My Top 10 Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).
With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to track every significant new series. Predictably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems ripe for exploration.
A particular delight for fans of the medium is unearthing a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've discovered recently, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.
Some of these series have not yet reached a mainstream following, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. Sharing any of these provides 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
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and it's part of the charm. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. 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 an accessible title published by a major house, and thus readily accessible 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 an excellent option.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It evokes the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and got hooked instantly.
Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — provided it survives.
8. Gokurakugai
- Artist: Yuto Sano
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, intricate, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "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 people and animal-human hybrids live together.
The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves 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 provides substance to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song
- Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Viz
This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. 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 allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.
The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but this series still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.
6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao
- Artist: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its little feet is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
