The 10 Best Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to keep up with every worthwhile title. Predictably, the mainstream series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to where they're available. Sharing any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but let me explain. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, 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 easily available to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a short, lighthearted escape, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. It recalls the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights 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
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

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

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents massive army conflicts. 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 lets him guide troops 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 world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but it still surprised me with bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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