The 10 Best Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to discover every worthwhile release. Inevitably, the most popular series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and then sharing it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with motivations for they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

Some of these series lack a mainstream following, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, 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 seeking a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, intricate, and distinctive. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches 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 lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but it still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because 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