🔗 Share this article The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of). As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to track every worthwhile new series. Inevitably, the most popular series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of hidden gems just out of sight. A particular delight for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom. A few of these titles lack a broad readership, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some notable geek cred. 10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero Art from the series Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths 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 finish work early for a change. There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice. 9. The Exorcists of Nito Art from the series Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated. Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to become a hit — should it get the chance. 8. Gokurakugai Art from the series Artist: Yuto Sano Released by: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes 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 wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience. 7. Bugle Call: War's Melody Illustration Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Released by: Shueisha Find it on: Viz This grim fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war. The world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but this series still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy. 6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?! Art from the series Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its little feet 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
As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to track every worthwhile new series. Inevitably, the most popular series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of hidden gems just out of sight. A particular delight for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom. A few of these titles lack a broad readership, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some notable geek cred. 10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero Art from the series Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro Released by: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths 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 finish work early for a change. There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice. 9. The Exorcists of Nito Art from the series Artist: Iromi Ichikawa Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated. Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to become a hit — should it get the chance. 8. Gokurakugai Art from the series Artist: Yuto Sano Released by: Shueisha Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes 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 wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience. 7. Bugle Call: War's Melody Illustration Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori Released by: Shueisha Find it on: Viz This grim fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war. The world feels a bit standard, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but this series still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy. 6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?! Art from the series Creator: Sho Yamazaki Publisher: Shueisha Available on: Manga Plus A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its little feet 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