A Curated List of 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's increasingly difficult to discover every significant new series. As always, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.
A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.
A few of these titles lack a mainstream following, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.
10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero
- Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While The Plain Salary Man diverges from the template, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, 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 easily available to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.
9. The Nito Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Publisher: 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 my opinion was altered this year. It evokes the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, unique visuals, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.
Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the violent battles 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
- Creator: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is breathtaking, intricate, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where humans and beast-men coexist.
The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. From the beginning, only a handful of volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.
7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song
- Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Viz
This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.
The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but it still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.
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 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 a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
