payne escapes from a fire. He then begins walking the streets of Gotham City in search of his love Helena, a mannequin. He finds her in the department store window at Rosendales. Clayface then begins living in the store and carrying on a secret relationship with the mannequin at night.

Payne begins to get paranoid after he finds the mannequin in the lingerie department. When he notices a security guard removing a scarf from the doll, he believes that she is having an affair. He kills the guard in anger.

The death of the security guard brings the situation to the attention of Batman. The Dark Knight enters the store to find Clayface, who now believes that Batman and Helena are have their own relationship. Batman eventually defeats Payne and sends him to Arkham with the doll. However Clayface is no longer in love with Helena, but he will not ask for a divorce.