A Curated List of 10 Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every noteworthy release. As always, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works just out of sight.

A key pleasure for fans of the medium is unearthing a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Several entries here lack a large audience, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress 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 keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. This series reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and sudden violence. 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 paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The premise sounds simple, but the treatment of the characters is as delicate as the art, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is breathtaking, detailed, and unique. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems 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 possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. 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 lets him guide troops 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 backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but it still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: 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—supposedly since 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