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

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every noteworthy new series. Inevitably, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A key pleasure for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Several entries here lack a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are harder to access 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
• Find it 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 fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. It evokes the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: 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 Gokurakugai is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run 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. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. 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 ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but this series still delivered bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a group of eccentric individuals, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws 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