The 10 Best Comics I Read This Year (That You've Probably Never Heard Of).

As the manga industry continues its relentless expansion, staying on top to track every noteworthy new series. Inevitably, the biggest series capture the spotlight, yet a treasure trove exists of undiscovered treasures waiting to be discovered.

A key pleasure for any manga enthusiast is finding a mostly obscure series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the best lesser-known manga I've discovered recently, along with motivations for they're deserving of your time prior to a potential boom.

Some of these series have not yet reached a mainstream following, partly due to they are without anime adaptations. Some could be trickier to read due to digital exclusivity. However, suggesting any of these provides some notable geek cred.

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

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

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I confess that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While The Plain Salary Man diverges from the template, it embraces familiar conventions, including an incredibly strong protagonist and a RPG-like world structure. The appeal, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who relieves pressure by exploring strange labyrinths that emerged suddenly, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to hide his pastime, 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 easily available to international audiences via a free service. When it comes to digital availability, this publisher is still dominant, and if you're seeking a brief, enjoyable diversion, The Plain Salary Man is highly recommended.

9. The Exorcists of Nito

• Author: 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 saturated market, but a pair of titles shifted my perspective this year. This series reminds me of the strongest aspects of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its ominous tone, distinctive artwork, and sudden violence. I stumbled upon it accidentally and was immediately captivated.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who kills evil spirits in the hope of finding the one that murdered his mentor. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than supporting his vengeance. The plot may seem basic, but the character development is subtle and refined, and the visual contrast between the comedic design of foes and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to go the distance — 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 the series is spectacular, 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 protagonists are distinctly odd and the setting is intriguing. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, operate the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are formed from human or animal corpses. When human-based, the Maga has powers relating to the circumstances of their end: someone who hanged themselves has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that gives weight to these antagonists. It has potential for massive popularity, but it's held back by its slower publication rate. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which challenges ongoing engagement.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

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

This bleak fantasy manga tackles the ubiquitous battle trope from a new viewpoint for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases large-scale medieval warfare. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—people with distinct abilities. Luca's ability allows him to manifest sound as light, which lets him guide troops on the battlefield, employing his instrument and background 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 inclusion of futuristic tech can seem jarring, but The Bugle Call still surprised me with dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a grown-up battle manga with a cast of quirky characters, an compelling ability ruleset, and an pleasing blend of warfare and grim fantasy.

6. Taro Miyao Becomes a Cat Parent?!

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

A calculating main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and advocates for ruthless pragmatism becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—supposedly since a massage from its tiny paws is a unique cure for his aches. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you