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Kaguya is a quiet orphan who has lived with a Japanese family since childhood. What starts as another mundane day in high school suddenly transforms into the adventure of a lifetime when she is mysteriously transported to a distant realm filled with strangers who address her as "Princess." Now known as Princess Kaguya, she must unravel the mysteries of her true identity and understand the intentions of the warring factions that seek to control her. The universe itself becomes a battleground, and the key to restoring peace may lie in the hands of this extraordinary girl.
(Source: TokyoPop)
Planet Ladder was first published in English by Tokyopop from March 23, 2002, to March 8, 2005. Later, Digital Manga Publishing took over the license and released the series digitally from August 7, 2012, to September 9, 2013.
Planet Ladder begins on a promising note. Our protagonist is appealing: she's determined and smart, yet retains her femininity. The plot, though not strikingly original, holds a fair amount of interest, introducing fresh concepts and mysteries. As we progress through the first two volumes, we gradually uncover more about the new world and the mission that Kaguya has taken on. The third volume primarily delves into the tale of a man who journeyed to another version of Earth from our own many years ago. Here, we encounter a poignant story of a tragic prince, the sole survivor in a world with poisonous air.
While the initial volumes range from decent to impressive, I cannot extend the same praise to the remainder of the narrative. The last four volumes attempt to inject more conflict but end up making the storyline excessively convoluted. Kaguya's struggles evolve in ways that are unclear, characters are introduced yet seem insignificant, and the ending feels like a cop-out.
Planet Ladder demonstrates that first impressions can indeed be misleading, unfortunately so. What initially appears to be an above-average sci-fi/fantasy manga soon devolves into a confusing, ambiguous story that I was relieved to finish.
I stumbled upon the manga at a second-hand bookstore for about two dollars, so I decided to buy it. To be completely honest, the manga wasn't too bad. It didn't bore me to death, but I felt it could use a bit more flavor. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an older style of manga and appreciates a unique fantasy-based story. I genuinely wish there were more than just seven books in the series and that it was easier to find. I love how the story is based on tarot cards—when was the last time you heard of a fantasy story centered around them? Honestly, the story was very unique and had potential. I just wish I could find more physical copies of the manga and that it was more widely known. Since it was a short series and not many people know about it, it kind of faded away. Seriously though, it's just a simple manga about a girl trying to learn more about herself and her past.