The 10 Best Manga I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant new series. Inevitably, the mainstream series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a hidden series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

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

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but my opinion was altered this year. It evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts 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 supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy 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 — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, intricate, and unique. The story doesn't stray far to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging manifests as a choking force, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only five volumes 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
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. 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, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still delivered bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you