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

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to track every significant new series. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series lack a mainstream following, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

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 there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: 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 my opinion was altered this year. This series reminds me of the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy 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 — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts 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 helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still provided dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its small claws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you