My Top 10 Comics I Discovered Recently (Flying Under the Radar).
As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to discover every significant release. Inevitably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.
A key pleasure for fans of the medium is finding a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.
Several entries here lack a large audience, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these grants you some notable geek cred.
10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero
- Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.
More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is an excellent option.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists recalls the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.
Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied 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 portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.
8. Gokurakugai
- Author: Yuto Sano
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and distinctive. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.
The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.
7. The Bugle Call: Song of War
- Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Viz
This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.
The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but it still surprised me with bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.
6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!
- Creator: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
A calculating main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since 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
