The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to track every worthwhile title. Predictably, the most popular series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is finding a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

Several entries here have not yet reached a large audience, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress 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 keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. It reminds me of the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner 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 supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: 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 this manga is breathtaking, detailed, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd 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 born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. 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 cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still delivered dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Artist: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available 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 tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you