A Curated List of 10 Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to keep up with every significant new series. Predictably, the biggest series get all the attention, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series are still awaiting a mainstream following, notably because they are without anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus easily available 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 Exorcists of Nito

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. This series evokes the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is breathtaking, detailed, and unique. The narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but it still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its small claws 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