The 10 Best Comics I Discovered Recently (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to track every significant release. As always, the most popular series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

Several entries here lack a large audience, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress 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 maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, detailed, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but this series still surprised me with grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you