The 10 Best Manga I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to track every significant release. Inevitably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, notably because they are without anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

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

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and it's part of the charm. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, 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 easily available to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, meticulous, and distinctive. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This dark fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but this series still delivered bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Creator: 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—supposedly since 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