Tezuka's original manga (comic book) version, which ran from 1973 to 1978, was extremely popular because of its excellent action-thriller elements and solid scientific details (Tezuka had a degree in medicine). Black Jack is the nickname of an unlicensed surgeon whose skills are the best in the world. His own face is scarred from a skin graft, evidence of the childhood trauma that inspired his career. In this new theatrical version, Black Jack becomes involved in an international scheme to invent a new superhuman species.