The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Discovered Recently (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to track every significant new series. Predictably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is unearthing a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. A few are less accessible due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

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

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, the series is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is as delicate as the art, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — 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 breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, 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, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

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

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it 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 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