My Top 10 Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every noteworthy title. As always, the most popular series get all the attention, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is unearthing a largely unknown series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles lack a mainstream following, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was 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'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, 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 from a top company, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series recalls the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. 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 comedic design of foes and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and distinctive. The narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a working-class district where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. From the beginning, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

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

• Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but this series still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A emotionally distant 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 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