Phantom Thief Jeanne is a Japanese magical-girl manga series written and illustrated by Arina Tanemura.

The manga series was serialized in Ribon by Shueisha from 1998 to 2000. It’s chapters are compiled and published into 7 separate volumes. The manga series is licensed by Viz Media in the English language. The story of a high school girl who is given a task to collect God’s distributed powers and in turn is transformed into a magical girl.

An anime adaptation of the manga was also released in 1999, with the 44-episode series adapted by Toei Animation.

The story opens up by introducing Jeanne, the phantom thief who has stolen an art piece yet again, and Miyako pledges to catch her the next time.

We learn that Jeanne’s real identity is Maron, a 16-year old girl, and her best friend is Miyako, the same person attempting to apprehend Jeanne.

Miyako complains to Maron the next day at school about Jeanne’s escape the night before and how she will help her father, the police chief, catch Jeanne the next time she tries to steal. The two argue as Maron tells her to focus on her gymnastics club activities rather than on some thief, forcing the teacher to intervene and break them up.

The two leave for their homes, which are in the same building just across one another. They are still arguing outside their apartments, when Miyako accidentally knocks over a stack of empty boxes, which fall on them. A mysterious boy comes and helps the two in getting up.

The boy, Chiaki Nagoya, apologizes for leaving the boxes in the way, while Maron and Miyako are stunned by his charming looks. After the duo leaves, it is revealed that Chiaki was in fact looking for Maron, as he seems to have some ulterior motives.

When Maron returns home, the Minor Angel, Finn Fish, greets her and discusses her next job as the Phantom Thief.

Maron, as the reincarnation of Jeanne of Arc, is the only one who can destroy the demons planted within the paintings by the Devil Maou in order to corrupt human hearts and destroy humanity . If the demons are left unchecked, they will eventually destroy both humans and God.

Her next mission is to steal a painting from a place called Kakimachi in the next town over, which contains a demon.

The next day at school, Miyako tells Maron that she is in love with Chiaki and plans to make a move on him. Maron is also quite interested in Chiaki, but puts those feeling aside when Miyako shows her interest in him. Chiaki is then introduced to the class as the new transfer student, much to the duo’s shock.

Chiaki sits right next to Maron, and without hesitation asks her out on a date. She gets flustered by this sudden proposal and ends up denying. They are soon Interrupted by ‘Pakkyamlamao-Sensei’ chastising her for not submitting her assignment on time.

She rushes after her Sensei after class to hand in her assignment, but she discovers that her mind has been corrupted by a demon. And because her Sensei lives in Kakimachi, Maron realizes that she has the Demon painting.

As per the Phantom Thief way , Maron sends ‘Pakkyamlamao-Sensei’ a letter declaring that she will be coming to take her painting tonight. To protect her painting, she appoints Miyako and her father to guard her house.

As the clock strikes nine, Maron changes into the Phantom Thief.

She and Finn enter the house, where the cops are already expecting her. They being their chase after Jeanne but she keeps dodging them again and again. Miyako tries to blind Jeanne by shining a bright light at her, but using the senses of Jeanne D’ Arc, she manages to locate the Demon hiding inside the painting.

The demon becomes agitated and attempts to assault Jeanne, but she seals the demon away with the abilities bestowed to her by God, transforming the painting into a chess piece. With her duty completed, she and Finn flee the premises.

As she is on her way back, she is intercepted by a mysterious figure who claims to be The Phantom Thief Sinbad. He issues a challenge to Jeanne, asking her to be his rival.

Who is this Sinbad character? And what awaits the phantom thief Jeanne?