clayface did not die, however. seven issues later, in "detective comics" #981, readers discover that basil karlo is still alive and retains his clayface powers (at least to some degree). for reasons unstated, dr. october conspired with him to fake his death. karlo watches as cassandra cain takes up residence at a health clinic in one of gotham's slums run by dr. leslie thompkins. he leaves a message for her, and then dr. october drives him out of gotham city.