My Top 10 Comics I Discovered Recently (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).
Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to discover every significant title. Inevitably, the biggest series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.
One of the greatest joys for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and spreading the word to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with reasons why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.
A few of these titles are still awaiting a broad readership, notably because they are without anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some serious bragging rights.
10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero
- Writing Team: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
I know, it's an unusual starting point, but let me explain. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.
More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're seeking a short, lighthearted escape, this manga is highly recommended.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Author: Iromi Ichikawa
- Publisher: 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 best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.
Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than aiding his quest for revenge. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.
8. Gokurakugai
- Artist: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The plot remains within of typical hero's journey beats, 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, handling issues in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.
The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the way the human died: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. Gokurakugai might become a major title, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only five volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. Bugle Call: War's Melody
- Creators: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Find it on: Viz
This bleak fantasy manga examines the ever-present fight narrative from a new viewpoint for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it showcases massive army conflicts. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.
The backdrop is a little plain, 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 mature shonen with a cast of quirky characters, an engaging magic framework, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.
6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao
- Artist: Sho Yamazaki
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
A emotionally distant main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you
