My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Discovered Recently (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to discover every noteworthy title. Predictably, the most popular series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems just out of sight.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series have not yet reached a large audience, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure 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 hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. This series reminds me of the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to become a hit — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, detailed, and unique. The plot remains within 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 backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district 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 way the human died: 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 gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still provided grim twists and unexpected plot twists. 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
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of 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