Toto! the Wonderful Adventure, Volume 3

The story of the Wizard of Oz continues to unfold courtesy of Yuko Osada and Kodansha. Volume three finds Kakashi, Toto, Noil (Lion), and Dorothy on the Yellow Brick Road on their way to the Emerald City. The W.I.T.C.H. represeantative from the north, Paisley, finds the group on the train and demands the bracelet that Kakashi wears. In this case, W.I.T.C.H. stands for the World Institute for Twelve Creators Heritage an Accessory Recovery Organization in charge of searching for the 12 accessories lost in the great explosion. Kakashi's father reappears and orders Kakashi to work with the North Witch to recover the 12 accessories. The journey will be perilous, and only through teamwork will they succeed over the course of the series. Toto is not what would you expect from any adaptation of Frank L Baum's masterpiece. Coupled with manga sensibilities, the series has an appeal that is hard to explain. For north American readers familiar with the basic elements in the books, finding the similarities is the challenge. For Japanese readers whose steady reading diet is manga, the manga elements will stand out in the series. Keep the story flowing, keep the action strong, and include some really great munchkins and you have a true hit on your hands. Great manga del rey available at www.delreymanga.com Tim Lasiuta