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Planet Ladder #1
Planet Ladder, Volume 1
Follows the adverntures of Kaguya, the fabled Princess of the Choosing, who legend says will decide which of the nine alternate Earths will be saved.
208 pages, Paperback
First published December 18, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 23, 2017
The Good: This manga had an exciting story and great artwork. While some parts of it were confusing, I'm sure it'll make more sense as the series continues. The clean content--no profanity, graphic violence, or sexual content--was a big bonus.
The Bad: Nothing, really; I just save the highest rating for truly amazing works.
Conclusion: This is my first manga in a long time...but, I enjoyed it! I'm glad I have all seven volumes on hand. Let's hope the series continues down the same road on which this premiere volume started.
The Bad: Nothing, really; I just save the highest rating for truly amazing works.
Conclusion: This is my first manga in a long time...but, I enjoyed it! I'm glad I have all seven volumes on hand. Let's hope the series continues down the same road on which this premiere volume started.
July 15, 2017
The central point of view with Kaguya was decent, but all the surrounding characters and story were incomprehensible.
The prose was larded with embarrassingly emo-teen-poetry type phrases, such as "I am by your side. Even if you destroy the world I'll be by your side" (How does that even work? I mean, if the world is destroyed, where are you two standing side by side?) and characters spoke in unnatural ways. Who responds to a complaint that she's hogging the phone with, "I'm sorry. I don't do anything right. Even if I make up my mind, it takes me 30 minutes to get the guts to go through with anything. But I'm really gonna work on being brave!"
(I'm not familiar with this translator, Blumberg, so I'm willing to buy that she did a poor job, but I doubt the writing can have been great to begin with.)
I'm not currently planning to read on. I assume Kaguya and doll boy will escape the evil science fiction peasants and survive the mysterious castle, since otherwise the series wouldn't go on.
The prose was larded with embarrassingly emo-teen-poetry type phrases, such as "I am by your side. Even if you destroy the world I'll be by your side" (How does that even work? I mean, if the world is destroyed, where are you two standing side by side?) and characters spoke in unnatural ways. Who responds to a complaint that she's hogging the phone with, "I'm sorry. I don't do anything right. Even if I make up my mind, it takes me 30 minutes to get the guts to go through with anything. But I'm really gonna work on being brave!"
(I'm not familiar with this translator, Blumberg, so I'm willing to buy that she did a poor job, but I doubt the writing can have been great to begin with.)
I'm not currently planning to read on. I assume Kaguya and doll boy will escape the evil science fiction peasants and survive the mysterious castle, since otherwise the series wouldn't go on.
August 7, 2025
Planet Ladder is one of the first manga series I read and I have to say that when I first read it, I was impressed about how interesting this series was. It was short, simple, and good. The idea of a girl carrying a burden of choosing which world will survive was new, fresh and interesting story for me to read about. This manga being one of the series that introduced me to manga, I'd say that this was pretty good. It isn’t fantastic or great but it’s a decently entertaining manga.
There's not much to talk about this series except that it was generic. The main character was likable, and so were a few characters as well. But I’ll get to that in a bit. First, let me talk a little bit about the story.
The plot was pretty interesting because to me, at the time, it was something new and a story that I haven't seen before. The main character, Kaguya Haruyama, is taken into this parallel world and soon discovers that she is the "Girl of Ananai", the one “destined to save only one of the nine parallel worlds from collision”. As far as I remember there were nine worlds.
Ancient, the first civilized world that was “mysteriously” destroyed (yeah, don’t know how that happened since we come back to it later)
Asu, Seeu's broken world
Eden, present-day Earth
Telene, a small world (allies with Geo)
Fifth World, a politically neutral world
Geus, a peaceful world (under Geo’s control)
Geo, the most powerful of the worlds (or so the manga claims)
Asuraitsu, Geo's “rival”
Ninth World, deceased (destroyed before the beginning of the manga)
Kaguya travels with Seeu’s robot. Meets a few characters and tries to figure out her destiny along the journey. So not too bad right?
Well . . .
If I did have one complaint, it would be that the ending seemed a little rushed and confusing. If I remember correctly, it goes something like this: I obviously don’t remember the manga but if that was all it took so ‘save the worlds’ then why didn’t they do this in the first place?
Another thing that bothered me was Kaguya's past with her brother and why she was chosen. There probably is an explanation but I just don't remember. Kaguya spends some time with Seeu and learns of his tragic past and then takes care of him. But my problem is that these two don’t take time to develop a relationship. I understand that they do spend time together but when Kaguya and Seeu are identified as a couple I’m scratching my head thinking ‘where the heck did THAT come from?’
The characters in this manga are not that interesting or complex. Kaguya is nice, stands up for herself and others, and is your generic heroine in shojo manga that often deal with travelling of different worlds. Seeu is quiet, emotionless, and doesn’t do much. Kagami is a robot and doesn’t say much either. Kuru is your typical villain. He says mean things but really, he’s just an ass trying to save his planet. Idou is barely there, or at least I don’t remember him much. Shiima is pretty awesome. She’s tough, independent, and a great fighter. Waseda was okay except for the fact that the only thing memorable about this guy was that he was a student in the body of a giant rooster.
Yeah . . . I didn’t get that at all.
It's not the best series I ever read and not everyone will like it but I can at least say that it wasn't predictable and I did enjoy it. If you want, feel free to give it a try and see what you think.
There's not much to talk about this series except that it was generic. The main character was likable, and so were a few characters as well. But I’ll get to that in a bit. First, let me talk a little bit about the story.
The plot was pretty interesting because to me, at the time, it was something new and a story that I haven't seen before. The main character, Kaguya Haruyama, is taken into this parallel world and soon discovers that she is the "Girl of Ananai", the one “destined to save only one of the nine parallel worlds from collision”. As far as I remember there were nine worlds.
Ancient, the first civilized world that was “mysteriously” destroyed (yeah, don’t know how that happened since we come back to it later)
Asu, Seeu's broken world
Eden, present-day Earth
Telene, a small world (allies with Geo)
Fifth World, a politically neutral world
Geus, a peaceful world (under Geo’s control)
Geo, the most powerful of the worlds (or so the manga claims)
Asuraitsu, Geo's “rival”
Ninth World, deceased (destroyed before the beginning of the manga)
Kaguya travels with Seeu’s robot. Meets a few characters and tries to figure out her destiny along the journey. So not too bad right?
Well . . .
If I did have one complaint, it would be that the ending seemed a little rushed and confusing. If I remember correctly, it goes something like this: I obviously don’t remember the manga but if that was all it took so ‘save the worlds’ then why didn’t they do this in the first place?
Another thing that bothered me was Kaguya's past with her brother and why she was chosen. There probably is an explanation but I just don't remember. Kaguya spends some time with Seeu and learns of his tragic past and then takes care of him. But my problem is that these two don’t take time to develop a relationship. I understand that they do spend time together but when Kaguya and Seeu are identified as a couple I’m scratching my head thinking ‘where the heck did THAT come from?’
The characters in this manga are not that interesting or complex. Kaguya is nice, stands up for herself and others, and is your generic heroine in shojo manga that often deal with travelling of different worlds. Seeu is quiet, emotionless, and doesn’t do much. Kagami is a robot and doesn’t say much either. Kuru is your typical villain. He says mean things but really, he’s just an ass trying to save his planet. Idou is barely there, or at least I don’t remember him much. Shiima is pretty awesome. She’s tough, independent, and a great fighter. Waseda was okay except for the fact that the only thing memorable about this guy was that he was a student in the body of a giant rooster.
Yeah . . . I didn’t get that at all.
It's not the best series I ever read and not everyone will like it but I can at least say that it wasn't predictable and I did enjoy it. If you want, feel free to give it a try and see what you think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2021
Nota: 2'5
August 19, 2018
THE MAD PRINCE BECKONS
So two things - this series makes little sense on a whole scale, but pieces of it make sense on a small scale. I remember wanting to treat this like a bunch of interconnected short stories.
Second - stare very hard at the cover, especially near the waist. It's pretty at first...but try to figure out how her proportions work and you'll go mad.
Now then. In a brief somewhat coherent way let me summarize - Kaguya, an adopted child thought to have been abandoned at 4 years old, has vivid dreams of a dangerous place where a boy offered her his hand. Amidst the scandal of her adoptive father being arrested for bribery, some strangers with weapons duke it out to have the right to kidnap her.
She winds up with the silent, eerie young guy who follows her orders to the precise letter. Instructed to keep her safe by his master - the Mad Prince Seeu - the two find themselves in a heavily forrested area. Meanwhile Idou hunts them, Seeu went (presumably) home to his creepy castle, and some weirdo with a braid is keeping tabs on everyone.
Also Kaguya's adoptive older brother may have a sister complex
This is confusing and it's not helped by the fact the translation is jarring. Some of the conversation doesn't transition from thought to thought while observations are abrupt or strange.
Overall though my nostalgia glasses are still firmly on and those feelings of love for Seeu are quite strong. Even if it's a volume or two before he proves interesting.
So two things - this series makes little sense on a whole scale, but pieces of it make sense on a small scale. I remember wanting to treat this like a bunch of interconnected short stories.
Second - stare very hard at the cover, especially near the waist. It's pretty at first...but try to figure out how her proportions work and you'll go mad.
Now then. In a brief somewhat coherent way let me summarize - Kaguya, an adopted child thought to have been abandoned at 4 years old, has vivid dreams of a dangerous place where a boy offered her his hand. Amidst the scandal of her adoptive father being arrested for bribery, some strangers with weapons duke it out to have the right to kidnap her.
She winds up with the silent, eerie young guy who follows her orders to the precise letter. Instructed to keep her safe by his master - the Mad Prince Seeu - the two find themselves in a heavily forrested area. Meanwhile Idou hunts them, Seeu went (presumably) home to his creepy castle, and some weirdo with a braid is keeping tabs on everyone.
Also Kaguya's adoptive older brother may have a sister complex
This is confusing and it's not helped by the fact the translation is jarring. Some of the conversation doesn't transition from thought to thought while observations are abrupt or strange.
Overall though my nostalgia glasses are still firmly on and those feelings of love for Seeu are quite strong. Even if it's a volume or two before he proves interesting.
September 22, 2021
Kinda confusing at first but it was entertaining and pretty good
November 30, 2023
As far back as I can recall, I remember seeing and hearing a little bit about this series back as far as my first days of middle school. It was never one of the more popular series, but it still got advertised in the back in of many other TokyoPop manga volumes, and I had a few friends who'd read the early volumes and really liked where it was going. I suppose I expected more? Or at least that there would be something in this first volume that might hook me and catch my interest enough to keep me going.
Sadly, that hasn't been the case. I will give it this, the art is gorgeous, and it does take me back to the sort of manga I was used to reading in my middle school days. The plot feels like it has potential to be interesting and engaging, but honestly it isn't there. At least not that I've experienced. This is a fairly meaty first volume for something put out by TokyoPop back in 2002 (I believe it numbers close to 200 pages, where a lot of first volumes are lucky if they get close to 180?) That being said however, it feels like very little happens, in way of the larger plot. Perhaps that plays into the fact it didn't hook me.
I also swear I must have either read this volume before and just retained a single scene, or else I read some kind of tiny sampler that only contained said scene. Basically, our main character Kaguya finds herself in a strange, unfamiliar place and is uncertain if the water nearby is safe to drink. The robot doll with her that's working to protect her hears Kaguya expressing a desire to drink the water but purify it, so the doll dunks its head into the stream, comes back up, kisses Kaguya, and through the kiss forces her to drink the water that it has somehow purified in its mouth. Kaguya is initially shocked by the kiss because the doll resembles a cute boy, particularly a boy whose face she sorta-kinda doesn't really remember, and drinks the water sort of reluctantly, having a bit of a freak-out over the "kiss". This scene was stuck in my mind for years and seeing it again in this volume was like a weird case of deja vu, because I really don't remember reading anything else of this book.
Regardless, I don't intend to continue with this series. It really just doesn't grip me the way I hoped it would.
Sadly, that hasn't been the case. I will give it this, the art is gorgeous, and it does take me back to the sort of manga I was used to reading in my middle school days. The plot feels like it has potential to be interesting and engaging, but honestly it isn't there. At least not that I've experienced. This is a fairly meaty first volume for something put out by TokyoPop back in 2002 (I believe it numbers close to 200 pages, where a lot of first volumes are lucky if they get close to 180?) That being said however, it feels like very little happens, in way of the larger plot. Perhaps that plays into the fact it didn't hook me.
I also swear I must have either read this volume before and just retained a single scene, or else I read some kind of tiny sampler that only contained said scene. Basically, our main character Kaguya finds herself in a strange, unfamiliar place and is uncertain if the water nearby is safe to drink. The robot doll with her that's working to protect her hears Kaguya expressing a desire to drink the water but purify it, so the doll dunks its head into the stream, comes back up, kisses Kaguya, and through the kiss forces her to drink the water that it has somehow purified in its mouth. Kaguya is initially shocked by the kiss because the doll resembles a cute boy, particularly a boy whose face she sorta-kinda doesn't really remember, and drinks the water sort of reluctantly, having a bit of a freak-out over the "kiss". This scene was stuck in my mind for years and seeing it again in this volume was like a weird case of deja vu, because I really don't remember reading anything else of this book.
Regardless, I don't intend to continue with this series. It really just doesn't grip me the way I hoped it would.
December 14, 2023
I read this series when I was a kid and set out to re-read it. I didn't remember much of it, just that I remember the characters, was confused most of the time, and I don't even remember how the series ended.
The first book is the most confusing. The translation is very odd, there is a part where a character responds to things the main character is thinking, the way the main character will say things that doesn't pertain to what's happening or is constantly just saying things in general. I think jts meant to imply that the main character is chatty but it's like the author felt every panel needed dialog.
The pacing is at broke neck speed, so much information all at once. If the goal is to feel as confused and lost as the main character, it works, but that doesn't seem to be the intention.
The first book is the most confusing. The translation is very odd, there is a part where a character responds to things the main character is thinking, the way the main character will say things that doesn't pertain to what's happening or is constantly just saying things in general. I think jts meant to imply that the main character is chatty but it's like the author felt every panel needed dialog.
The pacing is at broke neck speed, so much information all at once. If the goal is to feel as confused and lost as the main character, it works, but that doesn't seem to be the intention.
Read
January 14, 2023Really Wild Concept
The main character being immediately thrown into chaos is always a good start to a story. Her love interest (or presumably her love interest) is an extremely wild and kinda dark concept. Should be interesting to see how things progress. I love when fantasy stories add in a mute character or a character that speaks a totally different language and there's a language barrier the couple has to overcome while potentially falling for each other. It makes it sweeter, more wholesome somehow. There's a lot going on at once though, so if you aren't big into high fantasy/scifi, than this manga might not be for you.
The main character being immediately thrown into chaos is always a good start to a story. Her love interest (or presumably her love interest) is an extremely wild and kinda dark concept. Should be interesting to see how things progress. I love when fantasy stories add in a mute character or a character that speaks a totally different language and there's a language barrier the couple has to overcome while potentially falling for each other. It makes it sweeter, more wholesome somehow. There's a lot going on at once though, so if you aren't big into high fantasy/scifi, than this manga might not be for you.
November 15, 2022
This week I’m trying to finish a series I am pretty sure I started in middle school or high school. I reread the first three volumes in the last two months but I’ve got four more to complete the series.
The third was quite the drop in quality but the forth picked up a little bit so I’m going to try and push through the series.
This is one of the first manga series I’ve read in a while that hasn’t been so amazing that I may decide not to keep it once I finish reading it.
The third was quite the drop in quality but the forth picked up a little bit so I’m going to try and push through the series.
This is one of the first manga series I’ve read in a while that hasn’t been so amazing that I may decide not to keep it once I finish reading it.
November 10, 2023
2.5
So weird and confusing like i know i read this fast but trying to understand what was going on was so confusing like the way they kept jumping from thing to thing was to much and then this girl is making out with a mute robot boy who is conected to her dreams?!?! like i dont even know bruh like i get the point is to explain in later books but like how am i supposed to want to read the other books if i dont even get this one lmao
So weird and confusing like i know i read this fast but trying to understand what was going on was so confusing like the way they kept jumping from thing to thing was to much and then this girl is making out with a mute robot boy who is conected to her dreams?!?! like i dont even know bruh like i get the point is to explain in later books but like how am i supposed to want to read the other books if i dont even get this one lmao
October 17, 2024
This was my second read through, but I haven't read this since it came out when I was in... middle school? High school?? It's been forever, either way!
This manga was formative for me and it still holds a very special place in my heart. It is slow to get going, but once it does, it's incredible! Slept-on classic.
This manga was formative for me and it still holds a very special place in my heart. It is slow to get going, but once it does, it's incredible! Slept-on classic.
July 20, 2021
This first volume was very good!
I think the strongest part of this story may be the characters; as soon as new ones get introduced, you're immediately interested!
This was a great start to a, hopefully, great series!
I think the strongest part of this story may be the characters; as soon as new ones get introduced, you're immediately interested!
This was a great start to a, hopefully, great series!
September 28, 2021
A bit slow and the premise is nothing new but hoping the series will pick up. A few things were hinted at in the artists notes which look exciting.
Read
December 29, 2021Incredible how I remembered literally none of this from when I originally read it over a decade ago
June 9, 2022
kinda confusing 🤷♀️
July 7, 2025
love the robot doll down
June 14, 2021
3.25 stars
I picked up this obscure manga series solely because it sounds like a 'lost princess' story, and I absolutely adore that trope. This first volume was obviously heavy with expository action, so much of the plot and characters remained vague, yet not too vague so as to disconnect the reader from the story. The concept of earth as the seventh world, and by far the worst of them all, is honestlysuch a humorous concept. The main heroine is not whiny or unlikeable; in fact, she's actually smarter than most anime-girl-airheads for recognizing the importance of seeing to basic needs, like acquiring clean water, even though she's in a fantasy world. I'll definitely be picking up the next volume to see if this story delivers on its potential. UPDATE: I never picked up the next volume two years later, and, considering the reviews, I probably never will.
I picked up this obscure manga series solely because it sounds like a 'lost princess' story, and I absolutely adore that trope. This first volume was obviously heavy with expository action, so much of the plot and characters remained vague, yet not too vague so as to disconnect the reader from the story. The concept of earth as the seventh world, and by far the worst of them all, is honestlysuch a humorous concept. The main heroine is not whiny or unlikeable; in fact, she's actually smarter than most anime-girl-airheads for recognizing the importance of seeing to basic needs, like acquiring clean water, even though she's in a fantasy world. I'll definitely be picking up the next volume to see if this story delivers on its potential. UPDATE: I never picked up the next volume two years later, and, considering the reviews, I probably never will.
October 25, 2015
This series confuses me so much, and yet, I sped through 2 volumes and slugged through a third. But, honestly, I feel like that's all I'll be reading of this series. I only own V1-V3 and feel no real need to search for scanslations to continue reading it. It just has too much going on at once, and goes into too much detail about each thing that's going on.
I do like the characters, especially Kaguya and Bambi. I just feel not real connection to the storyline.
I do like the characters, especially Kaguya and Bambi. I just feel not real connection to the storyline.
May 2, 2009
this series has just beautiful artwork. the storyline gets increasingly interesting as the story progresses too. narushima weaves together multiple dimensions and worlds colliding brilliantly with humanistic tendancies towards others and self-preservation. i highly recommend it for anyone who likes sci-fi with a fantasy twist.
January 28, 2015
Planet Ladder is my favorite manga of all time. I actually took the time to hunt down all seven volumes, which was no easy task considering it's apparently out of print.
Fantastic story that blends sci-fi and fantasy, excellent characters that receive wonderful development through the course of the series, and beautifully done art.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
Fantastic story that blends sci-fi and fantasy, excellent characters that receive wonderful development through the course of the series, and beautifully done art.
I can't recommend it highly enough.
November 12, 2015
Planet Ladder is a quirky manga series, it has some really interesting concepts, some great characters, and a good mix of humor and seriousness.
The ending, however, failed for me. It got... weird, for lack of a better word.
The ending, however, failed for me. It got... weird, for lack of a better word.
August 27, 2013
My first and favorite manga. Beautiful artwork and great story, though it does get complex nearing the end of the series. I bought the first few books in America in 2004 and finished collecting them at about 2006.
August 18, 2008
It's difficult to judge this series from the first volume. The story is dreamy, flows quickly and isn't particularly memorable. Just like the art. I will see what next volumes have to offer..
January 10, 2009
It's a good book, though the ending to the seris is ... weird...
February 25, 2009
Planet Ladder (Volume 1) by Narushima Yuri (2002)
July 21, 2009
Read: Volumes 1-2 of 7
February 11, 2011
I found this manga series to be captivating and very thought-provoking too. It's really like no other manga I've read and I highly recommend it. <3
May 15, 2017
One of my favorite manga series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews