Author: Ethan Nicolle

Today is the day!  One year ago we created Axe Cop.  I know i said I wasn't going to draw anything else unti the new year, but I totally went back on that and created this Christmas Special with Malachai:

That's right, I even aded red and green because I love Christmas so much.  This episode is a good example of what I love about Axe Cop, he is Bat Man and Bugs Bunny all wrapped into one character.  He wants justice and he is not afraid to get it by giving his enemy a present full of TNT.

Also to celebrate, Malachai and I shot a little video and talked about the last year, and decided to sing the Axe Cop Christmas carol for you…

It's been a crazy few days since the book has been released.  The signing went reallly well.  Here is a recap from Dark Horse and I realliy liked this piece from the Portland Examiner who got quotes from my family and friends as welll as Malachai and I.  We sold out of books in the first hour, Malachai was a total champ.  He loved signing people's Axe Cop merch and would add stars lightning bolts and hearts to his sig to spruce it up.  We did a live drawing demonstratiion where we created a character named “Cougar Man”  (created after Malachai mistook the city name 'Vancouver' for 'Man Cougar').  A friend had a cell phone and took video… Malachai had to take a fierce leak during this demonstration so he dealt with it by doing what looks like the Baby Man dance.

Since I'll be hanging out with the family on the actual anniversary of Axe Cop's creation, I decided to post his birthday episode today…

Malachai and I drew the first episode of Axe Cop on December 23rd, 2009 during my Christmas visit.  This comic is to celebrate the birth of a character who has changed both of our lives forever.

Now, the REAL anniversary I want to celebrate will be on January 25th, which is the anniversary of the website going live.  This is a significant date in Axe Cop history, therefore I want to dub it the AXEIVERSARY.  I welcome pin ups, guest episodes, songs… whatever you want to come up with to celebrate the Axeiversary on january 25th.  We are going to do a special episode of the podcast and possibly some other things on that day.  So I just want to throw it out there… if you have enjoyed Axe Cop, year one, prepare for Axe Cop's one year celebration. 

I will be at the Anaheim Wizard World Con, and don't forget about the event in Portland on Saturday!  Both are on the events page.  Also, if you haven't ordered your copy of the Axe Cop book, due out one day before Axe Cop's birthday (Dec. 22nd), DO IT!

Also, for the first time ever I put a piece of original art up on ebay!  it's the best drawing of Sockarang I have ever done:

May the highest bidder win!

This will be the last Axe Cop comic of 2010, tomorrow I'm heading up to visit the family, who I can't wait to see!  I'm ready for a break.  Have an awesome Christmas, God bless all of you and your families, have a wonderful holiday and I'll see you next year!

Ethan

I know that more Army Chihuahua story is in high demand, but I am waiting for more writing time with Malachai before I continue that story, so for now we have Axe Cop answering the age old question: What is the best dance?

The big news right now is that if you live in or near Portland, OR Malachai and I will be making our first public appearance together at Bridge City Comics on December 18th!  The Axe Cop Volume 1 book willl be released at the event four days earlier than the official release date (Dec. 22nd).  We will be doing a demonstration with audience participation on how we work together, we'll be signing books (well, I will, he probably will sign a few then get bored with it), so get there early!), and answering questions… and just generally hanging out.  Shawna, our editor from Dark Horse says she is bringing Axe Cop cookies and there will be Axe Cop coloring pages for kids.  It's an all ages event and will be a lot of fun.  We will also be selling an exclusve print for $10.00.  More info on the event here!  You can also RSVP for the event on Facebook.

Also, just a warning, but the books will be in limited supply.  The event starts at three, and if you want to be sure you get a copy you should probably be on time.  See you there!

Ethan

Alright headchoppers, I am trying to do a couple of things right now.  First, I am shutting down the Axe Cop art shop, meaning that all sketches/signed prints will no longer be availabe after December 10th.  I am doing this because I just don't have time for it!  BUT, I am going out with a bang and I am doing a big sale on custom sketches, sketchbooks and I have EIGHT Wexter on the Moon prints which I found that you can get signed and sent in time for the holiday.  I am doing all this because I need to pool together some money to visit the family and buy them presents this year, so if you buy something, you are not only getting a good deal, you are helping me out!!

ONLY EIGHT LEFT OF THIS SIGNED PRINT (CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE IN STORE)

SKETCH SALE:  Whatever you want me to draw (within reason) for $20.  Add my sketchbook vol. 2 for only $12.00 (click image below to view in store)

Any questions on the sketch deal just ask!

Ethan

Today we find out more about this new set of heroes who will be joinging Axe Cop and Batwarthog Man on their adventure…

I'll be announcing the sketch sale very soon… but for now let me remind you that we have a new awesome shirt in the store with Axe Cop and Wexter on it.

If you listen to the podcast, the name James “Dibs” Kennison will be familiar.  James did a guest episode, and here it is!

James, besides beiing a prolific and talented podcaster, also runs this website where he will Draw you a Picture for pretty darn cheap:

Big news in the store!  A new shirt is available, it features this piece of art (click to enlarge):

You can order it right now in the Topatoco Store and get it in time for Christmas.  Help me buy my siblings Christmas presents by buying Axe Cop stuff!  Tomorrow, along with a new episode of Bat Warthog Man Can't Find His Friend(s) I will announce a sketch sale.  The Axe Cop art shop is going out of business.  I will be selling my last 6-8 signed Wexter prints, and have a one week sale on custom sketches (hoping to get some Christmas present money here!) then I will take the store down and move all sales to Topatoco.  Custom sketches will no longer be available online after that time, so if you want one, get ready!  That's coming tomorrow, so see you then.

Ethan

Axe Cop goes above and beyond the call of duty on Thanksgiving.  You should probably give him some thanks tomorrow…

That last part came from a video Malachai watched that taught him the “secret” of Thanksgiving… that white people killed the Indians.  Not sure why they felt the need to dump a complex topic like that on a 6 year old… but I guess that's public school.  I don't want to get into the PC thanksgiving controversy, but I included this because it was what Malachai came up with and whatever your view of history, you have to admit it is cute.

God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving.  I definitely have a lot to be thankful for this year, though I won't be seeing Malachai and the rest of the family until Christmas (when the book is released!) but I will be spending it with good friends.  I look forward to eating my free dead animal mailed to me by Axe Cop.

Ethan

PS!  Here is the REAL cover to the first volume of Axe Cop coming in December!

The tale of Batwarthog Man continues, and the plot inevitably thickens…

…in fact we may have to change the title of this story.  As I said I did not know much about this story when I started it, I am getting it almost at the same rate you are.

Christmas is coming and I will be announcing a sale on sketches/sketchbooks for Christmas time as well as a new Axe Cop/Wexter t shirt will be released very soon, so stay tuned! 

Also, the site was down today for a while, but it's fixed now. 

Ethan

The next installmen of Bat Warthog Man Can't Find His Friend is now up!

Don't forget to join us for CHOP tonight!  CHOP is the Axe COp podcast.  It is hosted by veteran podcasters James Kennison and John Steinklauber and I join each week also.  We go over current episodes, riff and comment on them and I give some insight into the creative process.  It is generally a pretty fun time and you can join live in the chat if you catch us while we are recording at 6:30 pacific time.  You can also call in and leave us a message or a question and be on the show: 206-337-8138.  See you next week!

Ethan

Hey check it out, new guest episode by Sam Boyd of Hamstah Powah!

My apologies to Sam… he made this epic-sized guest episode and I kept forgetting to post it.  Well here it is.  If you like Sam's work, check out more…

Now, onto the contest!  I was really amazed by how many submissions came in!  I also had my doubts anyone would do a Sockarang costume, but I actually had a few submitted.  Lots of great Axe Cop costumes.

So, I am going to pick two winners here because I did say that the person who does a Sockarang with beard and guitar wins… so one of those goes to Nayib Nader:

The other winner is this guy:

John Davidson wins points for awesome choice, originality and presentation.

If you are Nayib or John, email me a photo of yourself normal and not in costume so that I can insert you into the background of an upcoming Axe Cop episode.

There were a LOT of great submissions.  It was really hard to only choose two.  Here are a few more of my favorites…

Axe Cop, Dinosaur Soldier and Telescope Gun Cop: the Team That Never Was, submitted by Joseph Dillon…

Jeffrey Campbell submitted this image of he and his wife dressed as Sockarang and Axe Cop.  I thought this Sockarang costume was pretty impressive:

Another couple dresses as Axe Cop and Dinosaur Soldier, submitted by Kristyn Armour:

And this guy wins points for having the exact same toy axe Malachai and I used when we created Axe Cop.  Submitted by Scott Zirkel:

And since we are on the topic of costumes, it is always worth remembering (in my opinion) the best of them all:  Baby Man from Comic Con 2010 (pictured wth me and Fire Slicer)…

Want to see more?  I put all the submissions into a gallery which you can view here.  Please comment and let people know how awesome their costumes are.  I didn't have time to go through and credit each image with who submitted it.  I have comics to draw!  Thanks to all who submitted!

Ethan