VAMP with Clutch G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Review

[Shogi]

The new Vamp jeep has the same classic feel as the original in looks and construction, but with so many new additions and changes, most people miss a few of them when they first look at it. (I know I did) First off, I think the closest thing to any original parts on this vehicle is the Dash board which has been extened and the lower chasis which has a date stamp of 2001 on it, but it's been retooled from the Desert Striker that came out back then. The seats have been painted and lowered, allowing 25th & modern era style figures to fit more comfortably in it, some details on the bottom of the vehicle have been added as well. The front end of the Vamp looks to be a mixture of the original and the MK II version with the familiar laser on the hood from the first Vamp, now accompanied with a bundled up blanket and removable utility shovel reminiscent of the MK II. Speaking of the hood, it now opens to show an engine underneath! The headlights and Taillights are no longer stickers but clear plastic with ridges and other molded details. The steering wheel is bigger and has more detail added to it, including ridges marking the threads you see on real steering wheels. Those easy to lose gas cans are back and slightly bigger than last time. The wheels attach like they did on the Desert Striker with a plastic axle that plugs all the way through each wheel. This greatly reduces the squeaking sound my original Vamp makes. Another extra step Hasbro took with this vehicle is the detail of a molded fan underneath the removable vents next to the machine gun mounted on the back. I missed this one completely till someone else mentioned it. I figured the vents would be removable like they always have been, but didn't figure on Hasbro adding anything under them! Ok, now this is where the love fest ends as we look at the new machine gun on the back. It's completely new but looks similar to the original with it's twin barrels. The addition of two hoses connecting it to the body of the Vamp is nice, but I miss the re-coil action the original had. That is the only negative in a long list of positives about this wonderful addition to the GI Joe's motor pool.

Like I said at the beginning, the construction is very similar to the original and feels like it's just as durable. I foresee these things lasting as long, if not longer than the originals have lasted

Vehicle Rating: 9 out of 10

[Shogi]

The Vamp comes with an updated Clutch who is almost a perfect recreation of the original. He has a new head, Snake-Eyes Torso (with fixed crotch to allow better leg movement) and upper legs with all new lower legs and Duke's arms. Continuing the trend of revovable web gear, Hasbro made a vest for Clutch that transformes the generic Snake-Eyes torso into a unique and almost exact copy of how Clutch's original figure looked like. The new boots look like updated versions of the original boots with a cool addition of an ankle holster. Unfortunately, Clutch's gun is a little loose in the holster so watch out about losing it. Attached to the Snake-Eyes upper legs is the same knife sheath we see on all these legs. This is the only thing I hate about Snake_eyes' leg. I feel it's cool on Skae-Eyes but useless on everyone else. With the knife in the sheath, the handle sticks up too high and typically gets in the way of leg movement. This is more evident with the figures who have the web gear straps than it is with Clutch, but I hate it all the same. To Hasbro's credit, they did color the knife sheath black so that the colors still match the original figure. Now comes the Duke arms.....yeah we all know how bad they are. I would have liked it if Hasbro had used the Viper's rolled up sleeves with Tomax or Xamot's lower arms and hands or new hands. But he will be driving the Vamp most of the time so it's not that big of a deal. Clutch comes with the classic looking helmet we saw Roadblock come with, a gun for his ankle holster, a knife and a GI Joe stand with his name on it.

When I first got this figure I immediately switched out the upper leg with the knife sheath on it. But after doing this review, it doesn't bother me as much as it initially did. I just don't use the knife. Overall, this figure is a great update to the original Clutch and I'm proud to have it in my collection.

Figure Rating: 8 out of 10

[Agent-GHQ]

What's there not to like about this Vamp and Double Clutch. Love the extra details!!

This is bad-ass!

[foor]

Great reviews. The Vamp and Clutch are both solid, and must-buys in my book. Will you be reviewing the other vehicles?

[L.T. SEAL]

the vamp and clutch is badd ass... hoping the fire bat is just as good

[RolandofGilead]

This was my first Joe vehicle when I was just nine years old. I loved it so much I stuck it in a paper grocery bag and snuck it to school. Holding the VAMP feels like being a little kid with no worries all over again.

[Shogi]

Great reviews. The Vamp and Clutch are both solid, and must-buys in my book. Will you be reviewing the other vehicles?

Yes, look for vehicle and figure reviews in the future courtesy of Eopie Herder and myself

[Syn3sthesia]

Thank for the review Shogi!

[ceraurus]

Great review, Shogi! I was so looking forward to the VAMP and Clutch and Hasbro did a great job.

[Shin Densetsu]

Nooooooooo DUKE ARMSS!!!!!!!!

Great pics and review man! I'll most likely buy this eventually.

[statesofeuphoria]

One of my favorite aspects it seems Hasbro took into account is that the Vamp is modular now, everything is removable. The shovel, bag on the hood, gas can rack, gun, panels, etc. Now they can make infinite versions using the body as a base without having to retool anything. If we don't see a Stinger at SDCC I will be shocked.

[Crimson Rage]

I can't praise the VAMP enough. It's beautifully retro but with enough modern 'tweaks' to make it worth buying all over again. The opening bonnet is cool, and something Hasbro didn't have to do, while even little things like the removable shovel harken back to the 'old days'.

It just needs something to go on that tow-hook!

[MAJOR WOLF]

Great Review Shogi! Thank You...

[Joe Blow]

Nice work, you changed my mind I will be picking this up.

[d3troit]

the toy looks great, but use paragraphs!

[nighthawk]

Thanks for the review. I have the VAMP and it actually never occured to me to open the rear vents to have a look. I never knew that there was detail under the vent...haha.

[Cobra Ties]

I picked up the VAMP late last night and opened it asap. It was way better then I expected. Serpentor's chariot looked very CHEAP, and the tank for Steeler was too small and for the first time ever I could not buy a 25th toy. If anyone has this please tell me it is better then it looks.

[sgt.bludhound]

I picked up the VAMP late last night and opened it asap. It was way better then I expected. Serpentor's chariot looked very CHEAP, and the tank for Steeler was too small and for the first time ever I could not buy a 25th toy. If anyone has this please tell me it is better then it looks.

The air chariot is ok....everyone has there own opinions to it, I can bear it.

the armadillo is the real winner here! Steeler is the exact same mold as CLUTCH except for the web gear and head, but a cool figure no doubt, The armadillo is nicely done by hasbro and Steeler fits in the tank with no Problems. I'd recommend this set if you can bear having the Air chariot.

[artiepants]

Bazooka's going in the Armadillo when i get them, and Not-Steeler to the pile of loose "sell 'em to a customizer" figs.

[Jinx723]

Great review, I just got my shippment from BBTS yesterday and the V.A.M.P. was the first thing I opened, felt just like 1983 when I got my V.A.M.P. the first time. Thanks Hasbro on the awesome update on my favorite classic.

[Unclassified]

I picked up the VAMP late last night and opened it asap. It was way better then I expected. Serpentor's chariot looked very CHEAP, and the tank for Steeler was too small and for the first time ever I could not buy a 25th toy. If anyone has this please tell me it is better then it looks.

the tank for steeler is supposed to be small. thats the way it always was, but if you look at the detail compared to the old, its dope, the chariot is cool, better then the old one, an we dont need another damn serpentor, an if you wanna build buncha a lil tanks up you gotta get a damn chariot an serpentor, , that sucks, he should of been in a solo pack. but dude if you remeber any of these as a kid , an look at em now, theres no way you can say anything bad bout them, they are more well thought, an somethin that a 30 yr old would say " holy shit thats dope " too. the dude thats ahead of these hasbro joe thing is young like our age, an thats pretty cool

[Monkeywrench]

This Clutch is Awesome! He's becoming one of my favorite 25ths. It's just too bad he has Duke arms.

[DaViper]

Thanks for the review shogi. It's awesome how much updated detail Hasbro puts on these vehicles. The vamp so far is my favorite!

[Crimson Rage]

I hadn't noticed the little black panels on either side of the twin cannons opened until I read this review! How cool is that??

[karamazov80]

I agree that both the vehicle and Clutch are great. I just wish I had room to keep the Vamp. . .but is has got to go!

[primenemesis]

great review i'm glad we finally have a feedback section, I always enjoy the one on tfw.

This review does it's job i have one stashed in a store for a week and half now after reading this i'm gonna go snag it this weekend.

[artiepants]

BTW Shogi, the pics with the review are super-great.
(but the new picture system kinda blows, can't open the pics in tabs)

edit: well, i couldn't yesterday but i can today, weird ~ part of the upgrades i suppose...

[murphbri]

Another great review! Keep 'em coming! :D

I was surprised to hear of all the new sculpting done to this vehicle. Nice to hear Hasbro spent some money on upgrades for a change.

Man, these reviews are really making me impatient for my pre-order that those bastards at HTS are sitting on. Get on it, HTS! *shakes fist*

[AlternateUniverse Steeler]

Nice!

I didn't know about the opening hood or shovel.

[flywheels]

From the pics it seems like this iteration of the VAMP would be easy to take apart for customization. Do the wheels pop off? Just curious as I'd love to do a new Cobra version since I've gotten a bit better at painting now.

[Steel Brigade]

Best of Wave 1 vehicles IMO.

[Shogi]

From the pics it seems like this iteration of the VAMP would be easy to take apart for customization. Do the wheels pop off? Just curious as I'd love to do a new Cobra version since I've gotten a bit better at painting now.

Yes, the axles can pop off of the vehicle and the wheels can pop off of the axle

[flywheels]

Yes, the axles can pop off of the vehicle and the wheels can pop off of the axle

Great news indeed! Thanks Shogi!

[Cataclizm1]

Nice review!

[DVD]

Just opened my Vamp, and while it's cool, it's not mind blowing. I know, I know, the damn thing's 25 years old. I get that. I never had one as a kid, so this is my first experience with it, and it's pretty much a brand new mold anyway. I did the gas cans, hood, shovel, and all that. What I don't dig, is the open canopy, no doors, and Clutch can't drive it without breaking his left wrist. It would help if he didn't have Duke arms. Also, there's guns but no gunner? I know, it's GIJoe. Still, I've always thought a gunner's seat in the back would be cool, but then it'd be a totally different vehicle.

Just so you guys don't think I'm hating it, most of my complaints would be gone if it was the Mk II. The closed for the most part canopy, doors...what's not to love? I bet we'll see a MkII and it'll have Clutch with the new Duke arms. Just watch.

[COBRAVAMPIRE]

Just received my 2nd VAMP for my loose collection! I absolutely love this vehicle and can't wait for the Mark 2!!!!!

[THALASTDRAGON]

i just picked up one last nite. i never had one as a kid, although i did pick up an incomplete one as part of a lot on ebay last year. this is my first real one, and although im not blown away by it, it is pretty decent, but clutch sucks. those duke arms are so awful.

[C.G. Immortal]

I'm definetly happy with this vehicle/figure combo. Good stuff.

[skatezaz]

if anyone doesnt have one and wants one i have for trade