A Curated List of 10 Manga I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to keep up with every significant release. As always, the biggest series get all the attention, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems just out of sight.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is finding a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series lack a large audience, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are harder to access due to where they're available. 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
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and it's part of the charm. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The charm, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. This series recalls the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and unexpected brutality. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is an effective bonus. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

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 spectacular, meticulous, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (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, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which helps him command armies 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 setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but this series still provided dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. 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. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant 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 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