My Top 10 Japanese Comics I Read This Year (Flying Under the Radar).

With the world of manga growing more vast by the day, it becomes a challenge to keep up with every noteworthy title. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for fans of the medium is unearthing a largely unknown series amidst the weekly releases and then sharing it to friends. Here are some of the best lesser-known manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with explanations for why they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series are still awaiting a large audience, especially as they haven't received anime adaptations. Some could be less accessible due to their publishing platforms. But recommending any of these grants you some notable geek cred.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but hear me out. Manga can be silly, and that's perfectly fine. I admit that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While this series isn't strictly an isekai, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by entering fantastical portals that appeared in the world, armed only with a baseball bat, to smash monsters. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is an accessible title released by a leading publisher, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. Nito's Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Usually, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. The Nito Exorcists reminds me of the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and shocking ferocity. A random click got me hooked and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the portrayal of the cast is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the absurd look of the enemies and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to run for a long time — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on the series is spectacular, detailed, and distinctive. 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 protagonists are distinctly odd and the backdrop is compelling. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, resolving disputes in a poor neighborhood where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: a hanging victim can strangle others, one who ended their own life causes blood loss, and so on. It's a macabre yet fascinating twist that adds depth to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its infrequent release pace. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

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

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

This dark fantasy manga tackles the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it depicts 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, leveraging his musical skill and past in a ruthless soldier group to become a skilled strategist, fighting to eventually earn his freedom.

The world feels a bit standard, and the addition of advanced concepts feels forced at times, but it still provided grim twists and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an compelling ability ruleset, and an enjoyable mix of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

• Creator: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who idolizes Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary 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