It's an eight page story in full-color that will be available at the "MySpace Dark Horse Presents" website for free beginning on December 30, 2009.

Dark Horse editor Scott Allie had this to say about Mark Crilley's 'Brody's Ghost':

“Well, actually, January debuts a big new title for us, Mark Crilley's new series 'Brody's Ghost.' It's great to debut a new title from a major talent, and we're giving Brody the longest run yet in 'MDHP,' four straight months. That's something I'd been wanting to do for a while. [Joss Whedon's] 'Sugarshock' was three months, the first three issues, and since then we'd only done two-parters. Which makes sense, looking at 'MDHP' as a promotional vehicle, but again, I want the variety. So having a more long-running feature is a new thing for us, and 'Brody's Ghost' is a good one to do it with."

The story looks to be quite fascinating with an interesting concept and the artwork is, of course, real pretty as Mark Crilley gets real gritty! Click here to read the article and to check out the first eight pages of "Brody's Ghost."

Mark Crilley's Dark Horse Project...
Mark Crilley (the creator of Akiko) has a huge project coming up in the year 2010 that is called Brody's Ghost from the fine folks at Dark Horse Comics. For more information on this exciting project, check out his YouTube video displayed on the right side of this page. I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed! With the success of his series of Miki Falls graphic novels, you will definitely want to be in on the ground floor for this hot new project!

Bonus: An Extra Special Toon Tale...
Hand in a Valentine, Melissa is my newest toon tale. It's a story so unbelievable that only I would be crazy enough to write it. This is a five chapter story starring Akiko's best friend Melissa. However, there aren't any aliens, other dimensions, or the planet Smoo in this strange little story. Akiko is the only member of the regular cast to be in it. The story takes place in Middleton where Melissa comes across something so shocking that she... Well, that would be telling!

Just how far will Melissa go to solve the strangest mystery she has ever encountered? Find out when America's favorite "Sleuth on the Loose" goes on an action-packed journey of discovery! Click here for chapter one of "Hand in a Valentine, Melissa".

Stuff you really need to know...
On sale now...
THE BEAST THAT ATE MORIOKA #1
40 p. b/w Story & Art by Mark Crilley $3.95
After years of secrecy, Akiko creator Mark Crilley unveils his very first comic book story, The Beast that Ate Morioka, a special 40-page tale of two Japanese high school students, a gang of nefarious villains, and one giant-sized worm named Snorky. Written in 1990, this lavishly illustrated saga features all the humor and non-stop action that readers have come to know and love in Crilley's acclaimed Akiko series, while supplying a great many things that Akiko fans have never seen before: an all-Japanese cast, a healthy dose of monster mayhem, and probably the only plot in comic book history to hinge on a novel new use for wasabi!

"I've always thought this story represented some of my best work," says Crilley. "I'm delighted that Sirius and I can now share it with the world and give it the wider audience it deserves." Highly recommended!

AKIKO #52
(quarterly)
24 p. b/w Story & Art by Mark Crilley $2.95
This issue contains a freewheeling variety of comic book storytelling, from a 2-page shipwreck saga featuring "Cap'n Spuck," to a spectacular fully painted venture into the realm of Japanese monster movies entitled "Super-Mega-Ultrakiko vs. Beebzilla! My favorite story in this issue features the hated Jimmy Hampton! Just wait until you see what happens to this creep in this excellent story!"

Akiko Trades on sale now...
•Akiko Volume Six
Both the "Stranded in Komura" and "Moonshopping" storylines, comprising AKIKO #32-38, are collected in this volume. Akiko and her friends explore rural Japan and a bizarre, faraway dimension! ($14.95)

•Akiko Flights of Fancy Trade Paperback
A collection of back-up stories first published in the Akiko comic books over the years. Plus, an all-new original Akiko short story!

In bookstores now...
Akiko: The Training Master
When Akiko’s Smoovian friends, Poog, Mr. Beeba, Gax, and Spuckler Boach, swing by to pick her up in an astroshuttle, she’s feeling bored with her “normal” life and more than ready to go—anywhere. What she doesn’t know is that King Froptoppit has enrolled them all in the Intergalactic Space Patrollers Training Camp on Zarga Baffa. Every planet in the universe relies on patrollers for protection, but no one from Smoo has ever graduated. Akiko and her crew are the planet’s last hope.

After a freak accident at nearby Virpling Canyon, Akiko’s crew faces the ultimate final exam. Will Akiko go home, leaving the rescuing to others? Or will she stay and risk everything?

•Akiko and the Journey to Toog
“Poog’s in trouble.” Just three simple words, but they’re enough to launch fifth-grade Akiko and the rest of her crew—Spuckler Boach, Mr. Beeba, and Gax—on their next mission. And it just might be their most important mission yet: To save the planet Toog, home of their good friend Poog.

Someone’s out to destroy Toog, and only Akiko and the gang can stop them. But first they have to escape from a Toogolian jail cell, zoom through a barrage of exploding drobe mines, and enlist the help of Spuckler’s old friend Fluggly Ragstubble—who’s anything but helpful. The clock is ticking and every second counts. Will they win the race against time and save Poog’s home planet?

•Akiko and the Alpha Centauri 5000
Akiko and her crew are competing in an intergalactic race from one side of the universe to the other, but all Akiko wants to do is make it back to Earth in one piece! But when Spuckler discovers that his old rival, Bluggamin Streed, is also in the race, winning becomes the most important thing!

•Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo
A zookeeper on the planet Quilk takes a special interest in Akiko, and she is added to his personal collection! Will Akiko and her friends find a way to escape from this nightmare vacation paid for by King Froptoppit?

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Want more info on Akiko? Danstro recommends these sites:
Mark Crilley.com
Akiko's Random House Site
Akiko Comic Fan Club

Akiko and all related characters are © by Mark Crilley. Wonder Tot © by DC Comics.

9-02-08: After 8 years of this site using the IPstat.com tracker, all data (including all our visits from almost 8000 people in the world... except for Antarctica) has been lost due to hardware failure.
Danstro's Toon Tales is now going with the cool new counter from Boingdragon that you can see just above this message!