🔗 Share this article A Curated List of 10 Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar). Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to keep up with every noteworthy new series. As always, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve. A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. Sharing any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials. 10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero Illustration Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, 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. More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus readily accessible to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice. 9. The Nito Exorcists Illustration Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly. Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts 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 fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — should it get the chance. 8. Gokurakugai Art from the series Artist: Yuto Sano Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side. The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested. 7. The Bugle Call: Song of War Illustration Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Viz This grim fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war. The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror. 6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian Art from the series Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of 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
Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to keep up with every noteworthy new series. As always, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems waiting to be discovered. One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve. A few of these titles have not yet reached a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. Sharing any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials. 10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero Illustration Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, 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. More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus readily accessible to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice. 9. The Nito Exorcists Illustration Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly. Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts 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 fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — should it get the chance. 8. Gokurakugai Art from the series Artist: Yuto Sano Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side. The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested. 7. The Bugle Call: Song of War Illustration Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Viz This grim fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war. The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror. 6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian Art from the series Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of 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