Clutch (G.I. Joe)
Encyclopedia
Clutch is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team
's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.
.
The 2003 edition of his action figure has been renamed as Double Clutch. Presumably, Hasbro lost the rights to the character name "Clutch" as they did with several other characters and this was a legal way to reuse the character. However, the most recent Clutch figure revealed at JoeCon 2007, is named simply "Clutch", and his file card even mentions his brief name change.
licensed comic book. An unabashed skirt chaser, Clutch comes across to female Joe members such as Scarlett
and Cover Girl
as an oversexed chauvinist, and he does not give them much reason to think otherwise. Constantly hitting on any woman who comes into his line of sight, at one point Clutch actually suggests putting up Cover Girl and Scarlett as a mud wrestling
pair. Even though he is a blatantly chauvinistic jerk, he is also a good driver and a good soldier who does his job when necessary. As the series goes on, his chauvinistic attitude is downplayed. Unlike his action figure, Clutch does not have a full beard but rather a five o'clock shadow.
Clutch assists Scarlett in taking a diplomat to peace talks concerning the fictional country of Al-Awai. They survive many Cobra battles on the way. The diplomat himself is a deep-cover Cobra officer, sent to kill his counterpart. The Joe duo actually fail in their mission; however, the ambassador had thought to wear protection and survived the shooting.
and other Joes, Breaker helps capture an important Cobra agent, Scar-Face, out of the back of a Cobra tank. This is intended by Cobra, however, as having Scar-Face in the custody of the Joe team is vital part of Cobra's plans.
In #19, back home at the Pit
, Clutch is sent on a recon mission with Breaker
. They take Scar-Face and Major Bludd
, another prisoner, with them, to prevent the Cobras from overhearing vital G.I. Joe tactics. Their vehicle is spotted by advancing Cobra forces and all four are almost slain by Cobra. Clutch's driving gets them safely inside the base just before the Cobra missiles strike.
The next issue features Clutch taking some time off to visit old friends. He finds out that one of them is involved with a Cobra weapons lab looking to create more efficient jetpacks. Clutch calls in Joe aid and the Cobra forces are neutralized.
Later, Clutch is featured in G.I. Joe: Special Missions #2. He and fellow Joes Recondo
and Roadblock
are sent to track down a Nazi war criminal who is hiding in Brazil. The mission is complicated by the surprise arrival of an Israeli military team with interests in the same criminal. Here, it is learned Clutch's grandmother has had horrific personal experiences with Nazis. Clutch is complicit with trickery which leaves the Nazi to be killed by his own followers.
. While on a vacation/road trip, the two discover the Cobra-owned town of Broca Beach. They are captured by the Dreadnoks
, specifically, the multi-personality thug, Road Pig
. Brainwashed as ticking time bombs, they later meet up with Joe forces, unaware that they ever have been captured. Later, two lost young girls end up being escorted to Joe base and the pair are assigned to supervise them. A Cobra Python Patrol
attack activates the pair's brainwashing and they threaten the girls. It is all they do, as the inherent decency in the two prevent them from harming innocent people. The brainwashing snaps and they pass out.
Clutch would team up with Rock'N'Roll again, in Canada. They assist Canadian police forces in shutting down a warehouse full of Cobra forces and Terrordrome
parts. As it was Canadian territory, the Joes had to receive explicit permission before acting, but this was given freely, as the Canadian policemen were hiding from the same Cobra gunfire the Joes were.
Clutch's last appearance in the Marvel run of G.I. Joe was issue #145.
He was written out by being placed in an alternate dimension, along with Steeler
and Grunt
, where G.I. Joe had lost and Cobra ruled the world (though he still appeared regularly in the comic book series written by Larry Hama
).
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is one of the G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe Team
G.I. Joe is the code name of an elite covert special forces unit operating under the control of the United States Military in the fictional G.I. Joe universe....
's motor vehicle drivers and debuted in 1982.
Profile
His real name is Lance J. Steinberg, and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Clutch was born in Asbury Park, New JerseyAsbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 16,116. The city is known for its rich musical history, including its association with...
.
Toy history
Clutch is part of the first group of characters introduced in the 1982 G.I. Joe relaunch. His action figure was bundled with the V.A.M.P. battle jeep. In 1984, a second action figure with a tan uniform was released and was packaged with the Vamp Mark II vehicle. The character was also released as a member of the Mega Marines subgroup in 1993.The 2003 edition of his action figure has been renamed as Double Clutch. Presumably, Hasbro lost the rights to the character name "Clutch" as they did with several other characters and this was a legal way to reuse the character. However, the most recent Clutch figure revealed at JoeCon 2007, is named simply "Clutch", and his file card even mentions his brief name change.
Marvel Comics
Clutch first appeared in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (June 1982), in the Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
licensed comic book. An unabashed skirt chaser, Clutch comes across to female Joe members such as Scarlett
Scarlett (G.I. Joe)
Scarlett is a fictional character from G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, a line of military-themed toys created by Hasbro. The character is one of the original members of the fictional team and toy line. She is a major character of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book series and the...
and Cover Girl
Cover Girl (G.I. Joe)
Cover Girl is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline comic books and cartoon series. She is a tank jockey, specializing in the Wolverine missile tank, and debuted in 1983.-Profile:...
as an oversexed chauvinist, and he does not give them much reason to think otherwise. Constantly hitting on any woman who comes into his line of sight, at one point Clutch actually suggests putting up Cover Girl and Scarlett as a mud wrestling
Mud wrestling
Mud wrestling is defined as physical confrontation that occurs in mud or a mud pit. The popular modern interpretation specifies that participants wrestle while wearing minimal clothing and usually going barefoot, with the emphasis on presenting an entertaining spectacle as opposed to physically...
pair. Even though he is a blatantly chauvinistic jerk, he is also a good driver and a good soldier who does his job when necessary. As the series goes on, his chauvinistic attitude is downplayed. Unlike his action figure, Clutch does not have a full beard but rather a five o'clock shadow.
Clutch assists Scarlett in taking a diplomat to peace talks concerning the fictional country of Al-Awai. They survive many Cobra battles on the way. The diplomat himself is a deep-cover Cobra officer, sent to kill his counterpart. The Joe duo actually fail in their mission; however, the ambassador had thought to wear protection and survived the shooting.
Scarface
In G.I. Joe issue #18, Clutch drives his VAMP vehicle into a Cobra military convoy, hiding in the surrounding Libyan desert dust. Working with HawkHawk (G.I. Joe)
Hawk is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line of military-themed toys. He appears in the animated series, comic books, toyline, and movie.-Profile:...
and other Joes, Breaker helps capture an important Cobra agent, Scar-Face, out of the back of a Cobra tank. This is intended by Cobra, however, as having Scar-Face in the custody of the Joe team is vital part of Cobra's plans.
In #19, back home at the Pit
The Pit (G.I. Joe)
The Pit is the fictional headquarters of the specialist G.I. Joe team from the 1980s Marvel comic book created by Larry Hama. It is a multi-level underground base complete with training facilities, living quarters, a briefing room, and heavy equipment storage....
, Clutch is sent on a recon mission with Breaker
Breaker (G.I. Joe)
Breaker is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original communications officer and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
. They take Scar-Face and Major Bludd
Major Bludd
Major Bludd , is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of the 1980s. Appearing in both the comic books and the cartoons, Major Bludd is one of the series villains, a mercenary working for the Cobra Organization.-Toy:Major Bludd first appeared in 1983, he has had 6...
, another prisoner, with them, to prevent the Cobras from overhearing vital G.I. Joe tactics. Their vehicle is spotted by advancing Cobra forces and all four are almost slain by Cobra. Clutch's driving gets them safely inside the base just before the Cobra missiles strike.
The next issue features Clutch taking some time off to visit old friends. He finds out that one of them is involved with a Cobra weapons lab looking to create more efficient jetpacks. Clutch calls in Joe aid and the Cobra forces are neutralized.
Later, Clutch is featured in G.I. Joe: Special Missions #2. He and fellow Joes Recondo
Recondo (G.I. Joe)
Recondo is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's original jungle trooper, and debuted in 1984.-Profile:...
and Roadblock
Roadblock (G.I. Joe)
Roadblock is a character from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series of toys, comics and cartoons. He is one of the most prominent African-Americans in the series. His primary function in G.I. Joe is as a heavy machine gunner and a secondary function as a cook.-Fictional character...
are sent to track down a Nazi war criminal who is hiding in Brazil. The mission is complicated by the surprise arrival of an Israeli military team with interests in the same criminal. Here, it is learned Clutch's grandmother has had horrific personal experiences with Nazis. Clutch is complicit with trickery which leaves the Nazi to be killed by his own followers.
Brainwashed
Clutch is featured in a multi-issue storyline with his good friend, Rock'N'RollRock 'n Roll (G.I. Joe)
Rock 'n Roll is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original machine gunner and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
. While on a vacation/road trip, the two discover the Cobra-owned town of Broca Beach. They are captured by the Dreadnoks
Dreadnoks
The Dreadnoks are a fictional biker gang who act as villains in the G.I. Joe saga, which have been represented in several types of media, including toylines , comic books series , and television cartoons .All Dreadnoks are uncouth and violent, and usually engage their enemies with...
, specifically, the multi-personality thug, Road Pig
Road Pig
Road Pig is a character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is affiliated with Cobra as one of the Dreadnoks and debuted in 1988.-Profile:His real name is Donald DeLuca...
. Brainwashed as ticking time bombs, they later meet up with Joe forces, unaware that they ever have been captured. Later, two lost young girls end up being escorted to Joe base and the pair are assigned to supervise them. A Cobra Python Patrol
Python Patrol
The Python Patrol is an elite unit within the fictional Cobra Organization. They have special uniforms that masks their presence to electronic detection systems...
attack activates the pair's brainwashing and they threaten the girls. It is all they do, as the inherent decency in the two prevent them from harming innocent people. The brainwashing snaps and they pass out.
Clutch would team up with Rock'N'Roll again, in Canada. They assist Canadian police forces in shutting down a warehouse full of Cobra forces and Terrordrome
Terrordrome
The Cobra Terrordrome is a playset from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line.-Toys:The playset was first released in 1986, and is basically the prefabricated easily set up fortress/headquarters for Cobra. Each playset comes with a vehicle service and refueling bay, munitions depot, a...
parts. As it was Canadian territory, the Joes had to receive explicit permission before acting, but this was given freely, as the Canadian policemen were hiding from the same Cobra gunfire the Joes were.
Clutch's last appearance in the Marvel run of G.I. Joe was issue #145.
Devil's Due
He was not seen again until issue #8 of the Image comics version of G.I. Joe. He spent the time in between as a mechanic for the Indy League Racing Circuit. He also worked at a Philadelphia Naval Base which was thought to be shut down, but still carried out top secret missions. Despite not being an official Joe member, he assists several Joes when Storm Shadow invades the base.America's Elite
Clutch returns to active duty when the team is reorganized. He and Rock'N'Roll investigate a terrorist bombing in Turkey; he is warned by allies in the area that this bombing alone could lead to World War 3.Sunbow
He appeared in G.I. Joe TV series in both the MASS Device and Revenge of Cobra miniseries. Interestingly, the animated Clutch possessed none of the chauvinistic behavior of his comic book counterpart. In the Revenge of Cobra mini-series there is a reference to his comic book appearance when he tells Doc he needs to shave after looking at his reflection in Doc's energy mirror. This is a list of all his appearances in the cartoon:- A Real American Hero (Parts I, III, IV & V),
- The Revenge Of Cobra (Parts I, II, IV, & V),
- The Pyramid Of Darkness (Parts I & V),
- Twenty Questions (brief),
- The Synthoid Conspiracy (Parts I & II),
- Where The Reptiles Roam (brief),
- Spell Of The Siren,
- Cobra Quake,
- Worlds Without End (Parts I & II),
- The Traitor (Parts I & II),
He was written out by being placed in an alternate dimension, along with Steeler
Steeler (G.I. Joe)
Steeler is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series of the 1980s. He is the G.I. Joe team's original tank commander and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
and Grunt
Grunt (G.I. Joe)
Grunt is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is an infantryman with the G.I. Joe Team and debuted in 1982.-Profile:...
, where G.I. Joe had lost and Cobra ruled the world (though he still appeared regularly in the comic book series written by Larry Hama
Larry Hama
Larry Hama is an American comic book writer, artist, actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s....
).