A Curated List of 10 Manga I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to discover every noteworthy release. As always, the most popular series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a large audience, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I'll acknowledge that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the abundance of similar stories, but my opinion was altered this year. This series evokes the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. 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 thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: 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, intricate, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

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

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

This grim fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative 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 lets him transform noise into illumination, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but it still provided bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its little feet is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you