The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to discover every worthwhile new series. As always, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Some of these series lack a large audience, notably because they are without anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to 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 from a top company, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings 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 fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is breathtaking, detailed, and distinctive. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), 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 humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still provided bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws 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