Summary
- Neglected manga with unique ideas often don’t receive the same attention as popular titles, despite their quality and creativity.
- Lesser-known series like The Witch And The Beast, Witch Hat Atelier, and Dorohedoro offer thrilling adventures and innovative concepts.
- Hidden gems such as Sakamoto Days, Diamond In The Rough, and Versus provide readers with exciting stories and captivating characters worth exploring.
Each week, big titles like One Piece and Jujutsu Kaisen make waves in the manga and anime community as new chapters and episodes are released. Fans of both are always ready to discuss anything from theories to power scaling, but while their attention is focused on those manga, they may miss out on some hidden gems that aren’t getting as much publicity.
There are plenty of manga that have been released in the last few years that are incredibly well-written and beautifully illustrated, but due to manga and anime becoming more mainstream each year, only the most popular titles are getting any attention. These lesser-known manga contain innovative and unique ideas that definitely deserve a spotlight.
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Updated February 4, 2025, by Garrett Huon: The popularity of manga fluctuates from season to season as new titles are released or adapted to anime. There are many great manga that haven’t received a lot of attention, simply because they aren’t animated. Sakamoto Days, which was previously featured on this list, has recently received its highly anticipated anime adaptation, which is creating a lot of buzz surrounding the manga. Now that it’s getting the attention it deserves, it has been replaced with some newer manga with some innovative concepts and stories, many of which began publishing in 2024.
1
The Witch And The Beast
The Dangerous Lives Of Witch Hunters
- MyAnimeList Score: 8.19
- Published: 2016 to 2023
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Kousuke Satake
- Illustrator: Kousuke Satake
The Witch And The Beast follows the story of two members of the Order of Magical Resonance, Guideau and Ashaf, as they solve problems caused by magic and hunt witches. Having been cursed by a witch, Guideau’s only option is to find the caster of the curse and have her remove it, but with no leads, she must meet as many witches as she can. Through a series of separate stories, more and more is revealed about this magical world.
There’s a lot to discover in this manga, and the author does a great job introducing ideas and concepts through the worldbuilding and story. Despite its slow start, this manga is full of thrills, suspense, and adventure that is incredibly fun to read. For people who are looking for something a little different, The Witch and The Beast is a great departure from the current popular stories.
2
Witch Hat Atelier
Learning Magic Starts With A Pen
- MyAnimeList Score: 8.64
- Published: 2016 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Fantasy
- Author: Kamome Shirahama
- Illustrator: Kamome Shirahama
Despite winning awards and gaining critical acclaim, Witch Hat Atelier is not often a subject of discussion on social media. The story is about Coco, a normal girl living with her mother in the countryside. Fascinated by the magic in her world, she laments not being born a witch who’s able to cast spells. However, a chance encounter with a traveling witch opens a door to a new life, and she’s eager to take it.
This manga has many fans and is well known for its elegant and detailed art, but many readers are surprised it doesn’t have a larger fanbase. This is likely due to the prevalence of shonen action manga like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Kaiju No. 8, which take up the spotlight on social media. It can also be difficult for people in the US to find new titles to read. Witch Hat Atelier may rise in popularity once the anime adaptation is released.
3
Dorohedoro
The Dark World Of Sorcerers
- MyAnimeList Score: 8.68
- Chapters: 190
- Published: 2000 to 2018
- Genres/Themes: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Gore
- Author: Q Hayashida
- Illustrator: Q Hayashida
Set in a wasteland called “The Hole,” Dorohedoro follows Caiman who was cursed by an unknown sorcerer to be a lizard-man. Because of his amnesia, the only way to find the culprit is to bite people’s heads and ask the man inside his mouth. With his friend Nikaido, he hunts sorcerers to find the truth. However, life in The Hole is full of ups and downs, leading to some bizarre situations.
Dorohedoro is a great manga that is somehow able to mix dark fantasy and slice-of-life, making even the most gruesome scenes seem lighthearted and fun. There is a lot of violence and gore, so some manga readers may not like it. However, the general atmosphere is almost wholesome given the way the characters act and interact with each other. Even the antagonists act like a normal family despite their gruesome jobs.
4
Diamond In The Rough
A Young Boy Learns The Power Of Gemstones
- MyAnimeList Score: 6.73
- Chapters: 79
- Published: 2020 to 2023
- Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery
- Author: Nao Sasaki
- Illustrator: Nao Sasaki
In this world, everything revolves around stone. Purifying water, creating electricity, and creating fire can all be done with different kinds of stone. While visiting villages in search of rare gems, ore craftsman Akaboshi meets Kai, a young boy with a petrified leg. Kai seeks revenge against the person who turned his family to stone, and Akaboshi is the only one who can help.
Diamond in the Rough is a creative adventure story about understanding self-worth and responsibility. There are many great action scenes with interesting powers at play, but this manga isn’t as focused on battles as other shōnen. The author does a great job of mixing up solutions, so conflicts don’t always end in fights.
5
Majo Taisen
The Greatest Witches In History Duke It Out
- MyAnimeList Score: 6.72
- Published: 2020 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Supernatural
- Author: Homura Kawamoto
- Illustrator: Makoto Shiozuka
Throughout history, there have been many strong and courageous women who have made a name for themselves in one way or another. After their death, they are given a chance to compete for the chance to make their wishes come true. Using their greed to fuel their power, these women become witches to fight in a 1-vs-1 tournament.
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This manga is great for fans of Record of Ragnorok given the nearly identical premise, but it’s still different enough to stand on its own. Seeing historical figures fight with bombastic powers and skills is always fun and interesting. This manga is great for those who just want to see cool fights.
6
Wild Strawberry
The Fight Against Mother Nature
- MyAnimeList Score: 6.90
- Published: 2023 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Ire Yonemoto
- Illustrator: Ire Yonemoto
In a parallel world, plants have taken over Japan, growing to the size of skyscrapers and parasitizing people to sustain themselves. The infected are called Jinka, and they’re seen as mindless monsters to be put down immediately to prevent further infestations. It’s especially bad for Kingo since his sister is infected but hasn’t turned into a Jinka yet.
The themes and plot of this story are reminiscent of Demon Slayer as it features a young boy who dedicates himself to saving his one and only family. Despite only having a few chapters, it’s already shown great potential through its writing and detailed illustration.
7
Versus
Humanity’s Survival In A Multi-Dimensional World
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.43
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
- Author: ONE
- Illustrator: Kyoutarou Azuma
From the author of One Punch Man, Versus is an ambitious story about the end of the world, but not just one world. In this manga, thirteen different worlds face terrible threats to humanity, and in each one, their only hope is to call for help from elsewhere. That’s when all thirteen worlds collide into a giant patchwork of dimensions.
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This manga contains a variety of ideas and concepts, so nearly anyone can find an aspect they like. It’s got magic and demons. It’s got aliens and robots. It’s got titans and kaiju. Each chapter is a mixed bag of archetypes, but the story is never overwhelming and doesn’t feel cluttered. It’ll be exciting to see what happens in the future.
9
Gachiakuta
The Power Of Trash In The Right Hands
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.71
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Kei Urana
- Illustrator: Kei Urana
In Gachiakuta, Rudo is a young boy trying to survive each day in the slums. Rummaging through the trash each day, he uses the wastefulness of the upper class to his advantage, but then he’s framed for a murder he didn’t commit and tossed into the Abyss. Luckily, he’s saved by the Cleaners, a group that kills garbage monsters in the world of trash.
This manga hits all the buttons for a class shōnen. The author has done a great job developing the characters and world, keeping the story interesting without getting too complicated. Rudo is also a great protagonist, showing compassion and bravery in the face of the journey ahead of him.
10
Tougen Anki
The Perpetuation Of An Ancestral War
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.14
- Published: 2020 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Mythology
- Author: Yura Urushibara
- Illustrator: Yura Urushibara
When his father is killed in front of him, Shiki Ichinose awakens the Oni blood hiding inside him and turns into a monster. Luckily, he’s saved by fellow Oni Naito Mudano, and that’s when he learns about the secret war going on between the Momo and the Oni. To get revenge, Shiki goes to a school for Oni to learn how to control his power.
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Inspired by the popular Japanese folktale of Momotarou and the Oni, Tougen Anki is a great battle manga with an innovative concept. Not only are there great fight sequences and an interesting power system, but there are also complex themes and ideas portrayed in the story. The graphic nature of this manga may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
11
Gokurakugai
Fixers For Hire Also Kill Demons
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.65
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Yuuto Sano
- Illustrator: Yuuto Sano
In the busy city of Gokurakugai, where many people live and run businesses, is the Troubleshooter Agency run by Tao and Alma. For a small price, they do odd jobs for anyone who can pay, but that’s not their only job. Monsters called Maga run wild in this world, eating people to sustain themselves, and it’s Tao and Alma’s job to get rid of them.
Like the city it’s set in, Gokurakugai is a fun manga with interesting characters, especially the two protagonists. Tao is a cool and mysterious woman with a hidden past, and Alma is a gluttonous young man who happens to be half-Maga. This duo offers a great and interesting dynamic that’s not often seen in shōnen.
12
Ichi The Witch
The First Male Witch
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.58
- Published: 2024 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Fantasy
- Author: Osamu Nishi
- Illustrator: Shiro Usazaki
In most fantasy manga, witches and warlocks learn their magic through grimoires and books, but it’s different in this manga. Majiks are the living embodiments of certain phenomena and concepts like lightning, explosions, or prophecy that live across the world. Witches hunt these majiks to attain power for themselves. Ichi is a hunter himself, and one day he hunts a majik without knowing what it is, turning him into a witch.
Ichi The Witch is a fun manga with a unique twist on magic and how it works. Rather than learning spells at school, it’s an adventure to find where the majiks live and learn how to capture them, giving the author the freedom to go anywhere with the story. This manga has great potential, and with some time, it could produce some iconic characters and interesting storylines.
13
Hero Organization
Mecha Pilots Become Heroes
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.27
- Published: 2024 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi, Mecha
- Author: Kei Saikawa
- Illustrator: Akira Takahashi
Heroes and superpowers had a boom in popularity as new Marvel movies were released and manga like My Hero Academia were published. Soon the two became almost synonymous, but not all heroes have powers. Hero Organization takes place in a sci-fi future where humans have started exploring the vastness of space. To defend human interests from the danger of Star Beasts, giant mechs are piloted to attack and defend.
Not much can be said about this story without immediately spoiling the premise of the story, but with less than twenty chapters at the time of writing, the author has crafted a thrilling, high-stakes adventure featuring aliens and giant robots. There haven’t been many big mecha manga recently, and Hero Organization could be the next hit in the genre.
14
Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi
The Teenage Exorcist With Anxiety
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
- Published: 2024 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Comedy, Supernatural, Gag Humor
- Author: Shouichi Usui
- Illustrator: Shouichi Usui
Compared to the dark and gritty supernatural manga that have risen to popularity in the early 2020s, Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi stands out because of its cartoon-ish style and innocent nature. The story follows a freshly graduated exorcist named Kiyoshi, the valedictorian and youngest exorcist in history. Although he’s extremely skilled and capable, his personality leaves him unable to do his job. He’s socially awkward, scared of demons, and can’t express his feelings, but he continues to try his best.
Although it’s a gag manga, Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi tells a compelling coming of age story that also pokes fun at stereotypical overpowered protagonists. It only has thirty chapters, but it has proven to be a fun and evocative read with plenty of funny and cool moments. In that way, it’s reminiscent of other manga like Soul Eater and Katekyō Hitman Reborn!
15
Choujin X
The Trouble Of Having Mutant Powers
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.44
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Supernatural
- Author: Su Ishida
- Illustrator: Su Ishida
With the success of titles like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, many manga readers are looking for darker stories to enjoy, and Choujin X is a great choice. The story follows two friends as they navigate life in the world as a choujin, a person with superpowers. They were originally normal students, but after being attacked by a choujin, they had no choice but to become one themselves.
Choujin X has been around for a few years now, but it hasn’t gotten much attention in the mainstream media, which is unfortunate because the storytelling is so good. The author does a great job building anticipation between action scenes and balancing them with slice of life moments while also connecting everything to the greater plot.
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Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime
