A Curated List of 10 Manga I Discovered Recently (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every significant new series. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of hidden gems ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is unearthing a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out ahead of the curve.

Some of these series are still awaiting a mainstream following, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be trickier to read due to where they're available. However, suggesting any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be 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. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths 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 maintain his double life, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is highly recommended.

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 saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Released by: 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 unique. The story doesn't stray far of typical hero's journey beats, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. For those from people, 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 adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's constrained 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

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. 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 brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its little feet 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