A Curated List of 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Flying Under the Radar).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every noteworthy release. Inevitably, the mainstream series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a broad readership, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to where they're available. But recommending any of these grants you some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I'll acknowledge that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about 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 released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series evokes the strongest aspects of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who purges ghosts in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is as delicate as the art, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it 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 narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district 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 way the human died: a suicide by hanging can strangle others, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its infrequent release pace. 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

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still provided grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its small claws is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you