The 10 Best Manga I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, staying on top to track every significant release. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, but there's a plethora of overlooked works ripe for exploration.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is finding a hidden series amidst the weekly releases and spreading the word to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've discovered recently, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. But recommending any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who vents his stress by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, 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 clock out punctually for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a few minutes of silly fun, this manga is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the genre's overpopularity, but my opinion was altered this year. This series evokes the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. 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 character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with the capacity to become a hit — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

• Creator: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is spectacular, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves can strangle others, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series could be the next big hit, but it's limited due to its slower publication rate. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Viz

This dark fantasy manga examines the common conflict theme from a new viewpoint 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 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 skilled strategist, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but this series still delivered grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of 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