In the original classic manga set 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.

Ken is the wielder of the legendary Hokuto Shinken martial arts style and once trained with three other students of the technique. One of them, Jagi, could never accept their Master Ryuken's choice of Ken as the successor. Now Jagi has become a murderous wasteland warlord who terrorizes the innocent...in Ken's name! Ken must face off with Jagi to clear his reputation and the honor of Hokuto Shinken. But Jagi is not the only one of Ken's former brothers who may be using the technique for evil...