An Axe to Grind: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''I'm gonna make me a big sharp axe
''Shining steel, tempered in the fire
''I'll chop you down like an old dead tree''
|'''The Pogues''', "Dirty Old Town"}}
Useful for chopping wood and heads alike, axes are often pressed into service as weapons. An axe's wide, cleaving head is effective against armor, making it a slower and more powerful weapon than [[I Like Swords|a sword]], though not quite as massive as a [[Drop the Hammer|hammer]].<ref>except in [[Real Life]]</ref> Smaller axes, such as the tomahawk or the francisca, can be used as throwing weapons. In certain media, they may even return to the user's hand like a [[Precision-Guided Boomerang|boomerang]], though they have the tendency to stick in enemies if they score a hit.
Historically, due to being somewhat easier to manufacture, their general familiarity to the peasant population and mobility (real-life combat axes were ''small'' and rarely weighed more than one kilo), they used to be the close combat [[Weapon of Choice]] of the common foot soldiers, as opposed to the officers and nobility, who wore swords (which were generally too expensive for commoners). While military weapons were often illegal for peasants to own, axes are tools, and avoid the prohibition. Franks used them extensively (lending their name to the francisca), and nowadays in fiction, axes are associated with [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|dwarves]], [[Our Orcs Are Different|Orcs]], [[Horny Vikings|Vikings]] (and other members of [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|proud warrior races]]), [[Barbarian Hero|barbarians]], [[Mighty Lumberjack| woodcutters]], firefighters, and psychopaths (giving [[Ax Crazy]] its name and meaning). If the [[Big Guy]] of a [[Five-Man Band]] isn't using a [[Drop the Hammer|hammer]] or his [[Bare-Fisted Monk|bare fists]], he'll generally use a gigantic axe as a weapon. For extra comedy, the [[Cute Bruiser]] may be given a head-chopper bigger than the rest of her body.
May also include halberds and other poleaxes, which combine the chopping power of an axe with the range of a [[Blade on a Stick]].
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* Kyo Aguri in ''[[Weiss Kreuz]] Gluhen'' had an axe he could also shoot a chain out of. {{spoiler|[[Sacrificial Lamb|Didn't help him much.]]}}
* ''[[Akumetsu]]'' has used axes a few times.
* [[
* Lind from ''[[Ah! My Goddess]]'' carries a halberd as her [[Weapon of Choice]].
** {{spoiler|Actually a powerlimiter for her native power.}}
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*** And as a homage to ''[[Getter Robo]]'', Olegmon has a pair of axes. When he tosses them he shouts '''DUAL TOMAHAWK BOOMERANG'''!
* [[Gaiking]] has an axe, simply called the "Gaiking Axe".
* [[Starter Villain]] Morgan from ''[[One Piece]].'' He has an axe ''[[Rule of Cool|for a hand.]]''
** A later character, [[Stout Strength|Sentomaru]] uses a large Battle Axe, making him similar to the real life folk hero [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintar%C5%8D Kintarou].
** In the Little Garden arc, "Red Oni" Brogy wields a massive axe as his weapon of choice. However, over one hundred years of ceaseless fight have dulled the axe
** Curly Dadan, Luffy and Ace's caretaker/foster mother, uses a long-handled axe in combat.
* In ''[[Legend of Galactic Heroes]]'', axes are the weapon of choice for infantry in close quarter combat.
* The ''[[Transformers Cybertron]]'' incarnation of Metroplex ([[Up to Eleven|who is giant in comparison to the ordinary giant robots]]) has his shovel/bucket wheel assembly become an axe called [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Sparkdrinker]] in robot mode. He brutally smashes Megatron through two floors (in a building for giant Transformers) with it. Things get even more awesome when Optimus Prime wields it.
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== [[Fan
* Samuel D. Axe, the protagonist of one of the best-known ''[[One Piece]]'' [[Original Character|OC]] fanfictions, uses a diamond axe as his main weapon, and is even named after said weapon.
* One of Stalkkus' weapons in humanoid form in the ''[[Godzilla]]'' fanfilm ''Godzilla vs the Kaiju Killer''
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{{quote|'''Donatello:''' Good thing these guys aren't lumberjacks!
'''Michaelangelo:''' No joke! The only thing safe in the woods...would be the trees! }}
* In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Badass Grandpa|Jetfire's]] cane [[Bifurcated Weapon|can turn into an axe]], which he uses to slice up a hapless Decepticon or two in the final battle.
* In ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]'', Optimus' axe finally appears, and is used to devastating effect. It winds up lodged in {{spoiler|Megatron's}} severed head.
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* Blondie from ''[[Sucker Punch]]'' uses a tomahawk during the WWI dream sequence.
* Michael Myers uses one in ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]]: The Curse of Michael Myers'' and Rob Zombie's ''[[Halloween (film)|Halloween]] II''.
* The [[Tin Man|Tin Woodsman]] from [[The Wizard of Oz (film)|The Wizard of Oz]], seeing as he is a lumberjack.
* In [[The Witches of Oz]], the Tin Woodman and the Nome King use axes.
* ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Movie]]'', Princess Peach (of all people) has this as her [[Weapon of Choice]].
* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves]]''; early in the film, Holga and Edgin are sentenced to death by beheading. Holga distracts the executioner by complimenting his finely made axe, catches him off guard, and steals it as they escape. She uses it for most of the movie afterwards. Justified given as Barbarian is, in RPG terms, her confirmed class.
== [[Literature]] ==
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** Giles (and later ''[[Angel]]'') owns several medieval battleaxes, and they seem to be the preferred weapon for fighting demons.
** The "Scythe" found near the end of Buffy is clearly an axe (though it includes a short straight blade on the head and a sharpened wooden stake for a base).
** Which crops up again in the comics, which shows a... extremely fit looking Buffy nursing it [http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/buffy-comic-book-issue-40-cover.jpg as though it were a guitar.]{{Dead link}}
** Then there's Gunn's battle axe made out of a hubcap.
* In ''[[Kamen Rider Den-O]]'', [[Gentle Giant|Kintaros]] wields an axe, as does his version of Den-O, which is actually named Axe Form. This is because Kintaros is based on the Japanese myth of Kintaro the Golden Boy, who himself used an axe.
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* A guitarist may refer to his instrument as an "axe" and few will question him. Typically, the louder the music he plays, the more likely and more acceptable this is.
** See [[Gorillaz|Noodle, the Axe Princess]].
* [[Iron Maiden]]'s mascot Eddie uses one in the iconic cover of ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20170712061940/http://www.hessian.org/metal/music/images/iron%20maiden%20killers.jpg Killers]'', and also on the "[http://ironmaidencommentary.com/pictures/pictures12_bnw/single35a_rtth2002_1_a_small.jpg Run to the Hills]" single.
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*** The marines from ''[[Quake (series)|Quake]]'' used Axes as their melee weapons. When the original Team Fortress was developed as a mod for that game, the [[The Medic|Medic]] used [[Healing Shiv|an axe]] [[Worst Aid|to heal.]]
* Presea from ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'' is a prime example of the "[[Cute Bruiser]] with [[BFS|implausably huge axe]]". They do justify how she can even lift the thing through [[Applied Phlebotinum]], though.
** They aren't quite as big, but Presea is predated by [[Tales of Phantasia|Cless Alvein]], [[Tales of Destiny|Mary Argent, Loni Dunamis]], and [[Tales of Eternia|Rid Herschel]] as far as axe-users go. She's also succeeded by [[Tales of Hearts|Innes Lorenz]], whose weapon is described as an "axe blade" which can probably rival Presea's Gaea Cleaver for raw size and power (especially given that Presea is a [[Token
* Kaeli from ''[[Final Fantasy Mystic Quest]]'' is a [[White Magic|White Mage]] in nature (definitely not [[Squishy Wizard|squishy]]), but her standard weapon is an axe (later the mighty Giant's Axe).
* The Axe Knights from ''[[Castlevania]]''.
** There's also a fair few examples of Axes as primary weapons. They're slow and even stronger than the slow two handed swords, but often have a blind spot where enemies can be just about missed. The main example though is the Axe subweapon, present throughout the entire series. For some reason, the character just ''lobs the axe into the air in an arc''. Nonetheless, it's really useful for those flying enemies!
** In ''Curse of Darkness'', Axes and Clubs form one of the five weapon classes Hector can forge and use. One handed axes have a very limited moveset (the same as one-handed swords) but deal better damage overall, while two-handed versions are very slow and clumsy, but deals tons of damage and can be used to inflict [[Dishing Out Dirt|Earth Damage]] to enemies with one of their special attacks. Notably, the strongest Two-Handed Axe weapon is nothing less than Death's own scythe, the most damaging weapon in game.
* The Warrior class from ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)]]'' uses an infinite supply of magical throwing axes.
* Tomahawk Man from ''[[Mega Man 6]]'', Mino Magnus from ''[[Mega Man Zero]] 4''.
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* There are multiple types of axe ghosts (the kinds that charge found swinging an axe on seeing him) in ''[[Wario Land]] 4'', with Hotel Horror especially having a freaking ton of them (about four to every door in the hotel).
* Axes are a popular weapon choice in ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]'', partly because they're considered [[Our Dwarves Are All the Same|"dwarfy"]] but mostly because there is currently only one "axe" item that's used both in battle and for felling trees. ([[Truth in Television]] up to a point, as touched upon in Real Life below.) Falling slightly out of favour after the massive combat mechanics overhaul that finally enabled swords to thrust as well as cut, however, whereas previously an axe and a sword were roughly equivalent in battle.
* In ''[[Dynasty Warriors]],'' Dian Wei used a giant axe which was later replaced with a flail in 6 before returning to his axe. Starting from the seventh game, more axe-like weapons are avaible, including the one-handed axe (which can be toss midcombo like a boomerang), the giant two-handed axe (from the seventh game can drag hit enemies along to juggle them), dual poleaxes (for powerful and balanced comboes), throwing axes and the long axe (which is used more like a polearm).
* ''[[Brutal Legend]]'': '''"Touch not this awesome axe, or suffer the wrath of the Tainted Coil!!"]]
* Choosing the Barbarian from the character select screen in ''[[Diablo II]]'' will prompt him to let out a yell and start grinding an axe while you choose his name. His starting inventory includes an axe.
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* The new protagonist in ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' uses a tomahawk as his signature weapon.
* In ''[[Kingdom of Loathing]]'', players under the [[New Game+|Avatar of Boris challenge path]] are restricted to using Boris's trusty axe, [[I Call It Vera|Tru]][[Meaningful Name|sty]].
* [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Evil Marie]] from ''[[Carn Evil]]'' is an ''[[Axe Crazy]]'' Boss who attacks the player with an actual axe.
* [[Nioh]] and its sequel feature Axes as one of the weapon types: they are all long-handled with massive blades and a pretty strong attack that's excellent for an offensive style of gameplay. The sequel introduces "Hatchets", which are always used in pairs and can often be thrown and returned like boomerangs.
== [[Web Comics]] ==
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* In ''[[The Brick Testament]]'', the tenth plague of Egypt in ''[[The Bible|Exodus]]'' is portrayed as [[Badass Grampa|God]] walking around in Egypt [http://www.thebricktestament.com/exodus/the_tenth_plague/ex12_29a.html killing people with a large axe].
* ''[[Axe Cop]].'' He has a whole school of martial arts devoted to its use; it can also be used as a skateboard and an electric guitar, and I think it can sometimes shoot fire, lasers, other axes, etc...the comic was written by a six-year-old, after all.
* In ''[[The KAMics]]'' it is Nikki the Red's [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082153/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4815949/ weapon] [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607082245/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/4889116/ of] [https://web.archive.org/web/20121226131827/http://www.drunkduck.com/The_KAMics/5281093/ choice].
* Hogan of the [http://www.dragoneers.com/crossovers/ Webcomic Crossover & Cameo Archive] has appeared in many webcomics, with his trademark axe, chasing after authors who use too many cameos.
* In ''[[Wayfarer's Moon]]'' the axe is Lily's weapon of choice.
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* On ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]'', Vicky, as well as a few other characters, have used axes. One of Vicky's more common gags is preparing various horrors when Timmy's parents aren't looking, including grinding her executioner's axe. (When they look over, she promptly ''kicks the grindstone aside'', holds the axe behind her back, and whistles innocently.)
* [[Butt Monkey|Harry]], King Hugo's right-hand man in ''[[Potatoes and Dragons]]'', wields one.
* Millie's [[Weapon of Choice]] in ''[[Helluva Boss]]'', usually used on victims who piss her off the most or threaten Moxxie. Ironically, she once used it to slaughter a group of lumberjacks.
== [[Real Life]] ==
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* The last criminal to be executed in Finland from civilian crimes was Toivo ''Kirves'' Koljonen, a fugitive prisoner who killed a family of six with an axe - the father of the family had been conscripted in the army. He was [[Shot At Dawn|executed by firing squad]] along with Soviet infiltrators in 1943. The word ''kirves'' means "axe" in Finnish.
* [[The Triads and the Tongs|Tong enforcers]] were famous for carrying this as a weapon. As a result, a political fixer who is known (usually metaphorically) for intimidating people in a similar way is referred to as a "hatchet man".
* In ancient China, axes were used as a symbol of military power and authority, with the Emperor handing a golden/yellow jade axe to a general tasked with carrying on an expedition against rebels or enemies. Battle axes, with both short and long handles, were often used by warriors and generals alike in combat, the former being often dual-wielded.
* One of the less-known and used Samurai weapons was the Masakari (Battleaxe in Japanese): often depicted with a fairly oversized head and blade, the real ones had smaller, more serviceable blades, often in a peculiar shape, and employed to break down barricades and doors. Another rare weapon was the Onoyari or Fusou, a short, double-edged spear with an axe head right below the spearhead itself, resembling a simplistic halberd. It is however believed that the Onoyari was never intended as a true melee weapon and instead was used for ceremonies.
* For a different kind of "fighting", the ax is an essential tool of firefighters: used to hack through doors and debris, break padlocks, etc.
* According to James Billington's ''The Icon and the Axe'', the axe was the [[National Weapon|national tool]] of Russian peasants and they would treat it as reverently as American frontiersmen did the long rifle. That is, it was the thing that they would hang over their fireplace [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|next to the icon]]. It was nicknamed [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|The Thunderer]] and was used not just for chopping trees but for planing wood. And of course for fighting off enemies both [[Big Badass Wolf|lupine]] and [[Proud Warrior Race|human.]]
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