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

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to discover every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is unearthing a hidden series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with motivations for they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series are still awaiting a broad readership, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to where they're available. Sharing 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
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to 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 a rare example released by a leading publisher, 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 seeking a few minutes of silly fun, the series is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, 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 limited due to its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. 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, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but this series still delivered bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws 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