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High school tough girl Aria is notorious for confronting her school’s worst bullies. However, compared to what happens when she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the demonically possessed Sakura, punching out jerks seems trivial. Sakura, who would just as soon tear apart his own parents as seek her healing embrace, claims that Aria has the power to save him. But will she be able—or even willing—to do so?
Night of the Beasts was published in English by Go Comi from August 1, 2006, to January 1, 2008.
Night of the Beasts revolves around a spirited girl named Aria who encounters Sakura, a man possessed by a demon. Drawn into his predicament, Aria ultimately must battle the demon to save him. Despite being categorized as shoujo, this manga leans heavily into action, featuring a dark fantasy/supernatural plot with considerable bloodshed and violence. It reminds me stylistically of X/1999 by CLAMP.
The story held my interest, though for its genre, I felt it could have been longer. Additional length might have allowed for more depth and detail. As it stands, the narrative sometimes feels rushed. There's also a significant shift in tone after the first act that could have been smoother if not for the haste.
There were moments when transitions between panels were confusing. This was partly due to characters having teleportation abilities, but the use and reasons for teleporting weren't always clear, making location changes seem abrupt and unexplained. Compounding this, the artwork is overly intricate. The artist is undoubtedly skilled, but they tend to overload each panel with so much texture and detail that it becomes difficult to discern what’s happening visually.
Despite these issues, Night of the Beasts remains a decent read with room for improvement. At the very least, it's refreshing to see a woman take on the role of an action hero.