My Top 10 Manga I Read This Year (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every noteworthy title. As always, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of hidden gems just out of sight.

A particular delight for fans of the medium is unearthing a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're worth checking out before they gain widespread popularity.

Several entries here lack a large audience, especially as they are without anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these grants you 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. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While this series diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He's indifferent to 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 an accessible title from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Creator: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the saturated market, but my opinion was altered this year. The Nito Exorcists evokes the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then this is it. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is spectacular, detailed, and unique. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (though they're avoiding that specific term), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where people and animal-human hybrids live together.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide causes blood loss, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's limited due to its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—individuals possessing a unique special power. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a cruel mercenary band to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but this series still delivered grim twists and surprising narrative shifts. It's a grown-up battle manga with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you