The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to discover every noteworthy new series. Inevitably, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of hidden gems just out of sight.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series have not yet reached a mainstream following, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, 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 entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, 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 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. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're looking for a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the abundance of similar stories, but my opinion was altered this year. It reminds me of the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is as delicate as the art, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, 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 to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but it still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its little feet 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