Hey there head choppers,
I apologize for the long time with no updates. I figured I owed it to you to at least post a little something to let you know where the axe stands and what the future may or may not hold.
One reason I have not posted or said much is because I don’t have much to report. You could probably deduct the reasons for Axe Cop’s hiatus if you have followed the comic at all over the past year or two. As it stands right now, I’m working on other things. Some of you know I have been a writer on the VeggieTales series on NetFlix for the last two years. That job (hopefully) has one year left on it. In my spare time I have been developing new ideas, trying to find more possibilities for my future beyond that year. I know right now that, as it stands, Axe Cop will not be able to cover me when this job ends.
So I have had to put Axe Cop off to the side indefinitely. Same with my other comic Bearmageddon. Until I have another ball rolling, I can’t consider myself a responsible husband and father if I am spending my time drawing comics that are not providing for the family. I need to invest that time wisely and when the time is right I can revisit projects like Axe Cop and Bearmageddon.
In truth, this is pretty close to what my vision for Axe Cop was from the start. I never knew how long it would last, and I made no predictions. But in my mind it made sense that, through Malachai’s younger years we would create a big body of work (six volumes. not bad!) then “retire”. Beyond that, I think it’s safe to say that every now and then we may revisit Axe Cop and do a story here and there. Who knows, maybe at some point Axe Cop can be my job again. Right now, it’s back to being a hobby. That’s fine with me, I’m proud of the work we did on it and it was never my plan to only draw Axe Cop for the rest of my life.
As for the TV show, I don’t know what is next for it. I suspect it is done but I have not heard anything.
Thanks for all your support and kindness throughout the life of Axe Cop. It has been a lot of fun. I look forward to revisiting Axey again in the future. If not at least to do a few “Ask Axe Cop” episodes. Until then, keep being awesome.
Ethan Nicolle
It was five years ago today that I was watching the State of the Union address with Doug TenNapel and my little cell phone started to go crazy with emails and twitter notifications because I had just posted AxeCop.com a couple days earlier and somehow it had gone viral. It was pretty wild.
I was living in a small bedroom which I was renting in Los Angeles, single and recently laid off from two jobs. It’s been a crazy five years. I am sorry that it has led to a place where I can’t draw Axe Cop every day like I used to. But we have six volumes published, and the second season of the TV show is now in production! I just got word from FOX/ADHD that Season 2 will be premiering on FXX on April 16th, 2015. Mark your calendars because these are the best episodes yet.
Besides getting a TV show and a sweet job at Dreamworks working with some of my best friends on the new VeggieTales series, as many of you know if you have been following, I got married. And now it has come to this: Little Eliza Jean Nicolle, born November 22nd. Who knows, maybe we’ll make comics together some day.
For now, between workin’ hard and raising our newborn along with our older kids, life is quite full. I’m trying to chip away at Bearmageddon as well, and had no plans to do any Axe Cop stuff, but when I realized we had hit the 5 year anniversarry, I had to do something. I’d been chatting with other writers about old notes I had from Malachai sessions and there was this unfinished story about the Moon Warriors and Telescope Gun Cop I had always wanted to flesh out more. Since that may not happen, I decided to give it to you in this format. Ask Axe Cop #101.
Thanks so much for the years of support and for being such a kind and generous reading audience. It’s been a crazy five years. Malachai is now 10. He will be 11 in March. Oh, how time flies.
Ethan
Yeah, I said someone would die. I didn’t say it would last. Thanks, Ralph Wrinkles!
When I asked Charlotte what sort of a battle cry Rainbow Girl may have as she kills Axe Cop, she blurted out “rainbowtastic!” almost immediately. Makes sense to me.
I’m on tour right now. I had to upload this and the next page, and write up the blog posts for them, in advance. Rough stuff. Right now I’m somewhere off in the south, playing metal for underattended shows. But, hey, it’s travel.
Next week we will finally see Axe Cop get… the perfect revenge. He and Dinosaur Soldier and Army Chihuahua planned it way back on page 6. What could this plan entail? We finally learn next time.
KIDS’ QUOTES OF THE WEEK
Charlotte is looking for Wiimotes and finds one of the empty
silicone sheaths. “I found one, but it’s got no bones in it.”
-Charlotte, 6 years old
“I dreamed I had twenty-nine ice creams with sprinkles,
cherries and hot fudge. Then I throwed up. I ate a
chicken and I throwed up again. Then me and Charlotte
falled down the stairs that were made of toilet paper
and daddy catched us before we broke our legs.”
-Amelia, 4 years old
A special episode where Ethan (sort of) writes and Malachai draws. The Moon Warriors meet an unfortunate end at the hands (paws?) of the God of All Bears.
Last page of the Ultimate Battle
