My Top 10 Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to keep up with every worthwhile title. Predictably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of overlooked works just out of sight.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here lack a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I admit that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus readily accessible to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series recalls the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is as delicate as the art, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, intricate, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as 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 poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are formed 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 perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops 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 setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still delivered grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes 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