My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to track every noteworthy new series. Predictably, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of overlooked works waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for a dedicated reader is finding a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and recommending it to friends. I present of the best lesser-known manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

Several entries here have not yet reached a broad readership, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be less accessible due to digital exclusivity. Sharing any of these will earn you some notable geek cred.

10. The Ordinary Office Worker Who Was a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

This may seem like a strange choice, but hear me out. The medium embraces absurdity, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While the title isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He's indifferent to treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

There might be better isekai series, but this is a rare example published by a major house, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. For easy reading, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is an excellent option.

9. The Nito Exorcists

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

Ordinarily, 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 reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and sudden violence. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who purges ghosts 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 premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the stylistic juxtaposition between the absurd look of the enemies and the bloody fights 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

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on Gokurakugai is stunning, detailed, and distinctive. The narrative hews close of typical hero's journey beats, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a low-income area where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the manner of death: a hanging victim manifests as a choking force, one who ended their own life can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's constrained by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a handful of volumes have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Call of War: A Bugle's Song

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

This dark fantasy manga examines the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. Rather than focusing on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability enables him to convert audio into visuals, which allows him to direct soldiers on the battlefield, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but this series still delivered dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a sophisticated series with a cast of quirky characters, an interesting power system, and an interesting combination of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A emotionally distant main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary takes in a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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