My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to discover every worthwhile new series. Predictably, the most popular series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is finding a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles lack a broad readership, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman 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 hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title 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 seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter 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 concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, detailed, and unique. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which helps him command armies 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 surprised me with grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws 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