Inferno Cop

Inferno Cop is the titular anti-hero of Inferno Cop (2012–2013), a short-form Japanese original net animation by TRIGGER/CoMix Wave that streamed on YouTube. In-universe, he’s a flaming-skulled “cop”/vigilante who roams Jack Knife Edge Town dispensing instant (and usually explosive) justice while hunting the shadowy organization Southern Cross, who murdered his family. Appearance A flaming skull for a head, typically wearing sunglasses, topped with a police cap. Wears a stylized police uniform and carries the vibe of a hard-boiled action hero… if the action hero were literally on fire. Signature gear includes a revolver that can blow up “nearly anything” it hits, plus he’s known for driving a flaming cop car. Personality Inferno Cop is brash, violent, and absolutist—the kind of “justice” guy who doesn’t wait around for evidence or due process. While the local police often excuse wrongdoing as long as the criminals have “paid their taxes,” Inferno Cop tolerates no evil and tends to vaporize lawbreakers on sight. He’s also canonically a middle-school dropout, and the show plays his dead-serious intensity for absurd comedy. He's known for introducing himself to people with the following iconic line: "I am... the purgatorial flame of this rotting shit-hole... INFERUNO COPPU!" Whenever he's taken by surprise he's known for shouting "NANI?!" in a comically hilariously way. Background He’s described as a former police officer turned vigilante, driven by revenge after Southern Cross murdered his family (and the series implies they killed him too, prior to the story). He repeatedly frames himself as having come from Hell, and the story later leans into that literally via Hell-set episodes and “relatives in Hell” bits. Story (what happens to him) The series is basically “Inferno Cop vs. THE WORLD,” escalating from street-level absurdity into full-on end-of-reality chaos. Highlights: Early episodes: He intervenes in crimes in Jack Knife Edge Town, immediately collides with the show’s running water gag (he’s vulnerable to water), and ends up fighting bizarre Southern Cross threats—including a very not-normal “baby” encounter that spirals into a courtroom farce. Southern Cross pressure campaign: They attempt to break him via an organization-run hospital scheme and send the deadpan hitmen trio “FBI!” after him; the city descends into even more madness (including zombies). Time travel + Hell arc: He clashes with Mecha Cop (built to kill him), and their conflict veers into time travel and eventually Hell, where Inferno Cop reunites with Auntie Grenda and Mecha Cop makes an unexpected choice to stay behind and help others. Hellfire Boy arc: Inferno Cop accidentally creates a sidekick, Hellfire Boy, who later sacrifices himself to fuel Inferno Cop during a race; this becomes a weirdly recurring emotional “fuel” motif. Final arc (episodes 11–13): Aliens and Southern Cross attempt to trigger the Third Destroy Finale (a mass extinction event) using Inferno Cop as the “key.” After reality gets rewritten, Claudia—a powerful entity who claims love for Inferno Cop—tries to replace humanity with Inferno Cop clones. Inferno Cop ultimately gains power, becomes Glitter Inferno Cop, breaks Claudia’s hold, and the climax ends in a huge sacrificial-style finishing attack that leaves his badge behind. Abilities and weaknesses Overwhelming firepower: His revolver is comically destructive, and his default solution to problems is “shoot it until it explodes.” Supernatural resilience: He survives ridiculous punishment and reality-warping scenarios that would instantly kill normal characters. Weakness to water: He’s “severely weakened” underwater—though the gag is that his flaming skull stays lit anyway. Key allies and enemies Southern Cross: The Illuminati-parody secret society that killed his family and serves as the main enemy faction. Mr. Judge: A rival/parallel “justice” figure who doubles as an actual judge and superheroic vigilante. Mecha Cop: Built to kill Inferno Cop, then forced into reluctant teamwork through time/hell circumstances. Auntie Grenda: His aunt in Hell; unexpectedly kind and pivotal in the Hell arc. Hellfire Boy: His accidental sidekick and recurring “fuel” for his flames. Claudia: A reality-bending antagonist/love-interest figure at the endgame.