Black Jack is a genius surgeon who never acquired his license due to his clashes with the medical establishment. He is hired out by anyone willing to pay his exorbitant rates and is perceived as a heartless rogue because of his enigmatic nature and antisocial manner but that is not the whole story.

Note: 8 previously-sealed chapters were republished and were never officially nor unofficially translated.

Won the 1st Kodansha Manga Award in the Shounen category in 1977 which was tied with .