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
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- 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.