The 10 Best Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to discover every significant release. Inevitably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is unearthing a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series are still awaiting a broad readership, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an unbeatable hero and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, 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 sets the standard, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is a great choice.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, intricate, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area 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 manner of death: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents massive army conflicts. 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, employing his instrument and background in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but this series still delivered bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres 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 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