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

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every noteworthy release. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems just out of sight.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is unearthing a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here have not yet reached a large audience, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, the series is a great choice.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: 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 recalls the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. I started reading it by chance 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 paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to become a hit — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, intricate, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: a suicide by hanging 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 could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. 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 cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still provided grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of 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