A Curated List of 10 Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to track every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. I present of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Several entries here are still awaiting a large audience, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are less accessible due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these provides some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is as delicate as the art, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

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 examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Instead of centering 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 enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still provided bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because 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