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“ | That axe is powerful magic. Never loses its edge. So sharp it can split anything without a sound. | „ |
~ The Woodsman to Bigby Wolf, Fables: The Wolf Among Us #12 — "Chapter Twelve" |
The Woodsman's axe is an enchanted axe wielded by several Fables across the centuries. It first appears in Fables: The Wolf Among Us #1 — "Chapter One."
History
The Homelands
The axe is enchanted to maintain its razor-sharp edge perpetually, capable of cutting through any material soundlessly. The exact origin of the enchanted axe remained a mystery, however, it was in possession of a lumberjack living in the Homelands before someone stole it from him: On a random day, the Woodsman stumbled upon a lumberjack lying unconscious in a ditch behind a tavern. Without hesitation, he stole the enchanted axe that was left unguarded next to the slumbering man. The Woodsman, a constant drunk who could not hold down a job and relied on stealing from homes to survive, used the axe to burglarize homes with greater efficiency, wielding it as a weapon to kill any homeowners who happened to be present during his robberies.[3]
One day, the Woodsman followed the grandmother of Little Red Riding Hood back to her home, intending to rob her of her treats and rape her granddaughter. However, while waiting outside for Little Red Riding Hood's arrival, he suddenly blacked out. When he woke up, their house was under attack by an unknown intruder. Armed with the axe, the Woodsman stormed into the house to defend what he believed was his, only to be confronted by the dangerous Big Bad Wolf. As soon as the wolf spotted the Woodsman, he lunged toward him, forcing the Woodsman to react instinctively. Without hesitation, the Woodsman wielded his enchanted axe and struck down the wolf in an act of pure self-preservation.[3]
Fabletown
In the 1980s, the Woodsman is living in Cambria Heights in New York City. On one drunken night, he abused a Fable prostitute named Faith after hiring her for her services. The Big Bad Wolf, now Sheriff Bigby Wolf of Fabletown, is called to resolve the issue. The Woodsman attempts to strike Bigby with the axe; however, Bigby successfully disarms him, causing the axe to soar through the air and become lodged in the door of the refrigerator. Taking advantage of the Woodsman's inebriation and distraction, Bigby swiftly removes the axe, which remains affixed to the refrigerator door, and delivers a blow to the Woodsman's head using this makeshift weapon. After they both crash through the window,[4] the fight abruptly ends when Faith comes outside the building and strikes the Woodsman in the head with the axe.[6]
Several days later, the axe is stolen from the Woodsman's apartment and ends up in the hands of the notorious, sadistic Fable Bloody Mary, who attempts to finish off Bigby Wolf with the axe for his continued interference with the Crooked Man's criminal enterprise. However, Bigby is saved at the last second by the deputy mayor of Fabletown, Miss Snow White.[5]

The Woodsman and Bigby walking out of the Lucky Pawn, Fabletown
Later, the axe finds its way to the Lucky Pawn shop in a distant part of Fabletown known as the Crooked Mile, run by one of the Crooked Man's employees, the Jersey Devil. The Woodsman believes that Mr. Toad stole it from his apartment and pawned it. The Woodsman demands his axe back from the Jersey Devil just as Bigby arrives, seeking information about the Crooked Man. Jersey drops his human glamour and attacks Bigby, while the Woodsman escapes out the door. The two fight,[1] and Jersey soon has Bigby in a stranglehold. Out of nowhere, Woody pulls out the axe he just found and takes Jersey by surprise, landing a fierce chop to the back of his head and rendering him immobile. Bigby questions him again on the whereabouts of the Crooked Man,[2] before he accompanies the Woodsman as the latter leaves the shop with his axe.[7]
Magical properties
At first glance, the axe appears to be just an ordinary lumberjack tool. However, according to the Woodsman himself, it is enchanted with powerful magic, never loses it's sharp edge and cuts through anything without making a sound.[3]
Its most notable achievement was when it was used against the Big Bad Wolf in the Homelands. The axe severely wounded the Wolf before he was filled with stones and cast into the river. This act brought the Woodsman fame and glory.[3]
Ownership
The list is in chronical order from first till last, counting anyone known to wield it or obtained ownership at some point or once.
- Unnamed lumberjack[3]
- The Woodsman[3]
- Faith (temporarily)[6]
- Bloody Mary (temporarily)[5]
- Jersey Devil (temporarily)[1]
- The Woodsman (current)[7]
Appearances
Fables: The Wolf Among Us
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #1
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #2
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #10 (via imagination)
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #12 (flashback)
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #36 (mentioned)
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #37
- Fables: The Wolf Among Us #38
Original source
The Woodsman's axe made its first appearance in later adaptations of the original European fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood." In the earliest versions, the story primarily focused on the wolf's deception, but in these later versions, the role of the woodsman or huntsman became more prominent. In the French version, it is the woodsman, while in the German version, the character is known as the huntsman. In both cases, the axe plays a crucial role in the story, used by the woodsman/huntsman to rescue Red Riding Hood and her grandmother from the clutches of the Big Bad Wolf. The introduction of this character and his axe added a more direct and heroic intervention, emphasizing themes of courage and justice in the face of danger.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #36 — "Chapter Thirty-Six"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #37 — "Chapter Thirty-Seven"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #12 — "Chapter Twelve"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #1 — "Chapter One"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #31 — "Chapter Thirty-One"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #2 — "Chapter Two"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fables: The Wolf Among Us #38 — "Chapter Thirty-Eight"