A Curated List of 10 Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).
Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to track every noteworthy release. Predictably, the mainstream series get all the attention, but there's a plethora of overlooked works ripe for exploration.
A particular delight for a dedicated reader is stumbling upon a hidden series buried in publication schedules and spreading the word to friends. Here are some of the finest under-the-radar manga I've read in 2025, along with motivations for they're worth checking out prior to a potential boom.
Several entries here have not yet reached a mainstream following, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some notable geek cred.
10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be 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 bear with me. The medium embraces absurdity, and it's part of the charm. I confess that transported-to-another-world stories relax me. While the title diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an overpowered main character and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who relieves pressure by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and clock out punctually for a change.
Superior genre examples exist, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus readily accessible to international audiences through a popular app. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're looking for a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is a great choice.
9. Nito's Exorcists
- Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus
Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the genre's overpopularity, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series reminds me of the best parts of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.
Gotsuji is a powerful exorcist who kills evil spirits in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's accompanied by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is concerned with his well-being than supporting his vengeance. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is an effective bonus. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — should it get the chance.
8. Gokurakugai
- Author: Yuto Sano
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Manga Plus; Viz
When artistic excellence matters most, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, meticulous, and unique. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with individuals with abilities combating monsters (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, handling issues in a working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist.
The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. This series has potential for massive popularity, but it's constrained by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only five volumes have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.
7. The Bugle Call: Song of War
- Writing Team: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
- Released by: Shueisha
- Available on: Viz
This grim fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a novel angle for shonen. Rather than focusing on 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 brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.
The backdrop is a little plain, and the inclusion of futuristic tech occasionally doesn't fit, but it still surprised me with bleak developments and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of military themes and dark fantasy.
6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!
- Artist: Sho Yamazaki
- Publisher: Shueisha
- Find it on: Manga Plus
A emotionally distant main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and subscribes to ends-justify-the-means becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws 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
