My Top 10 Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to track every significant release. Inevitably, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of overlooked works just out of sight.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here lack a mainstream following, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to where they're available. Sharing any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Writing Team: 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 bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, 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 reminds me of the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.

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 Gokurakugai is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues 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 has powers relating to the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

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

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. 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, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still provided bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you