Planet Ladder Volume 3

The first two volumes of "Planet Ladder" have been a pleasant surprise. With an intriguing story pushed along by some very well-conceived characters, this manga is a wonderful delight for anyone who has decided to try this relatively unknown series in TOKYOPOP's new "100% Authentic Manga" line. Can the third volume of "Planet Ladder" keep us entertained and live up to the first two volumes? Thankfully, yes.Kaguya, the high school girl who has been transported to another world, now knows her destiny and the terrible choice she has to end up making. Now on the run with a woman she for some reason greatly admires and a living doll who obeys her every command, Kaguya eventually runs into, of all things, a giant talking chicken with a bizarre yet sad story and a surprising secret.The main story of "Planet Ladder" somewhat takes a backseat in this third volume to make room for the story told by the giant talking chicken. This can be seen as dragging things out, but the way the story is told begs to differ. The story fits perfectly into the overall arc of "Planet Ladder", and there are even subtle hints that bits and pieces of the story will factor into the series in later volumes. And near the end the main story does get back on track, ending with a subtle yet effective cliffhanger that'll leave readers waiting agitatedly for volume four.With the story set to move forward and spring all sorts of surprises, I can't recommend "Planet Ladder" enough. Fantasy fans will love the story's delicate and dark tone, and by the looks of things romance fans will soon get their fill later in the series. And thanks to TOKYOPOP, the manga can be read in its original right-to-left format, making it a very worthwhile buy indeed.