A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Discovered Recently (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to track every worthwhile new series. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Several entries here lack a broad readership, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• 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. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I'll acknowledge that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that appeared in the world, 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.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series reminds me of the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate 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. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

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

• 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 new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. 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 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 insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but this series still delivered bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted 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 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