In the far future nuclear war has devastated New Britain and created a race of hideously-deformed mutants despised by 'norm' society. The only means of employment available for many of these unfortunate beings is bounty hunting - a dirty, dangerous job where the prospect of a violent death is never too far away. Johnny Alpha is one such mutant working for the Search/Destroy Agency - an excellent hunter who uses his warped alpha-irradiated eyes to track down criminals. Alpha's tragic early years fighting for survival amongst the ranks of the Mutant Army against his hate-filled father Kreelman, and features the introduction of many popular supporting characters such as the Torso from Newcastle and the knobbly-headed Glaswegian, Middenface McNulty.