A Curated List of 10 Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to track every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of hidden gems just out of sight.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here are still awaiting a broad readership, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to where they're available. Sharing any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available 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 evokes the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. 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 treatment of the characters is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This grim fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. 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 ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but it still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark 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 follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its small claws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you