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

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it's increasingly difficult to track every significant release. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, however, countless gems of overlooked works just out of sight.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is finding a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a large audience, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

• Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The appeal, however, stems from the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

Superior genre examples exist, but this is a rare example from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter 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 portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a compelling layer. This is a series with the capacity to run for a long time — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

For readers who value visual splendor, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, intricate, and unique. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with heroes clashing with demons (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This grim fantasy manga tackles the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it depicts epic historical battles. 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 ruthless soldier group to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements occasionally doesn't fit, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and surprising narrative shifts. It's a sophisticated series with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A emotionally distant main character who reveres 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 his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you