The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to track every worthwhile release. As always, the biggest 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 unearthing a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with reasons why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here have not yet reached a mainstream following, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. 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 uses similar story beats, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons 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 maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is one of the few published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is a great choice.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts 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 supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, solving problems in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It could be the next big hit, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts occasionally doesn't fit, but this series still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary 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