A Curated List of 10 Comics I Discovered Recently (Flying Under the Radar).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it becomes a challenge to track every significant release. Inevitably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

One of the greatest joys for any manga enthusiast is stumbling upon a mostly obscure series amidst the weekly releases and recommending 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 deserving of your time ahead of the curve.

A few of these titles are still awaiting a mainstream following, notably because they haven't received anime adaptations. Others may be harder to access due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these will earn you some impressive fan credentials.

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

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

I know, it's an unusual starting point, but bear with me. Comics are often fun, and that's perfectly fine. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man doesn't fully fit the genre, it embraces familiar conventions, including an unbeatable hero and a video-game-inspired fantasy framework. The unique hook, however, lies in the protagonist. Keita Sato is an archetypal exhausted salaryman who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to defeat foes. He has no interest in treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to maintain his double life, protect his family, and finish work early for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is a rare example released by a leading publisher, and thus easily available to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're in need of a few minutes of silly fun, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

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

Ordinarily, the word "exorcist" in a manga title is enough to deter me due to the abundance of similar stories, but two series changed my mind this year. This series evokes the finest elements of Jujutsu Kaisen, with its creepy atmosphere, distinctive artwork, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and became engrossed at once.

Gotsuji is a skilled spirit hunter who eliminates cursed beings in the hope of discovering his master's killer. He's joined by his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The storyline appears straightforward, but the treatment of the characters is thoughtfully executed, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the violent battles is a nice extra touch. This is a series with real potential to become a hit — provided it survives.

8. Gokurakugai

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

When artistic excellence matters most, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is stunning, meticulous, and one-of-a-kind. The narrative hews close from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not officially called "exorcists"), but the characters are all quirky and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a working-class district where two species live side-by-side.

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 hanging victim can strangle others, one who died from self-harm can make people bleed out, and so on. It's a disturbing but creative twist that adds depth to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which can test a reader's patience.

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

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

This grim fantasy manga approaches the common conflict theme from a novel angle for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a brutal fighter company to become a powerful tactician, fighting with the hope of one day stepping away.

The setting is somewhat generic, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but it still provided dark turns and unexpected plot twists. It's a grown-up battle manga with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an interesting combination of strategy and horror.

6. Taro Miyao: Unexpected Feline Guardian

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

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary adopts a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that 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