My Top 10 Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to track every noteworthy new series. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is finding a hidden series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Several entries here have not yet reached a mainstream following, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to where they're available. But recommending any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but let me explain. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist 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 more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The premise sounds simple, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its small claws is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you