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

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every worthwhile release. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is unearthing a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here lack a large audience, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

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. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: 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. It recalls the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, 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 finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, detailed, and distinctive. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

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 has the power to choke people, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It 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 can test a reader's patience.

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

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still delivered bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: 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—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