Red Spectacles by Medicom, 2007

Another type of counter-terrorism trooper (see previous post), a totally different take from the modern forces. The Kerberos Panzer Cops were formed and tasked to handle all terrorist type activities in a fictional Japan that has become a totalitarian state after Germany won World War II and conquered the world (Thank GOD that didn't happen!). The Kerberos Panzer Cops are equipped with German military equipment, vehicles and weapons. The Protect-Gear is the full body armour used by Kerberos Panzer Cop Anti-Vicious Crime Division units.

This 1/6 scale 12" Kerberos Protect Gear Panzer Cop by Medicom is based on a 1987 Japanese feature film directed by Mamoru Oshii called "The Red Spectacles (紅い眼鏡)". It is the Kerberos saga's first movie and last episode in Oshii's Orwellian, dystopian Watchdog of Hell feature trilogy. Medicom has finally come full circle after having released Kerberos "Straydog" Panzer Cop (full review here) and "Jinroh: The Wolf Brigade" figure (review here)

I wasn't willing to get this figure at the original asking price because it just wasn't justifiable when compared to Takara's magnificent GenX Core Kerberos Protect Gear Chuichi Koshiramaru. However, I was able to find this figure recently at a much lower price so I just couldn't say no.

Medicom's Red Spectacles' box has that Frank Miller Sin City art effect of rain splatter on impact, using only black and white. Would've been nice to have the red eyes staring out from under the helmet.

Medicom Red Spectacles fully armored black-clad figure out of box

His Maschinengewehr 34 or MG34 is one molded piece except for the belt feed cover which can be lifted up to feed the ammo. No other moving parts :( This is actually an improvement over their earlier MGs but still poor compared to Takara's and Dragon's Straydog Kerberos Protect Gear Panzer Cop. Medicom's Red Spectacles Panzer Cop also has his Mauser C96 pistol, three spare gloved hands and two ammo belts, one short and the other long.

Part of the beauty of the Kerberos Protect Gear Panzer Cop - his fully covered face with gasmask and tubes, German Stahlhelm helmet and red eyes, black uniform and full body armor. The designation "panzer" (from pancier, body armour) is a German term, hence the World War II Panzer tanks.

Koichi Todome is a central figure in the Kerberos saga. In the trilogy, he is the Kerberos officer who led the "Kerberos Riot" movement when the Japanese government ordered the organization's dissolution. At the end of the siege, he escaped via helicopter and exiled himself with the promise to his men that he would return and free them later with the help of a newly created Kerberos force. Together with Soichiro Toribe and Midori Washio he forms the "Devil's Trio". [source: wiki]

One of the unique things about this particular version is the calculator embedded onto his chest armor. Not sure what it is for except to crunch the number of kills perhaps.

Medicom Red Spectacles Kerberos Protect Gear Panzer Cop now fully loaded and ready to strike fear into terrorists.

One of the hands is molded to hold his Mauser C96 pistol

His nice backpack which holds his ammo belts for his MG34, his radio and oxygen tank

Close-up of his backpack

The Mauser C96 pistol is kept in his left gauntlet/forearm armor

Koichi Todome brings up the heavy artillery

Another view of his stored Mauser

The famous Kerberos emblem, a reference to Hades' three-headed watchdog of hell in the Greek mythology. This fictitious creature is better known in western countries under its Latin form, Cerberus, which is the character's name in the Roman mythology.

Yutaka Izubuchi's (who created the Protect-Gear armor used in the Kerberos saga) mecha design signature "Buchi-ana", the five dots logo is featured on the helmet. Note the left side details of his backpack.

The right side of his backpack houses his radio for communications. The central pack is for his ammunition. Below that should be the oxygen tank which is linked to his mask by oxygen hoses.

His other sidearm, the Walter P38 pistol holstered on his right side. This is one molded piece and non-removable :(

Another fine addition to the Kerberos 1/6 line of 12" Protect Gear Panzer Cops (Group pictures here)