My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant title. Predictably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure 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 hide his pastime, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Usually, 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 reminds me of the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Artist: Yuto Sano
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is breathtaking, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The plot remains within from classic shonen conventions, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This grim fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech feels forced at times, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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