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

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to keep up with every significant release. As always, the most popular series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, 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 sets the standard, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the genre's overpopularity, but my opinion was altered this year. This series evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

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 more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, 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. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. 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 formidable commander, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but it still provided bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its little feet is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you