History CowboyCop / ComicBooks

* Inspector Ginko from ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'' is an interesting take on the trope: he [[ByTheBookCop usually plays by the rules]], but that's only because he knows otherwise crooks and gangsters will be able to get away through a loophole, and is more than willing to commit break-ins and other crimes (including, if the situation calls for it, [[EnemyMine allying with Diabolik]]) to get evidence when playing by the rules fails. He has also thrown a mob boss in his own pool to vent some frustration, routinely used Diabolik gadgets confiscated after a caper or a raid on one of his hideouts, and, in one memorable occasion, [[spoiler: [[RefugeInAudacity staged the theft of Diabolik's confiscated gadgets to stage the theft of twenty gold statues to keep them safe from Diabolik while the museum prepared a Diabolik-proof room to expose them]], and [[FramingTheGuiltyParty duped Diabolik into thinking the perpetrator was a mob boss that had cheated his way out of prison multiple times]] to make sure he wouldn't find out until too late]].

* In ''ComicBook/TexWiller'' Texas Rangers are this due often being the only representatives of the law in certain areas and caring only for the spirit of the law [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight to the point of being willing to break its letter to insure justice]]. This also enables them to serve as an interesting take on InternalAffairs, as their command and the governor of Texas know perfectly that if a crooked sheriff of marshall hasn't ''technically'' broken the law they'll just get creative in finding the evidence.

** He might've backslid recently, as the newest spin-off book, Emerald Warriors, stars Guy as he cowboy cops around the galaxy, punching anyone who tries to tell him about any regulations he's breaking. There might be a reason for the sudden increase in violence though, as the same series shows he's mentally recovering from being possessed by a red ring.
** Hal Jordan isn't exactly your model Green Lantern, and at times can be as much as a cowboy cop as Guy. Heck, the comic he's starring right now is called ''Green Lantern: Renegade''.

* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' - Guy Gardner is the Cowboy Cop of the Green Lantern Corps. The degree to which he's a help or a hindrance to an investigation largely depends on the era: He was not a useful team member ([[JerkAss to say]] [[PsychopathicManchild the least]]) back in the '80s, but he's since had some CharacterDevelopment and is now a top member of the Corps, not that that stops him from apprehending bad guys by [[http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9584/glew01006.jpg hurling himself through their windows]].

* John Hartigan from ComicBook/SinCity both invokes and averts this trope. It is invoked in the sense that he apparently skirts the rules here and there and his actions at the beginning of ''That Yellow Bastard'' would be considered police brutality. It's averted since he's the cleanest cop in the city to the point where people treat him as if he were a boyscout.

* Inspector Ginko from ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'' is an interesting take on the trope: he [[ByTheBookCop usually plays by the rules]], but that's only because he knows otherwise crooks and gangsters will be able to get away through a loophole, and is more than willing to commit break-ins and other crimes (including, if the situation calls for it, [[EnemyMine allying with Diabolik]]) to get evidence when playing by the rules fails. He has also thrown a mob boss in his own pool to vent some frustration, routinely used Diabolik gadgets confiscated after a caper or a raid on one of his hideouts, and, in one memorable occasion, [[spoiler: [[RefugeInAudacity staged the theft of Diabolik's confiscated gadgets to stage the theft of twenty gold statues to keep them safe from Diabolik while the museum prepared a Diabolik-proof room to expose them]], and [[FramingTheGuiltyParty duped Diabolik into thinking the perpetrator was a mob boss that had cheated his way out of prison multiple times]] to make sure he wouldn't find out until too late]].
* ComicBook/PainkillerJane invokes this trope with the title character from time to time.
* Hank Doberman of ''ComicBook/{{Doberman}}'' is a prime example of this. He does things his own way and loves to drink beer.

* Inspector Ginko from ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'' is an interesting take on the trope: he [[ByTheBookCop usually plays by the rules]], [[GenreSavvy but that's only because he knows otherwise crooks and gangsters will be able to get away through a loophole]], and is more than willing to commit break-ins and other crimes (including, if the situation calls for it, [[EnemyMine allying with Diabolik]]) to get evidence when playing by the rules fails. He has also thrown a mob boss in his own pool to vent some frustration, routinely used Diabolik gadgets confiscated after a caper or a raid on one of his hideouts, and, in one memorable occasion, [[spoiler: [[RefugeInAudacity staged the theft of Diabolik's confiscated gadgets to stage the theft of twenty gold statues to keep them safe from Diabolik while the museum prepared a Diabolik-proof room to expose them]], and [[FramingTheGuiltyParty duped Diabolik into thinking the perpetrator was a mob boss that had cheated his way out of prison multiple times]] to make sure he wouldn't find out until too late]].

* Hank Doberman of ''ComicBook/{{Doberman}}'' is a prime example of this. He does things his own way and loves to drink beer.
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** DependingOnTheWriter, Bullock goes back and forth on this. In some works, he's portrayed as being representative of the (often sizable) part of the GCPD that dislikes Batman because they think Batman tramples all over their authority. In others, he's almost as much of a maverick and outcast as Batman himself, and proud of the fact that he "steps on a lot of toes" and "doesn't play politics". And at least one work (Denny O'Neil's ''{{Knightfall}}'' novelization) states that he dislikes Batman because he thinks that ''Batman doesn't go far enough in hunting down criminals''.

* PainkillerJane invokes this trope with the title character from time to time.

* Hank Doberman of ''ComicBook/Doberman'' is a prime example of this. He does things his own way and loves to drink beer.

** Deputy (later Sheriff) 'Shotgun' Steve Smith also fills the bills. Based on 'Popeye' Doyle from ''Film/TheFrenchConection'', he was a classic cowboy cop who toted a SawedOffShotgun as his personal sidearm.