My Top 10 Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to discover every significant title. Inevitably, the biggest series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is finding a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Some of these series lack a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these grants you 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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It reminds me of the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts 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 helps him command armies on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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