The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to discover every noteworthy new series. Predictably, the biggest series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A particular delight for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. Here are some of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Several entries here have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, is found in 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 pummel creatures. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, the series is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

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 aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, intricate, and unique. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created 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 gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This grim fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, 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 The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of 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 tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you