The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every noteworthy release. As always, the biggest series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Some of these series are still awaiting a large audience, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, the series is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. This series recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, 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 limited due to its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of 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