My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to discover every worthwhile title. Predictably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Some of these series are still awaiting a broad readership, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be 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 let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. 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 pummel creatures. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the genre's overpopularity, but two series changed my mind this year. This series evokes the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. 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 as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity 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 this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, intricate, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves 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. This series might become a major title, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but it still delivered bleak developments and surprising narrative shifts. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you