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

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant title. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a hidden series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Several entries here are still awaiting a broad readership, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

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

• Creators: 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 transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible 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 Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but my opinion was altered this year. It recalls the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts 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 aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle 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 ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but this series still surprised me with grim twists and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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