My Top 10 Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to discover every significant title. As always, the biggest series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for fans of the medium is finding a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, the series is a great choice.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its small claws is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you