''Axe Cop'' is an American
adult animated series
An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have eith ...
based on the
webcomic
Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on a website or mobile app. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or comic books.
Webcomics can be c ...
of the same name that was created by
Ethan Nicolle
Ethan Nicolle is an American comic book creator, artist, and writer. He created the Slave Labor Graphics comic '' Chumble Spuzz'' which has been released as two graphic novels so far. He also worked with his younger brother, Malachai, to create ' ...
and Malachai Nicolle. It premiered on
Fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
on July 21, 2013, as a part of the channel's
Animation Domination HD programming block.
The first season consists of 12 11-minute episodes.
The second, broadcast in April—June 2015 on
FXX
FXX is an American basic cable channel owned by the Walt Disney Television unit of The Walt Disney Company through FX Networks, LLC. It is the partner channel of FX, with its programming focusing on original and acquired comedy series and fe ...
consists of 10 episodes.
Plot
Similar to the webcomic, the series features the eponymous police officer, his partner Flute Cop, and their allies Sockarang, Gray Diamond, Liborg, Bat Warthog Man, and Wexter as they fight various "bad guys" and avoid getting into conflict with the Normal Police.
Development
''Axe Cop'' is a popular webcomic that was created by
Ethan Nicolle
Ethan Nicolle is an American comic book creator, artist, and writer. He created the Slave Labor Graphics comic '' Chumble Spuzz'' which has been released as two graphic novels so far. He also worked with his younger brother, Malachai, to create ' ...
and his young brother Malachai (five years old at the time of its creation). In playing with Malachai, Ethan found that his brother had a vivid and disjointed imagination, and developed the comic by taking the stories that Malachai told, refining the story to some point without losing Malachai's inventiveness, and drawing the comic around it. The webcomic became very popular, leading to publishing deals with
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops know ...
for larger comic-book-sized stories.
The development of the ''Axe Cop'' series started from a conversation that
Nick Offerman had with the
ADHD producer
Nick Weidenfeld
Nicholas Rabb Weidenfeld (born September 26, 1979) is an American television producer and executive who led program development for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and Fox's Animation Domination High-Def programming blocks. He won producing Emmy Aw ...
some years before the program's debut. Offerman talked with Weidenfeld about the ''Axe Cop'' comic and stated that if a show was to be made from it, Offerman wanted to participate. Weidenfeld took the idea to
Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Philip Lord (born 12 July 1975) and Christopher Miller (born 23 September 1975) are an American filmmaking duo. After a meeting at Dartmouth College, they are known for creating the adult animated sitcom ''Clone High'' (2002–2003), directing an ...
, also fans of the webcomic, and they asked Weidenfeld to lead the project, stating that it "has to be emotional", in Weidenfeld's words.
As Lord and Miller were working on ''
21 Jump Street
''21 Jump Street'' is an American police procedural television series that aired on the Fox network and in first run syndication from April 12, 1987, to April 27, 1991, with a total of 103 episodes. The series focuses on a squad of youthful-loo ...
'' at the time, they suggested Weidenfeld turn to
Judah Miller for directional help. Weidenfeld and Miller arranged for a retreat along with writers and creators of ''
Drawn Together
''Drawn Together'' is an American adult animated sitcom created by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein and premiered on Comedy Central on October 27, 2004. The series is a parody of '' The Surreal Life'' and follows the misadventures of the housemat ...
''
Dave Jeser
David Mark Douglas Jeser (born September 25, 1977) is an American television writer and co-creator with Matt Silverstein of '' Drawn Together''. He has also written for other television shows including ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' The Man Show'' ...
and
Matt Silverstein
Matthew Richard "Matt" Silverstein (born April 1, 1979) is an American television writer and co-creator with Dave Jeser of '' Drawn Together''. He has also written for other television shows including ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' The Man Show ...
, voice actors
Ken Marino
Kenneth Joseph Marino (born December 19, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's ''The State'' and has starred in shows such as '' Party Down'', '' Marry Me'', '' Burning Love'', and '' Chil ...
,
Patton Oswalt
Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...
, and Offerman, and the comic creator Ethan Nicolle, where the group discussed their favorite parts of the comic and how to translate it into a show, keeping all the moments that are "100-percent pure Malachai".
As they started to write some of the show's plots, they found themselves with narrative dead ends; Ethan used these moments to contact Malachai, explain the story so far and have Malachai provide the missing narrative.
Malachai also provided additional advice during the animation process for the shorts when he visited the studios, such as insisting that Zombie Island be set in space, a tangent that the writers and animators quickly agreed with for its illogical humorous value and included in the short.
Episodes
Season 1 (2013)
The initial episode order for the series was six. On August 1, 2013, Fox ordered six additional episodes, bringing the season to a total of 12 episodes.
Season 2 (2015)
Voice cast
*
Nick Offerman – Axe Cop/Axey Smartist
*
Ken Marino
Kenneth Joseph Marino (born December 19, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's ''The State'' and has starred in shows such as '' Party Down'', '' Marry Me'', '' Burning Love'', and '' Chil ...
– Flute Cop/Flutey Smartist,
Fife Cop (ep. 3)
*
Rob Huebel – Gray Diamond/Mark Frankenstein
*
Megan Mullally – Anita, Mrs. G. (ep. 1), Joanie (ep. 1), Isabella M. (ep. 2), Queen of England (ep. 2), Book Cop's Mom (ep. 3), Gobber Smartist (ep. 5), Tracy (ep. 8), Waitress (ep. 9)
*
Patton Oswalt
Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer. He is known as Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and for narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–present) as ...
– Sockarang,
Stockarang (ep. 3)
*
Tyler, The Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the founding members of the music collective Odd Future.
Okonma self-released his debut mixtape ' ...
– Liborg,
Chief of the Normal Police (ep. 7)
Additional voices
*
James Adomian
James Adomian (born January 31, 1980) is an Armenian-American stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist. He is best known for his work on ''Comedy Bang! Bang!'', ''Chapo Trap House'', ''Last Comic Standing'', ''The Late Late Show with Craig Fe ...
– Book Cop's Dad (ep. 3), Magic Cop (ep. 4)
*
Jane Adams – Red-Headed Woman (ep. 8)
*
Dave "Gruber" Allen –
*
Dee Bradley Baker
Dee Bradley Baker (born August 31, 1962) is an American voice actor. Much of Baker's work features vocalizations of animals and monsters. Baker's roles include animated series such as ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'', '' Codename: Kids Next Door'', ...
– Vampire Man Baby Kid (ep. 13),
Baboon
Baboons are primates comprising the genus ''Papio'', one of the 23 genera of Old World monkeys. There are six species of baboon: the hamadryas baboon, the Guinea baboon, the olive baboon, the yellow baboon, the Kinda baboon and the chacma ...
s (ep. 22)
*
Maria Bamford
Maria Bamford (born September 3, 1970) is an American actress and stand-up comedian. Her work has drawn critical acclaim and controversy because her humor often uses self-deprecating and dark topics, including her dysfunctional family, depressio ...
–
Newscaster
A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet. ...
(ep. 15), Anita (ep. 22)
*
Jonathan Banks
Jonathan Ray Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American actor. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Chillum Heights, Maryland, while attending Indiana University Bloomington Banks did theatre. In 1974, he moved to Los Angeles where he be ...
– Book Cop (ep. 3), Radio DJ (ep. 4)
*
Raymond J. Barry
Raymond John Barry (born March 14, 1939) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his performance in the film ''Steel City (film), Steel City''.
Personal life ...
– Bad
Santa
Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnigh ...
(ep. 5)
*
Todd Barry
Todd or Todds may refer to:
Places
;Australia:
* Todd River, an ephemeral river
;United States:
* Todd Valley, California, also known as Todd, an unincorporated community
* Todd, Missouri, a ghost town
* Todd, North Carolina, an unincorporat ...
– Dinosaur Horn Store Salesman (ep. 1), Todd (ep. 6)
*
Stephanie Beatriz
Stephanie Beatriz Bischoff Alvizuri (born February 10, 1981) is an American actress, model and singer. She is known for playing Detective Rosa Diaz in the Fox/NBC comedy series ''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' (2013–2021), and voicing protagonist Mi ...
–
*
Lake Bell
Lake Siegel Bell (born March 24, 1979) is an American actress, screenwriter and director. She has starred in various television series, including ''Boston Legal'' (2004–2006), '' Surface'' (2005–2006), ''How to Make It in America'' (2010–2 ...
– Axe Girl (ep. 20)
*
Beck Bennett
Christopher Beck Bennett (born October 1, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, who was a cast member on ''Saturday Night Live'' for eight seasons (2013–2021). Before then, he performed in AT&T "It's Not Complicated" commercials in ...
– Boy's Father (ep. 6)
*
Andrew Daly
Andrew J. Daly (born April 15, 1971) is an American actor, comedian and writer. He starred as Forrest MacNeil on the Comedy Central series ''Review'', and had a supporting role in the HBO comedy series '' Eastbound & Down'' as Terrence Cutler. ...
–
*
Travis Bowe
Travis may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Travis (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
*Travis (surname), a list of people
Places in the United States
*Travis, Staten Island, a neighborhood
*Travis Air Force Base, a ...
–
*
Betsy Brandt
Betsy Brandt (born March 14, 1973) is an American actress. She portrayed Marie Schrader in ''Breaking Bad'' (2008–2013) and its spinoff show, ''Better Call Saul'' (2022) and played Heather Hughes in the CBS sitcom ''Life in Pieces'' (2015 ...
–
*
Andre Braugher
Andre Keith Braugher (; born July 1, 1962) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the police drama series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999), used car salesman Owen Thoreau Jr. in the com ...
– Lobster Man (ep. 16)
*
Alison Brie
Alison Brie Schermerhorn (born December 29, 1982) is an American actress. Her breakthrough came with the role of Trudy Campbell in the drama series '' Mad Men'' (2007–2015), which won her a Screen Actors Guild Award. She gained recognition fo ...
– Beautiful Girly Bobs (ep. 12)
*
Clancy Brown
Clarence John "Clancy" Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
Brown's film roles include Viking Lofgren in ''Bad Boys'' ...
– Soldier (ep. 17), Reporter (ep. 18), Junior Cobbb (ep. 18),
Satan (ep. 19),
Bigfoot (ep. 21), Bad
Hunter (ep. 21)
* Jerrod Carmichael – Guy on Car (ep. 4)
*
Michael Chiklis
Michael Charles Chiklis ( born August 30, 1963) is an American actor, television director, television producer and musician. He is best known for his role as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective Vic Mackey on the FX police drama ''The S ...
–
*
Olivia Cooke
Olivia Kate Cooke (born 27 December 1993) is an English actress. In television, she has starred as Emma Decody in the thriller '' Bates Motel'' (2013–2017), Becky Sharp in the period drama ''Vanity Fair'' (2018), and Alicent Hightower in th ...
–
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster ( gd, Uilebheist Loch Nis), affectionately known as Nessie, is a creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or mor ...
(ep. 21)
* Charley Damski – Alien Lab Worker (ep. 1)
*
Sam Elliott
Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Board of Review Award, and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Aw ...
– Axe Cop's Dad (ep. 19)
*
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (; born April 26, 1958) is an American actor and director. He is best known for portraying Gus Fring in the AMC crime drama series '' Breaking Bad'', from 2009 to 2011, and in its prequel series ''Better ...
– Army Chihuahua
*
Dan Harmon
Daniel James Harmon (born January 3, 1973) is an American writer, producer, and actor. He is best known as the creator and producer of the NBC/Yahoo! Screen sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015), creator and host of the comedy podcast '' Harmontow ...
– Magic Show Audience Member (ep. 4)
*
Dennis Haysbert
Dennis Dexter Haysbert (born June 2, 1954) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the '' Major League'' film trilogy, Secret Service agent Tim Collin in the political thriller film '' Absolute Power'' ...
– Frog (ep. 8)
*
Jared Harris
Jared Francis Harris (born 24 August 1961) is a British actor. His roles include Lane Pryce in the AMC television drama series ''Mad Men'', for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Seri ...
– King of England (ep. 3)
*
Ryan Hurst
Ryan Douglas Hurst (born June 19, 1976) is an American actor, known for his roles as Gerry Bertier in ''Remember the Titans'' (2000), Sgt. Ernie Savage in ''We Were Soldiers'' (2002), Tom Clarke in '' Taken'' (2002), Opie Winston in the FX dram ...
–
*
Dave Jeser
David Mark Douglas Jeser (born September 25, 1977) is an American television writer and co-creator with Matt Silverstein of '' Drawn Together''. He has also written for other television shows including ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' The Man Show'' ...
–
*
Jewel – Tear Sparrow (ep. 16)
*
Vincent Kartheiser – Bat Warthog Man
*
Udo Kier
Udo Kierspe (born 14 October 1944), known professionally as Udo Kier, is a German actor. Known primarily as a character actor, Kier has appeared in more than 220 films in both leading and supporting roles throughout Europe and the Americas. He h ...
–
Warden
A warden is a custodian, defender, or guardian. Warden is often used in the sense of a watchman or guardian, as in a prison warden. It can also refer to a chief or head official, as in the Warden of the Mint.
''Warden'' is etymologically identic ...
(ep. 14)
*
Jemima Kirke
Jemima Jo M Kirke (born 26 April 1985) is a British-American artist, actress and director. She gained international acclaim through her role as Jessa Johansson on the HBO series '' Girls''. She made her film debut in the 2005 indie short '' S ...
– Water Queen (ep. 16)
*
Heather Lawless
Heather Lawless is an American actress, comedian, and voice actress.
Early life
Lawless was born in Georgia, and raised in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. She graduated from the University of Georgia.
Career
She began her career as ...
– Dr. Miles (ep. 22)
*
Al LeVine
Alan Brian Levine (born May 22, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who pitched 234 games in the minor leagues, and 416 games in the major leagues.
Early and personal life
Levine, who is Jewish, was born in Park Ri ...
– President Towzerd (ep. 15, 22)
*
Luenell
Luenell Campbell (born March 12, 1959), known mononymously as Luenell, is an American comedian and actress.
Career
In the early-1990s, Luenell appeared regularly on ''Soul Beat TV'' on the Oakland, California
Oakland is the largest city an ...
– Waitress (ep. 20)
*
Michael Madsen
Michael Søren Madsen (born September 25, 1957) is an American actor. He has starred in many films and television series, frequently collaborating with director Quentin Tarantino, most famously in the latter's debut film '' Reservoir Dogs'' (1 ...
– Baby Man
* Hunter Maki – Young Flutey Smartist (ep. 11)
*
Jack McBrayer
Jack McBrayer (; born May 27, 1973) is an American actor and comedian, who gained national exposure for his portrayal of characters on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' and as Kenneth Parcell in '' 30 Rock''. For his role in ''30 Rock'' he was ...
– Mr. Chicken Chickenslice (ep. 19)
* Cullen McCarthy – Young Axey Smartist (ep. 11), Young Ray (ep. 11)
*
Jack McGee – Turkey Turkey (ep. 10)
*
Scoot McNairy
John Marcus "Scoot" McNairy (born November 11, 1977) is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his roles in '' Monsters'', '' Argo'', ''Killing Them Softly'', ''12 Years a Slave'', '' Gone Girl'', and '' Batman v Superman: Dawn of ...
– Scoot (ep. 9, 15)
*
Ben Mendelsohn
Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn (born 3 April 1969) is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his breakout role in ''The Year My Voice Broke'' (1987) and since then he has had roles in films such as '' Animal Kingdom'' (2010) ...
– Ben (ep. 9, 15)
*
Chris Messina
Christopher Messina (born August 11, 1974)Hochberg, Mina.Chris Messina stars in 'Ruby Sparks'. ''Newsday'' (Long Island, New York). August 8, 2012: “...the actor, who turns 38 Saturday ugust 11, 2012 After graduating from Northport ew Yor ...
–
*
Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina (born Alfredo Molina; 24 May 1953) is a British-American actor known for his work on the stage and screen. He first rose to prominence in the West End, earning a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Newcomer in a Pla ...
– Vampire Man Baby Kid's Father (ep. 13), Brilliant Evil Scientist (ep. 18)
*
Ethan Nicolle
Ethan Nicolle is an American comic book creator, artist, and writer. He created the Slave Labor Graphics comic '' Chumble Spuzz'' which has been released as two graphic novels so far. He also worked with his younger brother, Malachai, to create ' ...
– Chubby Doll (ep. 4),
Merman
Mermen, the male counterparts of the mythical female mermaids, are legendary creatures, which are male human from the waist up and fish-like from the waist down, but may assume normal human shape. Sometimes they are described as hideous and other ...
(ep. 5)
*
Malachai Nicolle – Opening Narration
*
Mike O'Malley
Michael Edward O'Malley (born October 31, 1966) is an American actor, writer and producer. Born in Boston and raised in New Hampshire, O'Malley hosted the early 1990s children's game show '' Nickelodeon Guts'' before moving to Los Angeles later ...
– Ray (ep. 11)
*
Jordan Peele – Super Axe (ep. 8)
*
Richard Riehle
Richard Riehle (born May 12, 1948) is an American character actor. He portrayed Walt Finnerty on ''Grounded for Life'' (2001–2005) and The Warden on ''The Young and the Restless'' (2007). He also appeared in over 200 films, including '' Glory' ...
– Tutukaka Male (ep. 20), Science Corp Scientist (ep. 22), Secret President Larry (ep. 22)
* Alex Rubin – Kid (ep. 6)
*
Kristen Schaal
Kristen Joy Schaal (; born January 24, 1978) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her voice roles as Louise Belcher on ''Bob's Burgers'' and Mabel Pines on ''Gravity Falls''. She's also known for playing Mel on '' ...
– God (ep. 19)
*
Peter Serafinowicz
Peter Szymon Serafinowicz ( ; born 10 July 1972) is an English actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, best known for his roles as the title character in the 2016 live-action series of '' The Tick'', Pete in ''Shaun of the Dead'' (2004) an ...
– Uni-Man, Dr. Doo Doo (ep. 2),
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
(ep. 2),
Chemist M. (ep. 2),
Redcoat (ep. 3), Boy (ep. 6), Rabbit Ghost (ep. 6), King of All Time (ep. 16), Wizard Artist Rabbit (ep. 18)
*
Matt Silverstein
Matthew Richard "Matt" Silverstein (born April 1, 1979) is an American television writer and co-creator with Dave Jeser of '' Drawn Together''. He has also written for other television shows including ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' The Man Show ...
–
*
June Squibb
June Louise Squibb (born November 6, 1929) is an American actress. In 2013, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film ''Nebraska''.
Squibb has appeared in the films ''Alice'', '' In & Out'', ''About Schm ...
– Tutukaka Female (ep. 20)
*
David Strathairn
David Russell Strathairn (; born January 26, 1949) is an American actor. Known for his leading roles on stage and screen, he has often portrayed historical figures such as Edward R. Murrow, J. Robert Oppenheimer, William H. Seward, and John Do ...
– Extincter (ep. 21)
*
Tara Strong
Tara Lyn Strong (née Charendoff; born February 12, 1973) is a Canadian-American actress. She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games. Strong's voice roles include animated series such as '' The New Batman Adventure ...
– Refugee Woman (ep. 22)
* Valery Summey – Poison (ep. 4)
*
Joe Unger
Joe or JOE may refer to:
Arts
Film and television
* ''Joe'' (1970 film), starring Peter Boyle
* ''Joe'' (2013 film), starring Nicolas Cage
* ''Joe'' (TV series), a British TV series airing from 1966 to 1971
* ''Joe'', a 2002 Canadian animated ...
– Police Officer (ep. 9), Farmer (ep. 10)
*
Deborah Ann Woll
Deborah Ann Woll (born February 7, 1985) is an American actress and model. Woll played Jessica Hamby in the HBO drama series ''True Blood'' (2008–2014), which earned her a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She subsequently starred a ...
– Best Fairy Ever (ep. 12)
*
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam (born October 23, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and film director. He first achieved mainstream attention in 1986 with the release of his debut album ''Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.''. Yoakam had considerabl ...
–
References
External links
*
Axe Copo
Reddit
{{Fox Animation
2010s American adult animated television series
2010s American animated comedy television series
2010s American police comedy television series
2013 American television series debuts
2015 American television series endings
American adult animated action television series
American adult animated comedy television series
Anime-influenced Western animated television series
English-language television shows
Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
Television series by Fox Television Animation
Television shows based on webcomics