The 10 Best Manga I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every significant new series. As always, the biggest series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is unearthing a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

Some of these series are still awaiting a mainstream following, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. But recommending any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, 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 conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, the series is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts 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 character development is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, intricate, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases 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 allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws 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