Review: PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE Volume 5

PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE, VOL. 5
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

ARTIST: Arina Tanemura
TRANSLATION: Tetsuchiro Miyaki
LETTERING: Inori Fukuda Trant
EDITOR: Nancy Thislethwaite
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6629-0; paperback (November 2014); Rated “T” for “Teen”
274pp, B&W, $10.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

VIZ Media's English-language publication of Arina Tanemura's Phantom Thief Jeanne came to an end with the November 2014 publication of the fifth graphic novel of the manga.  The series focuses on Maron Kusakabe, a 16-year-old high school student who sometimes transforms into Phantom Thief Jeanne.

Jeanne foils demons that reside in certain paintings.  She sneaks into private art collections and steals paintings possessed by demons, sealing 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. 5 (Chapters 26 to 29 to Final Chapter) opens, Maron realizes that Chiaki is under a spell.  Perhaps, that is why he is dating Maron's friend, Miyako Todaiji, even after declaring his love for Maron.

Also, Finn Fish, the “Minor Angel” that, until recently, served Maron, explains her dark actions – including betraying Maron.  That seems minor next to the fact that it is time for Maron to visit God, who created her.  It is also time for Maron to face the Demon Lord.

[This volume includes four bonus stories:  “Let's Go, Silk Road,” “The Memory of the Fish, the Snow Crystals of the Moon,” “I Will Be You Happiness,” and “The Memory of the Fish, the Snow Crystals of the Moon 2.”]

The Phantom Thief Jeanne manga (originally titled Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne) is an early work from beloved manga creator, Arina Tanemura.  Phantom Thief Jeanne Volume 5 does not demand the emotional involvement from readers that the fourth did (which was not that much, actually).  Still, these characters are full of love and a strong desire to sacrifice for the ones they love, and that is hugely evident in this final volume.  So we get a super-happy ending in the way that only Arina Tanemura can do it, so fans of Tanemura’s manga will want to try the Shojo Beat title, Phantom Thief Jeanne.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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