Ethan Bennett

*And I'd be long gone with my loot,taking any face I wanted: alive, dead or nonexistent.*
―Clayface after Batman blew his Grundy disguise.[src]
**Ethan Bennett** is a former Gotham City Police Detective before he was driven insane by the Joker and transformed into **Clayface**.

## Clayface I

* Ethan Bennett
* Clayface

### Aliases

Slapjack (by Joker)Wayne's Pet Freak (by Weber)

### Occupation

Detetctive (formerly)Criminal (formerly)
Chief of the GCPD (possible future)

### Powers

Superhuman strengthSuperhuman durability
Regenerative abilities
Shapeshifting
Impersonation

## Appearances

### Portrayed by

Steve Harris (English)Yuto Kazama (Japanese)
Juan Guzman (Spanish)
Gilles Morvan (French)
Krzysztof Banaszyk (Polish)
Johan Hedenberg (Swedish)
Duda Espinoza [Season 1 & 2], Eduardo Borgerth [Season 4] (Braziilian Portuguese)

### Final appearance

*Clayfaces* (full final appearance)*Artifacts* (final chronological appearance)

## Physical Appearance

Ethan Bennett's design is a fairly simple, fairly tall, strong African-American man with a shaved head. He has blue eyes, a trait he shares with his best friend (although Ethan's eyes have a green tint) . He usually wears a suit often without his jacket, with a light blue shirt, suspenders, tie, black pants and shoes.

As Clayface, his body becomes a gray humanoid slime, and his eyes black with green irises. The way a line of clay extends from his eye to partially cover his mouth is reminiscent of Jonah Hex's scar.

## Personality

At first, Ethan was a respected cop who viewed Batman as a hero to Gotham. He would even avoid catching Batman, despite his job as a police officer asking him to. However, Clayface held a vengeful side, as shown when he tried to kill his boss for firing,him and when he tried to kill the Joker to get revenge. Batman would have to stop him, reminding Clayface that killing doesn't solve anything. Ethan does have better control over his abilities later on.

## History

### Childhood

Ethan Bennett met Bruce Wayne when they were forgotten during a school trip to the Museum of Natural History. They became friends on the spot. Growing up,the two would practice basketball at a gym when they were teenagers. The two then parted ways to pursue their careers.

### The GCPD

Ethan was first seen telling Chief Rojas that Batman beat Rupert Thorne and his thugs. The chief gave Ethan a new partner and told him to start hunting for Batman. They learned that a criminal known as the Joker has released the Arkham inmates,so they rushed to put a stop to that. Ethan saw Batman,but he escaped before he could catch him. He later met Bruce and Alfred Pennyworth. He discussed with his old friend how he believed the Batman might be good for Gotham,despite popular belief. He and Yin then tracked down Batman and Joker fighting on a hot air balloon and then sent the clown to Arkham after his defeat. Internally, Ethan approved of the Dark Knight's actions.

Ethan Bennett was one of the most respected members of the GCPD, and Bruce Wayne's best friend. Whereas his partner, Detective Ellen Yin, saw things in black and white, Ethan saw the gray in almost everything, and was more willing to allow Batman to co-exist with the GCPD. In fact, Ethan often found himself wondering if the caped vigilante he was pursuing was actually helping the city. During most of season 1, Ethan defended Batman and his actions, while Yin often disagreed, even considering Ethan's defense statements further confirmation that Batman was a vigilante.

The two cops later heard of a criminal named Bane causing damage in the city,and they found out that Batman has been injured. With Batman injured, Bane continued his rampage, making it harder for the police to stop him. Eventually, Ethan saw Batman well with the Batbot, and he saw that Yin got injured from Bane, so Ethan let Batman fight and defeat Bane,while he called an ambulance. He then sat next to Yin in the hospital while she recovered.

Ethan and Yin later investigated a series of robberies committed by birds. They were then seen coming to Bruce's party to check out the matter,and they then discovered that a bird stole jewelry from a woman. It turned out that the thief was Penguin and his Kabuki Twins. Batman stopped him and then played basketball with Ethan the following day.

Ethan and Yin later chased Batman after he stopped a criminal, coming across Wayne Industries,where they see bats. Ethan joked saying Bruce is Batman but Yin said they wanted to have a look anyway. Together, they found Dr. Langstrom working on a formula to be the ultimate bat in Gotham (his cover story was curing deafness). The two then left him to his work. Later,Langstrom became Man-Bat and went on a rampage. Bennett and Yin tried to stop himnbeliving Langstrom is Batman. The Man-Bat kidnapped Ethan and left Batman to chase him. Batman saved Ethan from Man-Bat and put him in Arkham.

Later, Ethan and Yin were seen investigating a crime caused by Mr. Freeze. During Batman's battle with him, the detectives arrived to see Freeze get away. Yin tried to peek behind the mask, but Batman escaped. Later as Batman fought freeze and beat him Ethan said that Batman may be a criminal but he is his type of criminal.

He briefly appeared arresting Hideto Katsu while Yin was talking on the news.

One night, he was lured into a trap by Joker and was planed to be tossed in the river along with every other powerful authority in Gotham. Thankfully, Batman saved them and sent Joker to Arkham.

### Clayface

Soon in *The Rubberface of Comedy*, Ethan's superior, GCPD Chief Angel Rojas, ordered the entire police force to take down every masked and costumed "freak" in Gotham City. Ethan protested, defending Batman as an asset to the city and credited him with helping to capture Joker. In response, an infuriated Rojas threatened to suspend Ethan, and told him to figure out where his loyalties lain. Ethan decided to prove that he's a good cop, and attempted to take down Batman, but during a scuffle with Joker and his new henchmen Punch and Judy, both Batman and Joker escaped. Later, when he investigated a break in at a museum, Ethan was captured by Joker, brought back to his hideout, and was subjected to psychological torture, which drove him to the brink of insanity. Yin and Batman rescued Ethan, but not before he was exposed to Joker's "Joker Putty" Formula; and inhaled it. Ethan began to immediately cough, and the formula took effect. (When the "Joker Putty" touched a surface, it turned it to just that: a malleable putty. Joker was about to spray Ethan with it, and said that he wanted to know what it did to humans. When Batman knocked it out of his hands with a Batarang, it fell and broke,which caused Ethan, still tied to his chair, to inhale the fumes.) Batman captured Joker, who taunted Ethan as he was taken away saying "Have a rotten day". When Ethan told the media that Batman saved him and caught Joker, Rojas suspended him. At home, a depressed Ethan, still sick from the Joker Putty fumes, turned on the shower, and the hot mist in the room allowed the putty to take full effect, and Ethan's skin melted.

In *The Clayface of Tragedy*, Ethan, horrified by his transformation, and unable to speak clearly (due to his throat full of clay) sought help in the city, but was attacked by the police, who used a fire hose to wash him down a drain. Ethan then kidnapped Rojas and attempted to kill him, but was foiled by Batman and Yin. Ethan demonstrated his ability to shape shift and mimic voices, and claimed that he could be anyone that he chose. Yin and Batman tried to reason with him, but Ethan claimed that Joker "didn't just melt [his] body, he melted [his] *mind*. I'm a freak inside and out!" After a fight with Batman, Clayface nearly killed him, but was stopped by Yin, who begged him not to cross the line and get blood on his hands. Clayface turned back into Ethan, and commented that he never thought he'd see Yin defend Batman, before he sadly asked: "Yin, what's become of us?" before he allowed himself to melt down a drain. During a talk between Bruce and Yin in a diner, Ethan appeared for a few seconds, and the two ran after him. However, Ethan disappeared before they could find him. They commented: "He could be anywhere. He could be any*one*..."

In *Meltdown*, Clayface went to Arkham Asylum to kill Joker, but Batman stopped him by freezing him in place, unfortunately letting Joker escape from Arkham. Clayface later went on trial for his crimes, with Professor Hugo Strange giving him a clean bill of mental health. Ethan was put on probation: if he used his powers again, he would be put back in Arkham. Clayface became Ethan Bennett again, and got a job from his best friend, Bruce Wayne. When Joker broke out of Arkham to wreak chaos, Ethan became determined to save others from his fate, and became Clayface again in an attempt to stop the Clown Prince of Crime. At first, he and Batman worked together to bring the crazed super-villain down, but after Batman confronted him for his violation of court orders, Ethan felt betrayed and nearly killed Batman until Joker convinced him to become a criminal. He became Clayface permanently and was put back at Arkham.

In *Grundy's Night*, a swamp zombie known as Solomon Grundy, an old legend, attacked Gotham on Halloween. It soon turned out that he's really Clayface in disguise. Batman and Clayface fought in a wax museum where Batman defeated him and Clayface was sent back to Arkham.

### *The Batman Strikes!*

The character was incorporated (to a limited extent) into *The Batman Strikes!* comic book series after his appearance in the animated series.

In the comic book, Clayface pulled a stunt similar to turning into Solomon Grundy and turned into Catwoman to frame her for his robberies. Afterward, Clayface began a series of "copycat crimes" based on cases that he solved as a detective. In "Hit and Run", he turned into Joker and stole the Batmobile to get Batman to find Joker's hideout so that he could get his revenge. In "Escape," Clayface was manipulated by Hugo Strange to steal a chip that would help him get rid of the "voices" in his head. However, Strange used it to control him, and turned him into a giant that was designed to wreak havoc on the city. He was eventually freed by Batman, and the two worked together and stopped Strange. Batman had hope that one day Ethan would be cured

### Cured

In *Clayfaces*, Ethan promised to give up his life of crime to use his powers for good. Ethan seemed to have finally reformed. He tracked down and captured Joker who was in the middle of trying to gas dogs with Joker gas, by disguising himself as the Joker's henchmen: Punch and Judy. Ethan handed Joker over the police without using excessive force, and turned himself into the authorities, who took him to Arkham Asylum. However, Ethan did not completely regain Bruce's (and Batman's) trust. He was eager to leave Arkham and continue working as a police officer, although Batman refused to consider that request until Ethan was cured, and cited that he could easily go back to crime. Ethan then fought a second Clayface. Together, Ethan, Batman and Robin confronted Basil Karlo, the new Clayface. At the end of the episode, Ethan was cured from his condition when Batman fired an antidote into the two, and he was taken away to Arkham. While Ethan was completely cured of his mutation, Karlo still retained his powers. Ethan promised Bruce a game of basketball after he finishes his sentence.

### Future

In *Artifacts*, it was stated by police dispatch that Ethan became the new Chief of the GCPD in the year 2027. It was seemingly confirmed that he was indeed permanently cured.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Shape-shifting**
	+ **Instantaneous Regeneration**
	+ **Elasticity**
	+ **Limited Invulnerability**
	+ **Superhuman strength & stamina**
* **Clay-like Body** ***(Formerly)***
* **Mimicry**
* **Gliding**
* **Size Alteration**
* **Regeneration**
* **Density Control**
* **Bio-Fusion**
	+ **Bio-Fission**

### Weaknesses

* **Mental Disorder** ***(Formerly)***
* **Vulnerability to Cold:** Clayface could have been held in place using an ice pellet. ***(Formerly)***
* **Vunlerability to Water:** Highly pressurized water could have knocked out Clayface. ***(Formerly)***
* **Vulenrability to Hot Wax:** Clayface was vulnerable to being frozen solid with hot wax.

## Relationships

### Allies

#### Bruce Wayne

Bruce is Ethan's best friend,and the two would often go play bastekball together. They also entrust each other with their secrets,as Ethan told Bruce that he actually thinks the Batman is good for Gotham,and Bruce thought of telling Ethan Batman's identity (until Joker interferred). Even after he was turned into Clayface,Bruce trusted Ethan "like a brother",and even offered him a job at Wayne Indutries. That faith however was eventually lost,although Ethan promised to repair it for him after he was cured once he finishes his sentence. Despite Bruce losing his trust in him,he still had hope of curing him,and cure he did.

As with the Batman,Ethan,unlike every other cop at the time,believed he was good for Gotham. Yin was ultimately convinced he was right when he transformed into Clayface.

#### Ellen Yin

Ethan was assigned as Yin's partner to help bring down the Batman. She quickly grew fond of him,and the two would work together on various cases. This all changed when Joker turned Ethan into Clayface. After Yin found out about Ethan's alter ego,she shed a tear and remorsefully headed to stop him. She convinced him to spare Batman's life. Before fleeing he asked her what has become of them,dropped tears,then left. The next morning outside a cafe,Ethan was silently greeting Yin and Bruce before vanishing. Later on,Ethan was deemed innocent and was released on probation,as all of his actions were Joker's fault. Yin was relieved to see her old partner out of Arkham and shared a group hug with him and Bruce. After the Joker convinced him to give into villainy,Yin had no choice but to bring in Ethan. Ethan told her to say her goodbyes to Ethan Bennett,as from now on,there is only Clayface. Yin regretfully threw on him an ice pellet and froze him in place. She and Bruce then looked at him sadly as he was now another Arkham inmate. After Ethan was cured,he became chief of the GCPD in 2027 and worked alongside the now-comissioner Yin.

### Enemies

#### Angel Rojas

Rojas and Ethan did not get along well due to their varying views on the Batman. Ethan actually believed the Batman is good for Gotham. Rojas eventually stressed him to choosing to be with the Batman or the GCPD. The stress combined with Joker's torture and putty turned Ethan insane and transformed him into Clayface. Ethan then had a deep grudge against Rojas and attempted to kill him. This hate was not one-sided,as Rojas eventually admitted he did not like Ethan,and he was even frustrated when Ethan was let out of Arkham.

#### Joker

Ethan greatly despised Joker,as he is the villain who ruined his life by turning him into Clayface. He attemped once to sneak into Arkham to kill him,but Batman stopped him. Over time,Ethan rectified his ways and decided to only use his powers to simply stop him. Joker initially was not even aware Ethan Bennett was Clayface,but eventually,he became visibly terrified of him,sometimes even screaming for help.

#### Basil Karlo

Being the second Clayface,Ethan took it as his responsibilty to stop him,as he has all of his powers.

## Appearances

### *The Batman*

* Season 1
	+ *The Bat in the Belfry* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *Traction* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *Call of the Cobblepot* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *The Man Who Would Be Bat* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *The Big Chill* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *The Cat and the Bat* (As Ethan Bennett;cameo)
	+ *Topsy Turvy* (As Ethan Bennett)
	+ *The Rubberface of Comedy*
	+ *The Clayface of Tragedy*
* Season 2
	+ *Riddled* (mentioned)
	+ *JTV* (mentioned)
	+ *Meltdown*
	+ *Grundy's Night*
* Season 3
	+ *Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastermind* (Cameo in a photo)
* Season 4
	+ *Clayfaces*
	+ *Artifacts* (mentioned)

### *The Batman Strikes!*

* Issue 1: Penguin Rising (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 2: City of Bats (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 3: Outlaw and Disorder (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 4: Without a Chance (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 5: "Deadly Partner" (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 6: "The Cat's Prize" (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 7: "Icestorm" (As Ethan Bennett)
* Issue 14: "Sands of Time"
* Issue 16: "Hit and Run"
* Issue 26: "Escape"

## Trivia

* He seems to be similar to the Batman villain Two-Face. Since he couldn't appear due to appearing in *The Dark Knight*, Ethan was his replacement. However, unlike Two-Face, Ethan ultimately redeems himself.
* Ethan is one of the characters with their own leitmotif,alongside Batman,Batgirl,Robin,the GCPD (Yin,Gordon),Cash Tankenson,Superman,Green Arrow,Hawkman,Joker,Catwoman,Kabuki Twins,Killer Croc,Spellbinder,Gearhead,Harley Quinn,the Joining,Captain Slash,and Wrath and Scorn.
* Penguin's outfit in *Arkham Knight* is somewhat similar to Ethan's.
* Although both affected by the same mutagen, the polymorph forms of Ethan Bennett and Basil Karlo are very different. While Ethan has a more neutral color and is rounded, Karlo is on the contrary is much more rectilinear, has mud brown color, and with entirely red eyes.
* He resembles his voice actor Steve Harris, with the exception of the blue eyes.