in a postapocalyptic wasteland ruled by savage gangs, a hero appears to bring justice to the guilty. This warrior named Ken holds the deadly secrets of a mysterious martial art known as Hokuto Shinken--the Divine Fist of the North Star!

In a postapocalyptic world, humanity has risen from the ashes of nuclear war to a nightmare of endless suffering. It is a time of chaos. Warlords and gangs of savage marauders and warlords rule the broken ruins of civilization, terrorizing and enslaving the survivors. Life has become a brutal struggle for existence and death the only release.

Kenshiro takes on the Golan, a gang whose claims of genetic superiority he will put to the test. Later, as he continues his journey through the wasteland, he runs into a wily nomad warlord named Jackal. Until now, Ken's opponents have rarely used their heads--though many have lost them! How will he handle an enemy who relies on low cunning instead of brute force?