[goliathfasa]

You can't play the same character in Golden Axe in co-op, if memory serves, so there was never any alternate color version of the sprites. Even in the VS mode where players could play PvP, you couldn't pick the same character.

So outside of some "bloody" variant or maybe a black/red color "clone" variant (I somehow remember having to fight evil clone versions of the heroes in the GA games, not sure if real or just figment of my imagination; or getting confused with SOR where it definitely happens), I don't think there's a chance we'll get Axe Battler again.