The 10 Best Manga I Discovered Recently (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to discover every noteworthy title. Inevitably, the most popular series dominate conversations, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures ripe for exploration.

A key pleasure for fans of the medium is stumbling upon a largely unknown series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. I present of the finest under-the-radar manga I've enjoyed this past year, along with motivations for they're worthy of attention prior to a potential boom.

Several entries here have not yet reached a large audience, especially as they all lack anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these grants you some impressive fan credentials.

10. The Plain Salary Man Turned Out to Be a Hero

• Creators: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but hear me out. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that isekai is my guilty pleasure. While The Plain Salary Man isn't strictly an isekai, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is a standard overburdened office worker who relieves pressure by entering fantastical portals that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He doesn't care about 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 from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences through a popular app. Regarding online access, this publisher remains a leader, and if you're in need of a brief, enjoyable diversion, the series is an excellent option.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Artist: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title makes me hesitant due to the saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series recalls the finest elements of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its eerie vibe, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I stumbled upon it accidentally and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who kills evil spirits in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is more interested in protecting Gotsuji than fueling his retribution. The plot may seem basic, but the portrayal of the cast is thoughtfully executed, and the artistic dichotomy between the silly appearance of the spirits and the bloody fights is a nice extra touch. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — if it's allowed to continue.

8. Gokurakugai

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

If breathtaking art is your priority, then search no more. Yuto Sano's work on the series is stunning, intricate, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close to traditional battle manga tropes, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the characters are all quirky and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, manage the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where humans and beast-men coexist.

The villains, called Maga, are born from human or animal corpses. For those from people, the Maga wields magic reflecting the manner of death: a suicide by hanging has the power to choke people, one who perished by suicide can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Starting in 2022, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

7. The Bugle Call: Song of War

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

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ubiquitous battle trope from a fresh perspective for shonen. Instead of centering on individual duels, it presents epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. 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 brutal fighter company to become a skilled strategist, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the insertion of sci-fi elements feels forced at times, but it still delivered bleak developments and unexpected plot twists. It's a mature shonen with a group of eccentric individuals, an interesting power system, and an enjoyable mix of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

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

A cold-hearted main character who reveres Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—allegedly because a massage from its tiny paws is his sole relief from tension. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you