Manga Review: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Volume 5, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~4.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Volumes: 5

Spoilers?: No.
Re-readable?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 4.

Add on Goodreads.

VIZ Media Synopsis:

The Demon Lord takes Chiaki hostage and challenges Maron to a battle of life or death. But rather than fight her himself, the Demon Lord has selected another to be his champion. Can Maron find the strength to fight alone against her only remaining ally?

Review:

The ending of this series was just as good as I remember it. Maybe even better, actually, since I’m older now and can enjoy parts of the story now with better understanding.

The Adam and Eve/Jeanne d’Arc storyline ends very sweetly. The final battle is brilliant, especially the way it shows how much Maron has grown. I could fangirl over Maron and Chiaki for a while, because they are one of my favorite Tanemura couples and they are so very cute, but I also want to mention Maron and Miyako. Their friendship is strong and a very important bond to Maron; it’s about as important to her as her and Chiaki’s. I love that the friendship is given as much importance as the romance. Her relationship with her parents, as well, is sometimes pushed to the side because of their absence, but it comes full force here as well.

The side romances are just as powerful, too. Miyako and Minazuke are super cute, and Access and Finn I love as much as Maron and Chiaki, if not even more. Access and Finn are tragic, and their ending makes me extremely happy.

I’ve always loved Tanemura’s artwork, and I think it has gotten more smooth in her newer series, but it’s just as beautiful here. I had to mention that one more time here, because I love her art so much, and I caught myself admiring it a few times while reading.

Her storytelling is just as good, and it’s nice that all of the characters are rounded and given their own stories, including minor characters.

There are a handful of extra stories at the end, including three new ones not in the previous licensing. And I will say that those stories are worth buying this beautiful book alone. If you love the characters, especially Access and Finn, then you need to read those stories. They are worth it, and such a nice added conclusion.

I don’t think I can recommend this series highly enough. It’s beautiful, engaging, with the best ending for everyone. I love it so very much.

Manga Review: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Volume 4, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2014

Volumes: 5

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Add it on Goodreads.

 VIZ Media Synopsis:

Maron has been betrayed by someone she loves and can no longer transform into Phantom Thief Jeanne. Rejecting the offer to join forces with the Demon Lord, Maron is sent back to the fifteenth century to save the source of her power—Jeanne d’Arc!

Review:

This series is getting serious! And so close to the ending! Oh, I’m excited.

The actual Jeanne d’Arc plot gets a new push in this volume, giving Jeanne a new look on who she is, and her powers. The romance between Maron and Chiaki heats up (but oh, I can’t wait until the next volume!). Maron continues trying to deal with Finn’s betrayal, and we get an extra chapter to see Finn and Access’s relationship, whom are just about as cute as Maron and Chiaki, really. Minazuki also finally does something about his feelings, and I’m happy he finally gets to move on, the poor guy.

The storyline is heating up! Maron gets to do something exciting soon, and I can’t wait.

A short review for this volume, but so much happens, and I’m mostly just excited and in love. This is my favorite of Tanemura’s series, and I can’t wait to read the ending again. It’s going to be so good!

Manga Review: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Volume 3, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 1, 2014

Volumes: 5

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 2. 4.
Add it on Goodreads.

VIZ Media Synopsis:

A stranger has witnessed Jeanne’s transformation, and Maron worries that the police will soon find out her real identity. Chiaki again asks Maron to go out with him, but she refuses because they are on opposing sides. But if Chiaki is truly her enemy, why is he asking his partner, Access, if he’s been working for the Demon Lord?

Review:

Now this series is getting really exciting. I love it.

We meet a new character in this volume, Hijiri, and that leads to the Jeanne plotline getting serious. Maron being a reincarnation of Jeanne d’Arc hasn’t really been important till now, but now it really is. I won’t spoil why, though. I will say I’m not a huge fan of Hijiri, though, particularly when he tries to force himself on Maron.

Then there’s a few chapters where Maron meets an ill boy being possessed by a demon, and has to deal with the decision to exorcize the demon or not. I remember the boy from my previous read, and was not quite as emotional this time, but it’s still sad, and I still really like him. His parents kind of upset me, though, because I don’t agree with their decision.

This leads to a confrontation with Chiaki, and the revelation of something that has been hidden from Maron from the start. And it’s kind of horrible. It’s a huge betrayal, and the cliffhanger is really horrible. I can’t wait for the next volume, so I can read where the story goes next.

I’m loving getting to read this series again. And now that the story is getting serious, and into the more exciting plotline development, I’m really excited about it. It’s getting to the really good stuff now.

Manga Review: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Volume 2, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2014

Volumes: 5

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 3.

RightStuf Synopsis:

Devastated by Chiaki's deceit, Maron decides to cut him out of her life and never to rely on anyone. After the announcement is issued that Phantom Thief Jeanne intends to steal another painting, Maron goes missing, leaving the painting for Phantom Thief Sinbad to take. Has Maron now turned her back on being Phantom Thief Jeanne too?
Story and art by Arina Tanemura.

Review:

I am really enjoying getting to re-read this series. The color pages have not been as impressive as I was hoping, and I do miss Tanemura’s author comments, but I’m still liking this translation, and the books are still really pretty. It’s been so long since I first read this series, and it really is my favorite Tanemura series.

In this volume, there are some phantom thief cases, including Chiaki’s father, who is really kind of humorous (when not possessed), and Miyako’s brother. The humor doesn’t interrupt the serious moments, which is really nice, although it really does make the fight scenes rather cheesy, but for me that works for this series. It makes the cases less serious, although a bit more dramatic.

There are several moments between Chiaki and Maron in this volume, including one where they’re at the carousal (which was a memorable scene from my first read), and another really nice one when they’re both captured. They’re possibly my favorite Tanemura couple, so I just really enjoy reading these moments again, and falling for them all over again.

There are a few hints about something deeper going on with the phantom thief thing, and I’m looking forward to that revelation. Then there are some mentions of Maron’s parents—some good things, as well as her hurt feelings over them. And given how hurt she is over them, it really shows how strong she is, how hard she tries to put on a happy face for everyone.

There’s a cliffhanger at the end of the volume (with something that I thought happened earlier in the series), and then a bonus story about why Miyako is so set on capturing Jeanne. The bonus story was nice, really showing how important Maron is to her.

The next volume is sure to be good, and I look forward to reading it.

Manga Review: Phantom Thief Jeanne, Volume 1, by Arina Tanemura

Rating (Out of 5): ~4 (maybe 4.5)

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Volumes: 5 omnibus-ish; 7 single volumes.

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf

Volume: 2.

Goodreads Synopsis:

High school student Maron Kusakabe has a secret: she’s Phantom Thief Jeanne. She sneaks into private art collections to steal paintings in which demons reside. Jeanne’s task is to seal the demons before they can devour human hearts. So far she’s been able to evade the police on her midnight outings, but now another thief has come onto the scene—Phantom Sinbad—and he’s trying to take the paintings before she does!

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen audiences.

Review:

I read this series back when it was first released by CMX, and really enjoyed it. It’s still, I think, my favorite of Tanemura’s series (possibly followed by Full Moon O Sagashite). I was excited upon hearing of the re-license, particularly because they were bigger editions with color pages. I still own my original edition, so I’m not sure if I’m going to buy each of the new ones, but I might. They’re just so pretty; it's going to be much too hard to resist, I think.

I haven’t read the series since back when I first bought it, so it was refreshing getting to re-read it. And it’s still just as good as back then, too, which makes me happy.

The artwork is clearly her earlier stuff, but it’s still really pretty, and really well done. And I’ve always liked the eccentricity of Tanemura’s art, the costumes and the backgrounds, the flowers. It’s just so nice to look at.

I love Jeanne; she’s a great heroine, stubborn, a little naïve, but good-hearted, and wanting to be loved. Chiaki is a very nice love interest. I like seeing his developing feelings for Jeanne, in particular. They have a bit of a forbidden romance going, both in denial but also working on different sides to right evil. I’d honestly forgotten how they met, and their forbidden romance thing. How they meet is adorable. And the forbidden romance is important, and there, but they’re really the only ones worried about it, and in denial of it. But it’s so obvious how things are going to work out on that end.

Jeanne sends notes to let the owner  of the artwork know when she’s going to “steal” the work of art (when she’s really getting rid of the demon and replacing it with a different, pure picture). Those scenes are a bit exaggerated and cheesy, but it’s kind of a quirky theme to the series. It goes with the humor. And mostly it just makes me feel nostalgic.

Jeanne and Chiaki both have fairy (or angel) companions, Finn and Access, respectively. I’m a rather big fan of both of them. They’re sweet, and also a little adorable (Access in particular), and help the two out a lot. 

Quite a bit happened in this volume, especially a lot in the ways of romance. Including a bit of a cliffhanger, or an anxious ending leading to more. It’s a definite enticement to pick up the next volume, that's for sure.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, and Erik Jansen from MediaLab PR. Thank you so, so much!