Bulletproof Cops N Crooks BigBadWorkShop Review
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I have been looking forward to this one since BigBadWorkShop first teased the return of Cops N Crooks, and getting Bulletproof in hand is one of those full circle moments that hits different when you grew up with the original Hasbro line. For those who remember, Cops N Crooks debuted in 1988 with a cartoon and toy line that never quite got the long life it deserved, and characters like Inspector Bulletproof have been sitting in that nostalgic sweet spot for collectors of a certain age ever since. Seeing him realized in 1/12 scale with modern articulation, a soft goods jacket, and that signature cybernetic chest design is exactly what I was hoping for. The package includes an alternate head portrait, swap hands, his gun, briefcase, handcuffs, and a display stand, so there is a lot to work with right out of the box. At over 20 points of articulation he feels right at home alongside other 1/12 scale lines on the shelf, and the sculpt does a great job honoring the original design while giving it a clean, updated look. This is the kind of revival that collectors like us have been quietly wishing for, and as the first release in what BigBadWorkShop is building out as a full line, it all comes together really well. Huge thanks to Big Bad Toy Store for sending this Bulletproof over for review, and if he has been on your must have list, you can still grab him now at Big Bad Toy Store.
Packaging
The front of the box features bold, retro-styled card art showing Bullet-Proof in his signature cybernetic armor and trench coat, pistol drawn, with the classic “Fighting Crime in a Future Time!” tagline arching over the top. The back panel includes a detailed “COPS I.D. Card” file card for Federal Agent Inspector Baldwin P. Vess, along with a storyline summary describing how Empire City is under siege by Big Boss and his gang of crooks, and how Vess was rebuilt with high-tech cybernetics after being ambushed, reborn as Bullet-Proof to lead the C.O.P.S. organization. The ID card reads: COPS Codename: “Bullet-Proof” Dept. of Origin: Federal Department of Investigation Badge Number: 7 Inspector Vess came so close to putting the Big Boss away with a federal indictment that he got gunned down in an alley by some of the Boss’ henchmen for his efforts. Thanks to highly advanced experimental microsurgery and cybernetics, Bullet-Proof was back on his feet with a stainless steel torso and a grudge the size of the national debt. He doesn’t let his determination to put away the Big Boss cloud his legendary deductive powers, or compromise his position as founder of the COPS organization and Chief of Investigations for the team. Federal Agent: Inspector Baldwin P. Vess “He’s bulletproof all right! He is also shock resistant and water tight to 200 meters. His mind is like a Swiss watch, a premier criminologist able to quickly and systematically determine the who, what, when, where and hows of cases. Maybe that’s why he’s such a good detective. He lines up all those facts and cl
The inside flap of the box features a full comic panel telling Bullet-Proof’s origin story, where FBI Inspector Baldwin P. Vess survives an ambush by Big Boss’s goons, is cybernetically enhanced with a stainless steel torso, and returns to lead the C.O.P.S. team, opening with a hostage situation he resolves with decisive force rather than negotiation. The side panels on the left and right mirror each other with the “Empire City is Under Siege!” header, character art of Bullet-Proof in his cybernetic form, and teaser silhouettes for upcoming figures in the line including Longarm and Dr. BadVibes.
Bullet-Proof sits in the clear plastic tray alongside a generous spread of accessories laid out in front, including a soft goods trench coat in tan fabric, a black briefcase, a silver handcuff with chain, a black submachine gun, and a small fire blast effect piece. The figure also comes packed with an alternate head sculpt, multiple swap-out hands in various grips, and a display stand.
Figure Details
Bullet-Proof stands in a full front view wearing his bright yellow long-sleeve shirt with a dark center zipper line, paired with brown pants and white shoes. His silver cybernetic torso has a star emblem at the center, and he’s wearing dark sunglasses with slicked-back hair, giving a clean first impression of the sculpt.
The back view shows the sculpted detail on Bullet-Proof’s silver cybernetic torso piece, which wraps around from the front with ribbed tubing, layered plating, and armor molded along the belt line. The yellow shirt has nice fabric-like wrinkles sculpted into the plastic, and the brown pants carry that same texture down through the shoes.
A close-up of Bullet-Proof’s midsection shows the front and rear of his silver cybernetic parts, with the metallic paint carrying a nice consistent sheen across both views. The front panel features layered plating with etched line work and small riveted details across the thigh guards, while the rear shows coiled tubing running horizontally across the lower back and segmented armor panels wrapping around the hips.
Armed with his chunky black submachine gun, Bullet-Proof has the translucent orange fire blast effect piece attached to the barrel, and the gradient from orange to yellow at the tip gives it a nice sense of heat. I like how the gun itself has all that mechanical detailing molded in, with layered panels, vents, and a thick barrel shroud that makes it feel appropriately oversized for a ’90s-inspired figure.
The brown pants show sculpted wrinkle detail down through the knees, with the color shifting slightly darker around the lower legs where the boots begin. Bullet-Proof’s white shoes have a clean two-tone paint split with brown tips, and the included display stand keeps him standing securely with the classic Cops ‘N Crooks branding printed across the top.
The soft goods trench coat gets a good look here from the back, with the tan fabric draping naturally and showing off clean stitching along the seams, collar, and belt loop at the waist. I like how the coat has real weight to it, with the hem swinging open at the bottom and the layered collar sitting flush against the shoulders.
Bullet-Proof holds up his open badge wallet, with the gold shield sculpted in nice relief against the black leather-look backing. The soft goods trench coat looks great from the front here, with the tan fabric falling open naturally over his yellow shirt and the collar framing his alternate head sculpt, which swaps in a pair of dark sunglasses over a confident smirk.
The briefcase features a detachable handle that separates from the case body, which is a smart design choice that lets you swap in the handcuffs or display the case on its own. The metallic gunmetal finish on the briefcase has a nice flat sheen, and the molded latches and ribbed surface texture give it a solid, weighty look at this scale.
The briefcase hangs from Bullet-Proof’s wrist with the silver handcuff chain linking his hand directly to the sculpted handle, and the segmented cuff detail around the wrist looks clean and well-proportioned. Something I appreciate here is how the soft goods trench coat sleeve bunches naturally at the cuff where the handcuff meets skin, with a small flash of yellow shirt peeking through.
The briefcase opens to reveal a fully sculpted interior on both halves, with molded control panels, dials, and what looks like a row of ammunition or data cartridges lining the inside of the lid. The level of detail packed into such a small accessory is impressive, with recessed compartments and raised switches filling both the top and bottom trays.
