The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).
With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, staying on top to discover every noteworthy release. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of overlooked works just out of sight.
A particular delight for any manga enthusiast is finding a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and then sharing it to friends. This list highlights of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.
Several entries here lack a large audience, notably because they all lack anime adaptations. Some could be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these provides some impressive fan credentials.
10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero
- Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
This may seem like a strange choice, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and it's part of the charm. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series diverges from the template, it follows many of the same tropes, including an unbeatable hero and a RPG-like world structure. The charm, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who vents his stress by exploring strange labyrinths that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.
There might be better isekai series, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus readily accessible to international audiences on a digital platform. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is highly recommended.
9. The Exorcists of Nito
- Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. It evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, stylized art, and sudden violence. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.
Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than fueling his retribution. The storyline appears straightforward, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the gory combat 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
- Creator: Yuto Sano
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
If breathtaking art is your priority, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The story doesn't stray far to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the cast is wonderfully eccentric and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run 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. When human-based, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: someone who hanged themselves manifests as a choking force, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that provides substance to these antagonists. Gokurakugai could be the next big hit, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.
7. Bugle Call: War's Melody
- Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Available on: Viz
This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents massive army conflicts. 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, employing his instrument and background in a brutal fighter company to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.
The setting is somewhat generic, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still surprised me with grim twists and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.
6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian
- Artist: Sho Yamazaki
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A calculating main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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
