Phantom Thief Jeanne: Volume 4 manga review

Manga
Phantom Thief Jeanne: Volume 4 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
November 22, 2014 - 20:20

Viz Media
Writer(s): Arina Tanemura, Tetsuchiro Miyaki
Penciller(s): Arina Tanemura
Letterer(s): Inori Fukuda Trant
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6628-3
$10.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK, 250pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T (Teen)

Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 4 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

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Rated “T” for “Teen”

There are paintings in which demons reside. Maron Kusakabe, a 16-year-old high school student, transforms into Phantom Thief Jeanne, who sneaks into private art collections. Then, she steals such possessed paintings and seals the demons before they can devour human hearts. However, Jeanne has a rival, Phantom Thief Sinbad, but he is also Chiaki Nagoya, a boy in love with Maron.

As Phantom Thief Jeanne, Vol. 4 (Chapters 20 to 25) opens, Finn Fish, the “Minor Angel” that serves Maron, betrays her. As distraught as he is, Maron still will not give up on redeeming Finn.

Later, Maron and Claude Noin travel back to the 15th century to save Jeanne d'Arc, whom Noin loves. Maron's soul is the reincarnation of d'Arc, the source of her power. How will saving Jeanne from execution affect Maron's future? Meanwhile, Chiaki declares his love.

[This volume includes a bonus story, “Instant?! Access Legend” and also some illustrations.]

THE LOWDOWN: The Phantom Thief Jeanne manga (originally titled Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne) is an early work from beloved manga creator, Arina Tanemura. Although it seems like pure bubblegum magic girl juvenile fantasy, this series has heart and also a little darkness.

Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 4 demands at least a little emotional involvement from readers. The lead characters are full of love and a strong desire to sacrifice for the ones they love. Vol. 4 is the second-to-last graphic novel of this series, and it gives Vol. 5 the chance to end strongly.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Fans of Arina Tanemura’s manga will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Phantom Thief Jeanne.

Rating: B+/10