My Top 10 Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to track every significant title. Predictably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and recommending 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 before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series are still awaiting a mainstream following, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to where they're available. But recommending any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Creators: 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. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by entering fantastical portals that materialized globally, 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 leave the office on time for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. This series reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition 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 — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The story doesn't stray far to traditional battle manga tropes, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the way the human died: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents 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 helps him command armies on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but it still provided dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in 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