1983 Clutch

It's really difficult to comprehend just how innovative the original Joe line was as a retail product.  It's not just the quality of the toys that stands out.  But, the manner in which the design team packaged and priced the toys was nothing short of novel.  One of the most compelling innovations was the inclusion of exclusive vehicle drivers in their vehicles.  I'm not sure if G.I. Joe was the first brand to do such a thing.  But, Kenner had not done it for Star Wars...instead opting to sell all figures individually.  Hasbro, though, created a slew of exclusive figures to operate their vehicles.  And, if you wanted Hawk, Grand Slam, Steeler or Clutch, you had to buy a vehicle to get them.  While the figures shared parts with carded figures it was Steeler and Clutch who featured original chest pieces that were not available anywhere other than on the vehicle drivers.

My affinity for Clutch began on the very first day that I saw a G.I. Joe figure in hand.  It was my younger brother's birthday in October of 1982.  On that day, he got an amazing amount of figures and vehicles...including some doubles.  On that day, I learned that Joe gear was compatible across figures.  And, very quickly, I took Grunt's backpack, Stalker's gun and a visor from, probably, Grand Slam and gave it all to Clutch.  I now had the ultimate figure.  I used this supercharged Clutch as my go-to figure for several weeks.  Finally, at Christmas, I opened my very own VAMP that was under the tree and I had a Clutch to call my own.  

That figure, though, didn't last too long.  Not because of breakage.  But, because Return of the Jedi toys appeared in the spring of 1983.  Joe was dropped in favor of my long running Star War obsession.  In July of 1983, though, I discovered the new addition of swivel arm battle grip.  This opened a whole new world to me.  And, with that one little change, Star Wars was forever second fiddle to Joe in our house.  But, this also meant that any straight armed Joes were relegated to a junk box.  But, this didn't really hold true for Clutch.  Since he was a vehicle driver, I could still make him work as the driver of the VAMP.  So, he was the only straight arm to remain viable.  In fact, he still got use as late as 1987 as my childhood Joe days ended.  

One thing I didn't have, though, was a swivel arm Clutch.  If you read my first write up on this guy from January of 2000, I note that I still didn't have a swivel arm Clutch.  In all my acquisitions of the late 1990's, a swivel Clutch was never among the scores of other original 13 figures I acquired.  It was not until 2004 that one came my way.  At the time, I had joined a start up company.  There were just two of us.  We were squatting in some office space of my boss's old colleague.  As part of our agreement, I'd help out their IT guy with some issues.  He was my age and we shared many interests.  He had a Star Wars figure in his office and it opened up conversations about toys we still had.  One day, he brought in a bag full of G.I. Joe figures and playsets.  He wanted to raise a bit of cash.  So, I sold most of them for him on JoeCustoms.com.  In this baggie was a near perfect swivel arm Clutch.  I told him I was interested in it and would buy it from him.  He set it aside as I awaited some money from items I was also selling.  When, the money for his items arrived, though, he gifted me the Clutch for helping him sell the other parts.  It is the very Clutch you see in the photos below and the only one I still own today.  

When I examine why G.I. Joe toys matter so much to me, it is stories like this stand out.  The toys are a pneumonic device for me to recall events of my life.  I have great recall from my childhood.  A big part of that is because I'm able to associate memories with Joe toys.  For other people, it may be music, TV or other pop culture influences that remind them of bygone days.  For me, it's G.I. Joe toys.  Those memories also extend into my adulthood.  I don't remember sitting in that hot server room with a wire storage rack on the back wall because the networking error of the day was so compelling.  I remember it because my friend and I would talk about old toys, cartoons and comic books.  I used to get Amazon deliveries at the office.  (Amazon sold inventory for Toys R Us, back then.)  With each box, we'd look at the items and recall childhood memories from the various repainted figures.  That was over 20 years ago.  But, the memories are vivid because of their association with Joe and Star Wars.

Among my childhood friend group, Clutch was the most memorable character.  I have a friend who can still recite the final stanza of Clutch's filecard.  It was that impactful.  Clutch's popularity was a function of him being the driver of the most popular and coolest vehicle from 1982, the most distinctive figure and a really fun character from the comic.  Clutch is also the closest of the vintage figures to the iconic "G.I. Joe" from the '60's.  The bearded head was an obvious homage to the guy who started it all.  But, Clutch's black hair really cemented the tribute to the line's origins.

Aside from his uniquely sculpted torso, Clutch also features some extra color on his chest.  7 of the original 13 figures featured three colors on their torso.  Clutch was one.  Aside from the black holster and green base, Clutch also has brown padding near his shoulders and protecting the zipper on his jacket.  It adds a nice layer of depth to Clutch's appearance and helps him stand out from his peers.  The color also accentuates Clutch's collar.  Most of the original Joes were wearing slight turtlenecks.  Clutch appears to be wearing a hoodie: just without the hood on the back.  It raises up to and you can see it protecting his neck since the VAMP doesn't have a windshield.  

Clutch is criminally underutilized.  He and Steeler feature the least used chest pieces of the original 13 figures.  Clutch was released in his original form in 1982 with the swivel arm update coming in 1983.  While he was originally only packaged with the VAMP, Clutch would become a mail away in later years.  Hasbro repainted him in tan as the driver of the VAMP Mark II in 1984. And, then, the mold was done as far as Hasbro was concerned.  While the VAMP travelled all over the world for exclusive uses in Europe, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and India, Clutch didn't really travel with it.  A Tan Clutch was included with the Takara VAMP.  But, there was no exclusive Clutch to accompany the South American or European VAMP releases.  In the 1990's, Clutch did appear in India, though.  He is one of the most obscure figures to get a full Funskool release.  But, he and Hawk are also the only Funskool characters to be exclusive to vehicle releases.  (All other Funskool vehicle drivers were random figures inserted into the box and not meant to be specific to their vehicle.)  There are tons of Funskool Clutch variants.  Some are great and others are pretty close to the Hasbro figure.  Clutch didn't appear after his early Funskool years, though.

This left Clutch as a forgotten mold.  And, as I'd argue that his chest piece was the best of the original figures, that seemed a shame.  For years, customizers used Clutch's chest to great effect on original designs for both Joes and Cobras.  It was not until 2018, though, that Clutch's chest would finally reappear.  Red Laser Army recreated the piece and used it on a variety of figures.  In some ways, the uses didn't create great figures.  But, in other ways, we finally got some variety that showed the piece's potential.  What we didn't get, though, was a Clutch to match all the various VAMP colors that are available.  You could have credibly created half a dozen Clutch repaints before even stealing his chest for other characters.  (Like a repainted General using his torso to match up with Hawk's appearance in G.I. Joe #16.)  Not getting a Clutch is an omission that couldn't get corrected as Red Laser lost the molds after the 2018 series and wasn't able to continue his work. 

As original 13 figures go, Clutch is surprisingly affordable.  High quality loose figures can be had for under $15.  And, mint and complete with filecard figures sell for around $25.  Clutch not having a visor or exclusive weapon really helps keep the price down.  And, the ubiquity of the figure shows just how many VAMPs Hasbro produced in the line's infancy.  The production numbers that show the volume of vehicles versus carded figures for at least the 1982 line is out there, somewhere.  It would be interesting to see how Clutch's production numbers compare to, say, Stalker or Scarlett.  But, for a major character who didn't get an iconic sculpting upgrade for a decade, it's surprising to see Clutch remain an acquirable piece for any collection.  

1984 Vamp Mark II - Around The Web

Back in 1984, I had a fleeting glimpse of the new catalog.  There were few items that really burned into my mind.  But, one of them was the VAMP Mark II.  Mostly, I remembered it because I had loved the original VAMP.  And, while my VAMP was still in decent shape, the thought of getting a new one was really exciting.  Once in hand, though, the VAMP Mark II had some issues.  The lack of gun really hindered its adoption in my collection.  And, in short order, the VAMP Mark II was actually in worse shape than my older and more battle worn VAMP.  

Today, though, I appreciate both designs.  The VAMP is still more used.  But, I do enjoy getting the VAMP Mark II out from time to time.  It photographs well and does work with a variety of different figures.  There's some good content featuring the VAMP Mark II out there.  So, be sure to check out the posts below.

Vamp Mark II Profile

Vamp Mark II by dreadnokdread

Vamp Mark II by masterbungle

VAMP Mark II by fun_time_at_serpentorslair

VAMP Mark II by gi_joe_for_fun

VAMP Mark II by sintechness

VAMP Mark II by gen_liederkranz

VAMP Mark II at 3DJoes.com

VAMP Mark II by evilface

VAMP Mark II by thedustinmccoy

VAMP Mark II at JoePedia

VAMP Mark II by 3rd_wave_sabotage

1982 VAMP

In October of 1982, the first G.I. Joe toys entered into my life.  My brother got about half the overall line for his birthday (with many duplicates).  Of the toys that he received, my favorite was the Clutch figure.  His overly detailed mold with the chest holster was enthralling.  I gave him Stalker's gun, Grunt's backpack and a visor and had him rule the day.  Of less interest to me was the vehicle which included Clutch, the VAMP.  Sure, it was cool.  But, I had mostly played with spaceships for several years and my ground play patterns were pretty much limited to figure only interactions.  In fact, I made Clutch fly because that was far more interesting than having him try to walk across our front yard.  As we got more Joes, though, and Star Wars fell more into the rear view window, the fun of ground vehicles started to become apparent.  And, the high quality construction of Joe toys quickly set them apart from many of their contemporaries.

After my brother got his spate of Joe toys in October, we had to wait until December for more.  In that time, though, my brother's VAMP took a beating.  Our front yard was bisected by a concrete sidewalk that ended in four or five stairs that lead to the public sidewalk that lined our street.  The VAMP would be revved up and driven over these stairs almost daily for two months.  It was usually the culmination of the adventure and the VAMP was either careening to its doom or escaping a disaster.  Often, the ending of the day's adventure would be determined by fate.  If the figures fell out of the jeep, they died.  If they remained inside, they lived.  So, you never knew how the day would end.  The VAMP held up very well to this rough play.  In time, pieces broke off and the roll cage cracked.  One trip over those stairs would turn any of my kids' 2022 toys to shards.  But, the VAMP took it for several weeks before the cold forced our toys inside.

For Christmas, though, I found my own VAMP under the tree.  Along with the MMS and Snake Eyes, it formed the group of presents that mattered the most to me.  They joined my RAM and Breaker to create the focus of my adventures for the next several months.  I kept my VAMP, though, in better condition.  It didn't get sent over the "waterfall" out front.  And, even by 1987, it was in pretty good condition (I had swapped out the bottom half of the VAMP for a Stinger's, though, as I liked the more advanced Stinger interior.) and I even still had all the pieces.  It began a pattern where I'd care for my toys while being less concerned about those of my younger brothers.  They would destroy their pieces.  So, I'd use theirs for dangerous maneuvers while keeping my samples in far better condition.

As a kid, I found the VAMP very frustrating.  I wanted it to be my favorite.  But, I found that the design was somewhat limiting.  If I wanted to move two figures around the battlefield, it was perfect.  If I wanted the passenger to be holding a rifle, that worked too.  You could even fit any of the 1982 backpacks into the cockpit if you wanted.  But, the bulkier gear that started to be included with figures starting in 1983 was problematic.  There simply wasn't room for them.  So, with no place to store the gear, I found the toy lacking.  I wanted my figures to carry all their accessories into battle.  If they weren't important, the figures would not have included them.  So, anything too small to accommodate them was of limited use.

The more frustrating aspect was that it could only hold two figures.  The comic and cartoon VAMPs seemed to grow or shrink based on the needs of the writers.  The toy was more constrained. I desperately wanted Rock and Roll or Flash to man the gun turret on the VAMP.  At various times, I attempted to attach the seat from a Whirlwind onto the back of the VAMP with rubber bands so that a third figure could sit by the gun.  These never worked as the bands would not hold.  And, the VAMP's gun is too low for a gunner to properly operate it.  So, my imagination was limited by the toy itself.  Eventually, my brother's VAMP's gun stripped off.  With it gone, that VAMP became more of a service vehicle that supported the fighting vehicles that still had their weapons.  Even years later, these service type vehicles were useful.  And, my youngest brother even turned my VAMP MK II into a cargo vehicle by cutting the off the back and making it removable so that you could access the cavity beneath the facade.

But, as my collection grew into the late 80's, the VAMP still served a valuable purpose.  It was small, light and fast.  It was Joe's only way to outrun a STUN (which was my Cobra's primary mechanized weapon).  The cannons that could swivel both 360 degrees as well as elevate gave the VAMP a field of fire that was really unmatched by other Joe vehicles.  It could shoot down Flight Pods and FANGs while still also tearing apart infantry who were on the ground.  The small machine gun on the vehicle's hood was another way for the VAMP to be deadly when it was both on the attack and fleeing from Cobra.  I never cared much about the steering wheel.  And, I removed the front roll bar and replaced it with the additional headlights from the VAMP Mark II as I thought it looked better.  The gas cans were fun as pursuing Cobras would shoot for them and, with luck, turn an escaping VAMP into a raging fireball.  I'd also remove them and use the carrier as a place for additional weapons or gear.  There's not much to the VAMP.  But, that simplicity is what allows it to excel.

There are few vehicles as iconic as the VAMP.  Released in the first year of the G.I. Joe line, it went on to become one of the hallmark vehicles that defined the toys for years.  The VAMP was the first vehicle to get reused when the VAMP Mark II was released in 1984.  And, even today, it's the iconic jeep for all Joes.  Collectors love VAMP re-releases and always seemed odd that Hasbro so underutilized the mold in the 2000's.  But, the body configuration they had for the Desert Striker had a lot of limitations and it was only when they retooled the original VAMP in the anniversary era that those who enjoyed later figures had an option to place inside Joe's classic fast attack vehicle.

1982 was a defining moment for me.  When the Joe line was released, I quickly abandoned Star Wars toys that had been the basis of my play since 1978.  The updated articulation and plethora of accessories that were interchangeable with every figure won me over.  And, as 1983 began, G.I. Joe were the only toys I wanted...until the late spring.  As Return of the Jedi came out, the toys that Kenner made to accompany it won the day again.  The updated accessories on the 1983 figures as well as plastic that didn't snap when the weapon was put into the hands too roughly pushed Joe to the background.    I left my small collection of 1982 Joes behind in the spring of 1983 and focused on all the new Return of the Jedi figures.  By the summer, I had all of the first wave of Jedi releases.  I didn't take any Joes with me when I visited relatives.  It was all Star Wars.  And, had Joe not made a major improvement in 1983, I'd have never gone back to it.  That will be the tale for next week's profile, though.

The VAMP is a constant of the Joe line from around the world.  Various configurations and constructions of the VAMP have appeared in Canada, Brazil, India, Europe and Japan.  If you want to spend $20 to get a VAMP, there are variants for that price.  If you want to spend $1000 on a VAMP, there are variants that will cost you that much, too.  Collectors who only focus on VAMP variants can still spend years and years tracking them all down.  In the past few years, more new variants have been discovered and new versions were even released in India.  In many ways, it feels like Hasbro could have done more with the VAMP mold.  While there are variants of it for Cobra, the desert, Tiger Force, the police, civilian racing and all shades of green, Hasbro could have pumped it out to match every Toys R Us exclusive set in the 2000's and collectors would have gobbled them all up.  It is my hope that the VAMP will return in some form in 2022 as part of the anniversary celebration.  Time will tell, I guess.

For my money, the VAMP is a classically iconic toy.  It is instantly recognizable as a G.I. Joe vehicle and stands on its own as one of the titans of the line.  The subsequent repaints did much to cement the vehicle's legacy.  Today, mint and complete VAMPs with the blueprints and Clutch will run you close to $100.  The steering wheel alone can cost $30.  But, there remain many cheap options available, too.  VAMPs missing the steering wheel and gas cans are still selling for under $25.  And, you can sometimes even get the gas cans in that price range.  There's tons of them available which helps sate demand and keep the prices more sane.  There's really no excuse to not own the classic VAMP.  It still looks good and works with most figures.  And, the multitude of factory customs in recent years have added to the spate of figures with whom the VAMP works well.  For me, the VAMP is the toy that helped launch my Joe obsession.

Action Force Panther Jeep - European Exclusive

To say that the VAMP is one of the most popular G.I. Joe vehicle molds is an understatement.  Aside from the elite status it still enjoys in the collecting world today, the VAMP was also a staple of Hasbro's worldwide export of the Joe property.  Flavors of the VAMP appeared just about everywhere G.I. Joe toys were manufactured and sold.  Heck, new variants of the base mold were still appearing in India in 2018!  VAMP collectors have dozens of body changes, updated colors and international packaging variants to chase down.  Some will cost thousands of dollars.  Others are more affordable.  One of Hasbro's first forays into international VAMPs was the Panther Jeep that was released in the European Action Force line.  This black and yellow repaint meant for the SAS subset remains one of the most distinctive VAMP repaints and still goes surprisingly well with a host of recently released Joe toys.

Joe collectors love their stickers.  As a young child, I did, too.  But, as I got older, I hated the stickers.  And, the vehicles I acquired after 1984 rarely have more than 50% of their stickers applied.  By, 1987, I may not have put on any at all other than the those for internal controls.  Mine dislike for stickers was a combination of not wanting affiliations all over my vehicles.  (Why would an elite, covert unit announce their presence by plastering their name all over their vehicles that anyone with a pair of binoculars could see miles away?!?)  But, it was also that I felt most of the stickers didn't add anything to the look of the toy.  In the Action Force line, though, the vehicles feature arrays of unique stickers that were more akin to the type of thing that would have survived my childhood scrutiny.  The Panther's stickers are a great example.  While there's a great deal of detail added to the vehicle by the stickers, the best one to me is the additional controls behind the passenger.  It makes the vehicle seem more than a simple combat jeep.

For me, this helps distinguish the Panther.  I see it as a more advance scouting vehicle that is less utility and more specialty.  The fact that the vehicle is a nice match for recent factory custom figures, though, is a nice bonus.  While there are SAS inspired Cobra Troopers, they are of less interest to me.  Instead, I see the Panther as a nice match for any of the multitude of new Joe inspired characters.  These feature many blacks and greens that work well with the black and yellow.  Plus, later figures are a tight fit in the VAMP.  Earlier molds both fit better with the size of the cab seats but also the aesthetic of the vehicle.

One of the things missing from the factory custom makers is vehicles.  It makes sense since multiple repaints are hard and some vehicles have assembly points that would be difficult to scale at a price point collectors would be comfortable with.  As the Action Force vehicles are relatively new to me, though, they help fill this void.  The vehicles are compatible with the figures and provide an alternative look for classic Joes...just like the factory custom figures do.  I'm at a point now where I see classic Joes as almost out of place among vehicles like the Panther.  It's just a personal association that's born of when these items began to enter my collection.  But, it helps give these alternative paint jobs a home that is important to me and continues to grow.

The Panther has a couple of variants.  The most notable difference is that the roll bar can be either yellow or black.  There are also very hard to find versions that have the SAS logo painted on instead of being a sticker that could be applied.  The roll bar variants don't seem to be nearly as difficult to find.  The Panther was available in both a window box and a picture box.  And, there are release country variants of the packaging, too.  One other important difference on the Panther from the VAMP is the wheels.  The Action Force tires are not the hard plastic found on the Hasbro release.  They are more rubbery and soft.  It's a tiny little detail that adds a tremendous amount of additional value to the vehicle.  The wheels feel more realistic and are more substantial.

The Panther is from the SAS series of Action Force toys.  The base black color scheme is one that collectors enjoy.  But, the yellow highlights make the toys more problematic.  The Panther was more ostentatious than the Wolverine repaint.  (Which is why the SAS Wolverine commands a premium today.)  But, it was in line with the FANG re-release.  The SAS figures, tend to be loved.  Both Blades and Hunter have become extremely valuable figures that collectors adore.  But, Stalker, the figure included with the Panther, has not.  The fact that he's a vintage Snake Eyes repaint hasn't helped him, either.  These days, it would be cheaper to buy a Stalker and remove all his paint than it is to buy a standard 1983 Snake Eyes.  That doesn't make sense.  But, it speaks to the overall availability of the Panther and its driver.

Depending upon the variant colors and inclusion of the figure or not, Panther jeeps are still affordable.  Mint and complete versions can be purchased for around $50...sometimes still including the figure.  Most of these deals are from European sellers.  So, shipping will significantly add to the overall cost.  But, for an Action Force exclusive repaint of a super popular mold that is done in collector approved colors, that's a pittance.  You'd have paid more for a complete Panther 20 years ago than you do today.  That's an extreme rarity.  But, the original popularity of the toy coupled with large volumes of overstock that found its way to the modern collecting world leave collectors with a cool repaint that is still priced at a level where most collectors can afford to buy one.  Items that fit that description are getting harder and harder to find.

1984 Clutch - VAMP Mark II Driver

All G.I. Joe vehicle drivers have to live up to Clutch.  I state this as fact only for the simple reason that, in the fall of 1982, Clutch was the coolest figure that my brother got for the birthday that introduced G.I. Joe into our lives.  While he was a vehicle driver, the awesome factor was mostly driven home by the complexity of his design and the fact that his chest was not shared with other figures from the time.  So, it is my own bias that puts Clutch as the standard for vehicle drivers.  But, through the line's early years, vehicle drivers often showcased designs that were equal, if not superior to, most of the carded figures from the year.  As the original Clutch's chest was not shared with other figures, Hasbro had less chance to recoup their costs from his design.  So, in 1984, when they produced an updated VAMP, Hasbro took a bit of a cheap way out and gave kids a newly repainted Clutch as it's driver.

As a kid, this Clutch was the only Clutch who really saw use.  Both of the original VAMPs from my childhood were acquired in 1982.  So, the standard Clutch figures were both straight arm.  By 1984, straight arm figures were used for parts or cannon fodder since they couldn't measure up to the swivel arm versions.  So, the only real representation of the character for me was this Clutch release.  And, as a kid who read the comic more and more as 1984 wore on, I simply had to have a Clutch figure.

Clutch was one of those characters that simply stuck with you.  Larry Hama did a great job with Clutch's development.  And, as Clutch remained a mainstay of the comic for many, many years, it's likely that he was a favorite of Hama's.  Clutch was the guy who everyone should hate.  He was slightly misogynistic and completely full of himself.  But, he did it in a way that people liked him.  Scarlett felt that Clutch was relatively harmless and that made his swarm charming.  It's difficult to create a character like this.  Usually, the dichotomy is too much and the character ends up actually being unlikable.  But, Clutch retained his comic popularity and is a collector favorite to this day.

The VAMP Mark II is a solid vehicle.  It didn't live up to the VAMP in my childhood.  But, it was OK and served its purpose.  All of the original Joe vehicle drivers really just "fit" with their vehicles.  As such, Clutch was really the only choice to drive the updated VAMP.  Putting anyone else behind the wheel would have been disingenuous to the character and to the kids to associated the two together.  So, in this case, such an early repaint was entirely forgivable.  And, since I didn't have a good version of the original, it was an excellent way to keep Clutch in my collection.

As the VAMP Mark II didn't last all that long in my collection, I often found this Clutch figure other vehicles to drive.  There weren't many desert vehicles back in 1984 and 1985.  But, Clutch was the perfect driver for my APC.  This vehicle lacked a true driver.  So, Clutch was a good choice, especially if his jeep was out of commission.  In 1985, my younger brother got a toy jeep (non-military) that was a golden brown color.  It was slightly too large for Joes.  But, the fit well enough.  Clutch and Dusty had many an adventure in that jeep.  Clutch was Dusty's personal driver for the few weeks when Dusty was my newest figure and was the main focus of my play.

Like all the pre 1985 Joes, though, Clutch's days were numbered.  Starting in the second half of 1985, I became much more careful with my figures.  While I still played with them: I was more cautious and conscientious about keeping my figures nice.  The Joes who pre-dated this turn in my mindset found themselves on the outside looking in as the newer, nicer versions of figures became my focal point.  But, by 1986 and into 1987, the reality was that Clutch was dated.  He was a smaller, less detailed sculpt than the new offerings.  And, I was heavily swayed by recency in my collection so the newer figures always took precedence over the older models.  So, Clutch went into a box and became an afterthought.

When I first started up Joe collecting as a adult, though, Clutch was one of the first figures I sought out.  I remembered him vividly from my childhood.  A friend of mine at the time, who was only casually interested in G.I. Joe, could still recite Clutch's filecard: more than a decade since he had last read it.  That was the impression the Clutch character left behind.  So, now, both the original and this desert Clutch are vital parts of my collection.  You will often see them around as background characters in photos.  They may be driving a VAMP or other vehicle.  But, they may also be involved in general combat duties.  I'd viewed Clutch as a field trooper since day 1 of Joe in my life.  So, he remains more than just a driver to me.

Despite this early repaint, Clutch didn't see too much use.  After the original release and this 1984 repaint, the mold disappeared for about a decade.  Both the VAMP and VAMP Mark II were staples of release around the world with notable variants in Brazil.  Yet, Clutch didn't make the journey.  In the early 1990's, though, Clutch finally reappeared with his jeep when Funskool released their version of the VAMP.  There are several versions of the Clutch figure: all in various shades of green with a few instances of the Clutch body with a Short Fuze head: but with black hair.  The Funskool figures are very hard to find: especially in good condition.  But, they are very similar to the U.S. release and don't offer anything outside of different shades of what we already got through Hasbro.  Both the VAMP and Clutch appear to have gone out of circulation in the mid 1990's.  That implies that Hasbro may have gotten his mold back when they re-acquired the Funskool figures that made up the bulk of the 1997 and 1998 Toys R Us exclusive figures.  But, the Clutch mold was either not among the returns, was too damaged to be used again, or simply dropped into a Hasbro warehouse where it was forgotten again: never to return.

I'd love to see a factory custom Clutch.  While the Clutch character could be repainted into Night Force, Tiger Force and every other sub team imaginable, his parts would have other potential.  (If you want to see the potential for Clutch repaints, check out Chad and Matt's Clutch customs.)  Clutch's chest and arms could be combined with Cobra Trooper waist and legs and a Hiss Driver or Cobra Officer head.  This would be a great Cobra driver for Stingers or Hiss Tanks.  Again, the repaint would lend itself to a panoply of colors.  The head could be used for new Breaker or Rock and Roll figures.  Or, repainted into a color the head never appeared in and used to make a new figure in early Joe style.  In short, the possibilities are endless.  Hopefully, one of the factory custom makers is listening.

In the vintage line, Hasbro really didn't do too much with repaint until the very end of the line.  Sure, there were Tiger Force, Night Force and Python Patrol.  But, they were always supplements to the main figure line rather than parts of it.  As an adult collector, I lament the fact that Hasbro didn't do the entire original 13 in a desert scheme to make a variant, unified team.  As a kid, though, I probably would have hated it since I would have lost out on other figures.  (Though, getting the gear I had lost from the original figures would have been a welcome perk.)  In the collector era starting in 1997, though, Hasbro really had no reason to not revisit the original 13 Joes and do some sort of specifically themed team.  The 1997 Stars and Stripes and the comic packs from the mid 2000's were the two closest attempts.  But, the Stars and Stripes was more about getting the molds out to appease collectors.  The comic packs were closer.  But, the odd greens and mix matched parts from different eras created a mis-match that's probably worse than the Stars and Stripes set.  I keep hoping that factory custom Joe producers will look to bring some desert variants of original 13 Joes into the fold. More and more parts are available.  And, I'd love a tan Flash, Grand Slam, Hawk, Stalker and the rest.  But, since I've played with and collected Joe since 1982, I have a more nostalgic bent to these original figures and my preferences may not play well in a larger market.

The desert Clutch is about middle of the road as far as Joe figures go in terms of price.  Mint and complete with filecard figures can be had for $10.  But, dealers will charge $20 and you'll see more sell at that price than they should.  But, you don't see as many desert Clutch figures as you used to.  And, the lower supply leads to more dealer sales.  For $10, this figure is a no-brainer.  You buy him and move on.  He's a great companion to the Tan Grunt and his parts can be used in conjunction with that figure to make a perfect Tan Breaker, too.  When these guys were cheaper, they were desired for the custom possibilities.  Now, though, they are desired for the figure itself.  Collectors like Clutch and they like his desert repaint.  It's awesome to get an iconic character in environmental themed colors.  It's just too bad we didn't see a few more of the early Joes get this treatment.

Clutch doesn't take kindly to Wild Card stealing his parking spot.

1984 VAMP Mark II

My younger brother got a VAMP for his birthday in October of 1982.  A few weeks later, for Christmas, I got one of my very own.  Both of these jeeps were staples of our early play and were put through rugged hardships as they rode down stairs, were left in mud, crashed into walls and were hit by enemy fire resulting in them being turned upside down when they exploded.  In short, they had a great early life.  But, my brother's VAMP was all but destroyed by 1984.  Mine had fared better since it spent most of the first of 1983 being neglected as I focused on Star Wars toys.  But, even it was showing signs of wear from heavy play.  But, more importantly, the VAMP was old.  It had been part of Joe since there was Joe.

As soon as I first saw the 1984 Joe catalog, I began a quest to acquire all the toys that were showcased therein.  While I had a decent income from mowing lawns, I was not about to blow my entire summer earnings on toys when I had an alternative.  My grandmother was always up for spoiling me and I knew she'd be a great source of toys as the year went on.  In the late spring, my family drove to Champaign, Illinois to visit some of my father's relatives.  My grandmother would be there, too.  The day was very sunny and hot for so early in the year.  I recall this as I tried to play out in the driveway with my '84 Firefly and couple other figures.  But, quickly found it uncomfortably warm and there was no shade available that availed itself to play.  So, I spent the rest of trip sitting near the adults as they talked, bored out of my mind.  Before we started the long drive home, though, my grandmother asked me if there were any toys I wanted.  But, as I didn't actually own a 1984 Joe catalog, yet, I had to go by memory.  And, in the spur of the moment, I could only recall the VAMP Mark II.  She dutifully wrote this down and we parted ways.

As summer started, though, the lawn mowing money was coming in frequently.  On one sojourn to the local Children's Palace, I found the VAMP Mark II.  With funds to acquire it handy, I splurged on the jeep and added it to my collection.  With the VAMP Mark II in hand, though, I quickly learned that it had some limitations to go along with the enhancements that were such a selling point.  The newly added doors and roof were great.  But, they also hindered figure movement and play.  I loved having a figure holding an Uzi out of the window as the VAMP went into battle.  But, it was also a hassle getting that figure into the fray when the time came for him to leave the vehicle.  I always used the hood pack as survival gear for the VAMP crew, which was a welcome addition over the original VAMP.  And, the crew having water cans from which they could drink was another realistic detail that I enjoyed.

What I didn't enjoy was that the vehicle had no guns.  As with the Wolverine, I found the VAMP Mark II's missile launcher limiting.  It had four shots in battle and was then spent.  I tried in vain to affix the VAMP cannon to the back, but couldn't reconcile the green gun mount on the tan jeep.  (I later put the VAMP Mark II doors and roof on the original VAMP.  But, the roof is higher than the resting point of the VAMP gun.  So, the guns were always shooting above the advancing infantry, rendering the roof useless.)  Plus, the VAMP Mark II didn't seem as sturdy as the VAMP.  While my VAMP had suffered some beating, the VAMP Mark II broke very quickly once it was in our home.  The roll bars snapped and it just didn't seem up to the challenges of rolling down concrete stairs like the original VAMP had done.  The missile launcher tan that held it onto the body quickly frayed and would not stay in.  The original VAMP gun had been removed many times and was in fine shape.  But the launcher fell apart quickly.  In the end, I took the VAMP Mark II chassis and put it under the original VAMP body.  This way, I got the updated cockpit on the better colored and armed VAMP.

But, even with this, the reality of the VAMP Mark II destroyed the idealistic notions of what the vehicle could have been.  I have few memories of using it and the jeep was mostly just a quickly destroyed weapon when Cobra would attack my Joe base.  As years went on the shell of VAMP Mark II would appear from time to time.  My youngest brother cut the back of the top of the body off.  He could then place it on the frame to appear solid.  But, he would hide a figure or gear in the jeep's "trunk".  This configuration, sans missile launcher, would be used for smuggling or criminals.  This was the fate of the toys that simply didn't live up to their expectations.

As a collector, though, these childhood limitations are things of the past.  I no longer run VAMPs down stairs or crash them into walls.  I'll put figures in and place them on display or even use the vehicle in a photo or two.  But, that's the extent of the use any vehicle gets these days.  As such, I find the VAMP Mark II better today.  It looks cool.  And, there are many desert figures with which to pair it.  The later Desert Striker vehicle used a VAMP like body with the desert color scheme.  But, it is a substantial downgrade from the VAMP Mark II.  The highly detailed interior, weapons and classic design all make for the de facto desert vehicle for tan colored Joes.

VAMP Mark II's are quite popular and can get a little pricey.  There is a much lighter tan mail away variant, too, that commands a substantial premium.  Dealers will charge substantially higher prices for VAMP Mark II's as well.  But, you can get a high quality, complete version in the $25 - $30 range.  Sometimes, you can get them for that price with an included Clutch as well.  You'll see lots of them offered for sale in the $50 to $60 range.  And, with the blueprints, you'll see a few sell here.  But, patience can yield much lower prices.

As the VAMP Mark II is a highly popular VAMP, it is both popular with collectors and lends itself to multiples in a collection.  Being based on the original mold, the VAMP Mark II works well with all early years of Joe figures and you'll often see collectors with three or four that will be used to hold some of their favored beginning years figures.  For me, the vehicle is problematic.  It's cool.  But, my childhood disappointment with it colors my experiences.  I've learned to appreciate it more now.  But, given the choice between this version or the original, I'll add multiple originals before I'd army build the Mark II.

Rarities - Cobra M.S.V. (Canadian Exclusive)

In 2000, I bought a lot of figures and vehicle parts from a Canadian who was selling his childhood collection.  In the photos was a Rumbler, who I needed at the time.  So, coupled with a few army builders, this was enough to get me to bite on it.  He told me there was another pile of stuff, too.  When it arrived, it turned out the other "pile of stuff" was quite a bit of figures and gear.  I was ecstatic to get a not pictured Star Duster, Night Viper and Alley Viper.  There was also a lot of miscellaneous vehicle parts.  I didn't really look at them and put them into a case that was included while I sorted and put away the figures.  A year or two later, I was looking through the parts when two VAMP gas cans molded in black grabbed my attention.

They were flat black rather than the glossy black versions that were included with the Tiger Force VAMP.  Also in the pile was a black center piece to an MMS.  I thought it might be from the SMS.  But, that wasn't released in Canada.  That's when I realized that I had pieces to the Canadian Exclusive MSV.

The MSV was a retailer exclusive in Canada.  The set included a black version of the VAMP with an all black version of the MMS which were now aligned with Cobra.  The VAMP uses the 192 VAMP mold without the shovel on the hood.  The MMS appears to be unchanged from the original release, other than the color.  It's a classic pairing of iconic Joe vehicles done up in colors that would perfectly match the Hiss Tank.

At it's core, I'm torn on this toy.  It's extremely cool.  But, the fact is that we do have the Stinger jeep which is a very similar mold in the same colors.  The SMS is hard to find, but is the same as the MSV missile base and the only difference is red missiles instead of black.  Taking a Stinger and SMS missile trailer gives you a more visually attractive MSV at a fraction of the price.  So, from a practicality standpoint, the MSV offers very little to a Cobra army.  On the other hand, though, the all black VAMP is sleek and the differences with the mounted twin gun are enough that makes me really want a few MSV's to round our my classic Cobras.

High quality MSV's are very rare and very expensive.  Gem mint specimens easily top $1,000.  The extremely low production run and high propensity for breakage or lost pieces makes getting a perfect one a very difficult proposition.  The fact that it's the highly coveted VAMP mold in black and given to Cobra just adds to the mystique.  This set would look great among an early Cobra army.  I can picture Stinger Drivers manning the jeep with Cobra Troopers setting up the MMS.  It would be a perfect blend with other, early Cobra vehicles.  The price and availability, though, make this one a stretch dream for me, though.

Diorama - Viper Attack

I was setting up a photo shoot for my Sgt. Slaughter profile.  I got a bunch of '86 figures out and showcased some Vipers, too.  Several of the photos were better as larger sets in lieu of the more focused Slaughter profile.  So, I put these photos together in a mini dio.  This was taken in early spring just as my garden was coming in.  It was fun to get several of these figures together: even if the photo style seems horribly dated now.