7 Most Underrated Manga of the Last 10 Years, Ranked

by

Sadly, many excellent manga series don’t receive the recognition they deserve. While some promising stories are canceled too early, more often great manga are overlooked simply because they lack an anime adaptation or are lost in the shadow of more popular titles. These obstacles are incredibly difficult to overcome.

It’s common for manga fans to stick with the most popular titles, but great stories can be found even outside of what’s currently trending. This has been especially true in the last ten years, and there are several lesser-known manga that are well worth checking out.

7) Parashoppers

I’m totally hooked on Tsubasa Fukuchi’s Parashoppers! It’s about this guy, Mitsusada Amaragi, who gets this crazy app called Parashop. It gives you superpowers, which sounds awesome, right? But there’s a catch – you have to play these incredibly dangerous games. Along with his friends, Amaragi is determined to figure out what’s really going on behind the app and, you know, actually survive the whole ordeal!

Tsubasa Fukuchi, the creator of the popular early 2000s series The Law of Ueki, has done it again with Parashoppers. This new series is even more unique and entertaining, featuring a likeable group of characters and impressively creative fight scenes. While Parashoppers is still relatively new and hasn’t gained widespread attention yet, it has a lot of potential to become a hit.

6) Astra Lost In Space

Kenta Shinohara’s Astra Lost in Space is set in the distant future and follows nine children stranded in space after a school trip goes awry. Luckily, they discover an abandoned spaceship, which they call the Astra, and begin a long journey home. Along the way, they gradually unravel the mystery of what happened to them and their planet.

Created by Kenta Shinohara, who also made Sket Dance and Witch Watch, Astra Lost in Space is a fantastic blend of funny moments and touching character development. The sci-fi setting adds an unexpected layer of depth to both the humor and the drama. Although it’s a shorter series and perhaps not as well-known as some of Shinohara’s other work, it’s definitely worth checking out.

5) RuriDragon

Masaoki Shindo’s manga, RuriDragon, tells the story of Ruri Aoki, an average high school student who unexpectedly grows horns. Her mother reveals this is a sign of her dragon ancestry—inherited from her father—and Ruri must now navigate the challenges of her newfound powers while also dealing with everyday teenage life.

RuriDragon stands out as a refreshingly unique manga from Shonen Jump because it focuses on everyday life without relying on typical comedy or drama, making each chapter enjoyable. While a year-long break and move to a digital format slowed it down, it remains a very entertaining read.

4) Undead Unluck

Yoshifumi Tozuka’s Undead Unluck takes place in a world where the laws of nature sometimes appear as dangerous monsters. People known as Negators can fight against these monsters, even though doing so causes chaos. The story follows ‘Undead’ Andy and ‘Unluck’ Fuuko Izumo, two Negators who join forces with others to battle against these natural forces and prevent the world from being destroyed.

Despite being overshadowed by more popular series in Shonen Jump and receiving a lukewarm response to its anime adaptation, Undead Unluck is a truly special series. Its smart action sequences, detailed world, and especially Fuuko’s compelling character growth make it a modern classic that deserves to be read by everyone.

3) City

I’ve been watching Keiichi Arawi’s City, and it’s really about the everyday lives of the people who live there – a place just called City. While a lot of the story follows Midori Nagumo and her friends, it feels like it’s more about everyone in the City and all the strange, funny things that happen to them.

Keiichi Arawi, the creator of Nichijo, delivers another fantastic story with City. It shares the same beautiful art style and delightfully bizarre humor as his previous work, making it a spiritual successor in many ways. The anime adaptation, City the Animation, produced by Kyoto Animation, lived up to expectations, and hopefully, will introduce more people to the original manga.

2) Dark Gathering

Kenichi Kondo’s Dark Gathering follows Keitaro Gentoga, who just wants to live a normal life in college. However, his plans are disrupted when he meets Yayoi, a girl with powers like his. She enlists his help in capturing and controlling dangerous spirits, all as part of a plan to avenge her mother and fight the spirit that took her soul.

With so many exorcism manga available, Dark Gathering is a standout title that often goes unnoticed. It’s one of the best supernatural stories you can find, boasting creepy monster designs and exciting action alongside well-developed characters. A second season of the Dark Gathering anime is currently being made, which hopefully will introduce the series to a wider audience.

1) Shy

Bukimi Miki’s Shy is set in a peaceful time following a global crisis averted by the world’s superheroes. But now, a new threat called Amarariku emerges, forcing the heroes to team up again. Surprisingly, the fight is led by Teru Momijiyama, Japan’s famously shy superhero, known as Shy.

Although My Hero Academia is the most popular superhero manga currently, Shy stands out with its fresh approach, blending magical girl and tokusatsu elements to create a story that’s just as emotionally impactful. Shy is a hidden treasure in modern manga, and a prime example of an overlooked gem from the last decade.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/anime/list/7-great-recent-anime-nobody-talks-about/embed/#

Read More

2025-11-02 03:42