Axel (Kingdom Hearts)

Axel (アクセル, Akuseru) is a major supporting character in the Disney/Square Enix video game franchise Kingdom Hearts and its related media.
==Canon background==
Axel makes his first appearance in the Kingdom Hearts franchise as an antagonist, but later becomes a protagonist and supporting character. Tetsuya Nomura has stated that Axel is based on Reno from Final Fantasy VII but is a different person from him.KH Insider: Famitsu 2006 Tetsuya Nomura Interview He was originally meant to die at the end of Roxas's prologue for Kingdom Hearts 2, but his popularity with Square Enix staff caused him to be brought back in later games.
Axel's first appearance in the Kingdom Hearts franchise is in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, in which he acts as one of the members of Organization XIII attempting to force Naminé to use her powers in order to trap Sora. In this game, he is portrayed as a rather straightforward villain, threatening Naminé and eventually killing Vexen when his plans necessitate it.
His portrayal in Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days is quite different; in this game he is a laidback person who acts as a mentor to Roxas and Xion while attempting to protect them from the rest of Organization XIII. It is implied that he may have developed a heart due to extended exposure to two Nobodies connected to Sora. He dies in Kingdom Hearts II in an effort to protect Sora, who he says he cares about because of his connection to Roxas.Kingdom Hearts Wiki: Axel
Axel's original persona, Lea, appears in Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, where he is portrayed as a playful kid who is close with his best friend, Isa at the time that they get caught up in Xehanort's experiments with Heartless. Lea reappears in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, where he gains a Keyblade and displays willingness to fight by Sora's side along with some frustration at repeatedly being called Axel. He acts similarly throughout Kingdom Hearts III and is notably overjoyed when he is finally reunited with both Roxas and Xion.Kingdom Hearts Wiki: Lea
==Reception and meta==
He's somewhat of a fan favourite character.
==Fanon and tropes==
*In one fanon/theory, fans connect Axel and Kairi as siblings, both having been children with deep red hair living in Radiant Garden during the same period.
==Relationships==
*Roxas x Axel (AkuRoku) - The fandom's juggernaut ship alongside SoRiku. As the lore eventually made clear that Axel is an adult about 10 years older than the underage Roxas, the ship's popularity diminished, and some AkuRoku fans migrated to AkuSai (Axel x Saïx).
*Axel x Saïx (AkuSai) 
*Axel x Demyx 
*Axel x Larxene
*Axel & Roxas & Xion (Sea Salt Trio or Clocktower Trio)
*Kairi & Axel
==Fan works==
===Fanfic===
* New Neighbors - gen, Axel & Demyx, canon-compliant, pre-KH: 385/2 Days, complete, posted 2008-2009
* Last Train by frogsteak - gen, yakuza AU, complete, posted 2011-2012
* Dance While You Can by kawree - poly, Lea/Kairi/Riku, AU, slowburn, post-KH 3D, incomplete, posted 2012-2019
* Upon a Midnight Dreary by Gay_Jesus_Probably - gen, Axel & Riku, canon compliant, oneshot, posted 2017
* i cried tears you will never see by TrenchWarfare - gen, five times fic, oneshot, posted 2018
===Meta===
* Will Axel Return? [Discussion] [Spoiler] [Meta] by ASkork - posted 2017
* Axel's Age by Fluid_Contact6644 - posted 2020
* I keep thinking of how cruel of an insult "also-ran" is to Lea. by @phoenixiancrystallist - posted 2022
===Fan art===
* Axel by SaiyaGina - posted 2007
* donuts by ivy(opipi) - posted 2009
* 8888888888 by ira - posted 2014
* Axel sketch drawings by Zolaida - posted 2015
* well it is his month after all by nicedracula - posted 2022
===Cosplay===
* Axel Cosplay by WitchyElphaba - posted 2007
* Pirate Axel - KH by RoteMamba - posted 2012
* ※cosplay【KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2days】by @seria813 - posted 2020
* Thinking about Roxas, Xion, Saix, or all of the above probably. by @phantominthecosplay - posted 2021
===Fanvid===
* Kingdom Hearts Axel Tribute: Thanks For The Memories by Grachidohg - posted 2008
* [MAD] (Revised version) Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days ~When You're Gone~ by sss*** - posted 2009
* Axel/Lea Kingdom Hearts AMV/GMV by Unbreakable - posted 2016
* [Hand drawn] Lost One's Former Best Friend [Kingdom Hearts] by human face usako - posted 2018
* Play With Fire {AMV} [Axel Kh] by La louve d'émeraude - posted 2021
===Fan work rec lists and collections===
=== Zines ===
* From the Ashes (2020)
* Flurry of Dancing Flames (2021)
==External links==
===Fan communities and archives===
* Kingdom Hearts stories and crossovers featuring Axel on FanFiction.Net (FFN)
*DeviantArt (DA):
*Tumblr: 
*Archive of Our Own (AO3): 
*Pixiv: 
===Fan pages and tribute sites===
===Resources===
*Axel at the Kingdom Hearts Wiki
*Axel on Wikipedia
==Notes==
==References==
Category:Kingdom Hearts Characters