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

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to track every significant title. As always, the biggest series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here lack a broad readership, partly due to they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these provides some notable geek cred.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. Comics are often fun, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll acknowledge that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in 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 from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, the series is an excellent option.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits 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 storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, intricate, and distinctive. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run 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. For those from people, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing 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 can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still provided bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means 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