The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).
As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, it becomes a challenge to discover every noteworthy new series. As always, the mainstream series dominate conversations, but there's a plethora of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
A key pleasure for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've discovered recently, along with reasons why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.
Some of these series have not yet reached a broad readership, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.
10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero
- Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.
There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title published by a major house, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a brief, enjoyable diversion, this manga is a great choice.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the abundance of similar stories, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. It reminds me of the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, unique visuals, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally 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 focused on his safety than aiding his quest for revenge. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — provided it survives.
8. Gokurakugai
- Artist: Yuto Sano
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
For readers who value visual splendor, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The plot remains within to traditional battle manga tropes, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the backdrop is compelling. 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 formed from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, 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. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. Bugle Call: War's Melody
- Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Viz
This dark fantasy manga tackles the ubiquitous battle trope from a novel angle for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.
The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements can seem jarring, but it still provided dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.
6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian
- Creator: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A cold-hearted main character who idolizes 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 his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
