Saturday, January 24, 2026

Wrapping Up 2025: Ghost Viper & D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) Beasts from G.I. Joe: Classified Series by Hasbro



   With this chilly winter weather affecting most of the United States this week I decided to offer up something else that will send a chill down your spine: The Ghost Viper & D.I.R.E (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) Beasts from Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series. This has been an incredibly strong year for the Classified Series, quite possibly the best to date, and this might be the best new concept/ new character that Hasbro has brought to the line. The Ghost Vipers utilize the research of Crystal Ball to emit experimental ectoplasmic extradimensional energies (try saying that five times fast) to create terrifying gaseous projections or even corporeal forms. They're the strangest and most unconventional subdivision of the Cobra Vipers but no less deadly. The Ghost Viper was a Walmart exclusive (with a limited number sold on Hasbro Pulse) and proved to be quite popular and rather hard to acquire. I found mine on Walmart.com shortly before Halloween and originally wanted to review the figure but I ended up just getting backed up. Well, here we are, about 3 months later, but I'm no less excited by this release. Let's check out the Ghost Viper & D.I.R.E. Beasts after the break...


The Facts: Ghost Viper

Height: 6 1/2ths inches 

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball-jointed drop down hips, ball-jointed waist, hinged mid-torso, butterfly pecs, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 4 swappable heads, 2 D.I.R.E. claws, 2 gas emanations, 2 rifles, goggles, backpack, hose, gas projector, 2 wrist units, and pistol.







The Facts: D.I.R.E. Wolf

Height: Around 3 1/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge paws (x4), hinged hocks (x4), swivel/hinged knees/elbows (x4), balljointed hips (x4), swivel/hinge tail, balljointed mid-torso, hinged chest, and a balljointed head.

Accessories: 2 portraits



The Facts: D.I.R.E. Snake

Height: 1 7/8ths inches

Articulation: None

Accessories: None

Non-Scalper Price: $55 to $63 dollars






The Positives:


* The Ghost Viper set definitely has a lot of reuse. There are plenty of cool new parts and a wildly new concept that ties everything together, sure, but the base figure is the Retro Series Viper with the arms and wrist units from the Techno-Viper. The new color scheme of a grey jump suit with a brown tactical vest really stands out, though. It even kind of ties these guys in with Crystal Ball, which is a neat way to further connect the Ghost Vipers as his personal group of troops. 











* The vest is a separate piece over the torso, though it's not removable or anything. It's well armored with lots of padding and some grenades for when things get real. Even when using supernatural technology and esoteric energies, good old fashioned explosions are still helpful.







* These gauntlets are from the Techno-Viper but now they've been given a repaint. There are even tubes on the sides showing the green D.I.R.E. ectoplasm coursing through them. The "screen" has a greenish-blue tone that matches the skull face on the standard Viper helmet in this set, too.




* There are four portraits for this guy, the first being a more contained helmet that looks like it has tubes for the D.I.R.E. ectoplasm on the side. We can't see any of the Ghost Viper's head here, so I'm wondering if the intention of this helmet is to protect them from the D.I.R.E. ectoplasm gas or to funnel it to them. The file card from Hasbro (posted on Instagram, not on the packaging) states that these guys are "a little off" and mentions that the projections from the D.I.R.E. ectoplasm can actually drain the Ghost Vipers' of their own life force if they're not careful.



* While the previous portrait is completely new, this is the classic Viper helmet repainted. How about that skull face, huh? The visor is molded in a translucent green plastic with the skull on the front. Is it painted on? An LED screen? It's pretty intimidating and it makes me wish I had multiples of this guy. I think I'm going to find two or three Viper Officers to use the extra heads with, though, as the figure was just too tough to track down and too pricey to army build. 





* The goggles stay on extremely well. They're the standard Viper goggles but now with red lenses. These were loose on the earlier Vipers but Hasbro must have tweaked things just enough that now they stay on beautifully. Bravo. 









* Cool boots, padding down the legs, and a belt with some pouches and a little flashlight. If you don't already have the Retro Series Viper, you'll appreciate the cool outfit this guy has even more. 







* Since this guy is all reused from fairly recent figures, there really aren't any surprises. The Ghost Viper is as smooth as slime and can take both one and two handed firing poses with ease. I've reviewed so many Classified Series figures lately and it's clear that Hasbro's G.I. Joe team is absolutely nailing their engineering and designs and the factory/ factories they're using are producing quality work. This guy is just a blast to mess around with and pose, especially because he interacts so well with all of his accessories. 



* Hasbro included two older weapons with this figure that originally came with the Cobra Trooper, the Nerf LongStrike CS-6 (the longer sniper rifle) and the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rapidstrike (the shorter rifle). I actually really like these weapons that feel like they're either very modern or just a bit futuristic and they feel like they fit in well with the Ghost Viper aesthetic. They're solid and sturdy and each has a peg so you can put it on the Ghost Viper's back if you don't have him carrying his backpack. 







* This is a fantastic pistol that looks to be based on the Ruger 5.7, 5.7mm pistol that can carry 20 rounds plus 1 in the chamber. There's even a holster in the back of the Ghost Viper's belt to hold the pistol in place for when it's needed. 






* Besides his wrist projectors, the Ghost Viper also has a backpack to carry a larger supply of the D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) ectoplasm and a "projector" to utilize it. This is a reuse of Barbecue's foam gun but now with green for the hose and tops of the tanks. The file card makes it seem less like these guys are just spraying the mist around and more like they're using it as a conduit to project frightening images and corporeal manifestations using their own minds. Pretty spooky stuff that adds another cool sci-fi horror element to the Classified Series. The projector can fit into the clip on the backpack as well. 





* Check out this stream of D.I.R.E. ectoplasm being fired from the backpack! It's pretty creepy and has a really disturbing skull. Is this guy perhaps a Death Eater?










* The Ghost Vipers can also use their ectoplasm to create companion beasts. One is a wolf, which was a great chance to reuse the Timber mold. So, yes, he's reused, but man does this guy look cool in green and black with red eyes. It's still a nifty sculpt and just adds something rather different to the line.








* The D.I.R.E. wolf has two portraits, just like Timber. One is more neutral. 








* The other is much fiercer with an open, snarling mouth. Those red eyes and the mixture of smoky black and green really look cool here.



 






* Just like Timber and the other dogs in the line, the D.I.R.E. wolf is highly articulated with at least 20 joints. He can take some fantastic poses and looks good no matter what spooky stuff he's up to. I've always loved the animal companions and the fact that they're now articulated just thrills me to no end.








* The second D.I.R.E. beast is a snake. A cobra, to be specific. This guy is a reused mold from Serpentor but he looks really unique recast in translucent green with the smoky black details and red eyes. He's really creepy with a spooky skin texture. 








* So the D.I.R.E. beasts and the skull projection? Those are what the Ghost Viper projects with his backpack. But what about those devices on his wrists. He can release the ectoplasm from those, too. These little piece plug in and show him emitting the D.I.R.E substance, using it on himself. What horrors are next?








* How about claws? Those are crazy, right? Massive green, flaming claws? That'll send your average joes packing. The right one can even hold the two included rifles, so that's a cool touch.








* Don't want to just stop at the hands? Not coontent with just having a wolf? What if the Ghost Viper want to become a werewolf? Well, here you go. This werewolf head is incredible. This is some seriously spooky stuff. Look at those massive teeth! 









* Even scarier is the Ghost Viper turning into a giant snake. Look out Kobra Khan! This is horribly frightening. Scariest Classified Series figure to date? Probably!








The Negatives:



* The skull projection of D.I.R.E. ectoplasm is incredibly cool but a bit heavy. If you're going to have it on display for more than a brief period you may need to use a stand of some sort to support it. 





This set was one of the first Classified Series sets to get the new higher price point from Hasbro Pulse (though Walmart had it cheaper if you could find it) but Hasbro really crammed a lot of new stuff in here. Yes, there's reuse galore, but there's also some impressive new stuff like the D.I.R.E. heads, the Ghost Viper helmet, and the claws and other effects. You're also getting two animal companions, one of which is fully sculpted. What a great concept and easily one of my favorite Classified Series figures of the year. I do wish the set had come with two Ghost Viper figures as two would seem a good way to use the gear, but I don't need an army of the D.I.R.E. beasts. Still, wow, you're getting a ton here and it's all a really neat addition to the G.I. Joe universe. Definitely an Epic figure and one I'm excited to finally review. 



This is the first Ghost Viper figure I've reviewed. For more G.I. Joe: Classified Series reviews check out the following:
Destro  
Flint  

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