They’re finally here! Out of all the troop builders the G.I. Joe Classified line has released this year, the Ghost Vipers are easily the ones I’ve been anticipating the most. The eerie energy effects, the brand new lore they bring, and the translucent accessories—everything about this figure screamed must-have. Honestly, they even made me want to pick up Crystal Ball, and I have zero regrets about that decision.
Packaging & Presentation
The Ghost Viper arrives in striking, thematic packaging befitting its supernatural aesthetic. The front artwork highlights the glowing green D.I.R.E. energy and gives you a glimpse of what’s inside: an absolutely loaded exclusive. Numbered #170 in the Classified Series and available exclusively through Walmart, this premium single release retails for around $55—a price that stings a little, but we’ll get into that later.
D.I.R.E. Technology & Lore Expansion
The G.I. Joe classified team introduced a brand-new concept into Joe canon with the D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) tech. It’s a smart addition to the lore, bridging the gap between classic Cobra weird-science and modern classified tech aesthetics. The concept even extends to the included Dire Beasts—a brilliant touch that helps this figure feel more like a full set than a single release.
Accessories & Weapons
Ghost Viper comes loaded. Every inch of this figure is designed to deliver on the “spectral soldier” theme.
- D.I.R.E. Beasts: Two translucent green animal companions bring this set to life. The Dire Wolf (Timber Buck) reuses the Timber mold but features red eyes, grayish-black paint, and two head sculpts (stoic and growling). The Dire snake reuses the same mold as the one included with Serpentor, now cast in the same eerie translucent plastic with red eyes and black paint accents.
- Weapons: Includes two futuristic laser rifles, a pistol with a skull on the handle, and a flame gun repainted from Barbecue’s weapon—now repainted in eerie green and capped off with a very cool skull flame blast effect.
- Backpack & Effects: Borrowed from Barbecue, the backpack features translucent green hoses and a nozzle, tying perfectly into the D.I.R.E. energy theme.
- Head Options: Four total! You get a translucent cobra head, a wolf head, a Cobra Viper helmet with a painted skull faceplate and, and a new high tech helmet with green tubes around the jaw.
- Alternate Hands: The figure includes “dire hands” with elongated green detailed claws.
Figure Details & Build
Underneath all that energy effect madness, Ghost Viper is a clever combination of existing Classified tooling done right.
- Build: Uses Techno-Viper arms, Viper legs, and a Retro Viper belt and vest, giving him a familiar Cobra look.
- New Helmet Design: A standout—sci-fi inspired, with translucent green tubes and intricate paint applications in gray-blue, black, brown, and gold.
- Logos & Details: Features both the Cobra emblem and the Crystal Ball insignia, nodding to their shared lore connection.
- Energy Gauge: A “75% Energy” readout is sculpted onto the arm gauntlet, furthering the D.I.R.E. theme.
- Articulation: Standard Classified excellence—double-jointed elbows and knees, butterfly shoulders, bicep and thigh cuts, and full ankle pivot. Everything moves smoothly, even with the extra accessories attached.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Outstanding reuse that feels fresh and purposeful
- Fantastic paintwork and translucent energy effects
- Great new lore addition with D.I.R.E. tech
- Tons of display and posing options with four heads and animal companions
Cons:
- Pricey for a single figure ($55 is steep)
- Would’ve worked far better as a two-pack for troop building
- Those old-style weapon pegs need to go—should have been repurposed into D.I.R.E. cartridges or energy cells
Final Thoughts
This is reuse done right. The Ghost Viper feels unique, loaded with gear, and full of personality despite borrowing many parts. Hasbro nailed the eerie “haunted trooper” vibe, and the D.I.R.E. lore expansion opens new creative lanes for the Classified line. Looking forward to intermingling these with my Operation Monster Force figures.
It’s a pricey figure, but if you’re a collector who appreciates creative world-building and incredible shelf presence, the Ghost Viper delivers. I’m hoping we see more of this D.I.R.E. sub-team.