The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to discover every noteworthy new series. Inevitably, the biggest series get all the attention, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles lack a mainstream following, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to where they're available. Sharing any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but my opinion was altered this year. It reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The story doesn't stray far 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, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the way the human died: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, 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. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. 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 ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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