Invasive is a disturbing story that explores the terrifying dark world of surgical addiction and the lengths some will go to push the boundaries of medical ethics. Set in a city where a new underground hospital has just opened its doors, Invasive introduces us to a group of rogue surgeons who have taken it upon themselves to pierce the final threshold of accepted medical orthodoxy. They are ready to break every taboo and rule in the book.

Dr. Carrie Reynolds was a veteran trauma surgeon with a godlike mastery of muscle and bone. But outside the operating room, her rigidly ordered life spiraled into chaos when her daughter, Heather-a recovering plastic surgery addict-suddenly disappeared, only to mysteriously reemerge in a catatonic state, her vocal cords removed . . . the latest in a series of victims scarred by a battery of brazenly cruel medical procedures that have baffled police and left an alarming number of once-ordinary citizens maimed, mutilated, or dead on arrival.

Deep beneath the streets of Carrie’s city, a new kind of underground hospital has just opened its doors…and, once inside, there are no rules, no oaths, and no taboos too deep to not to be broken. Together, a new class of surgeon has sworn to pierce the final threshold of accepted medical orthodoxy one incision at a time. The scalpel is their tool. The alleys are their operating theater. Murder is their medicine. And only Carrie can stop what they’re planning next…

Not for the faint of heart, the graphic nature of each page will make some squirm, but also highlights the dangers of pursuing perfection at any cost. The overall theme of surgical addiction is something we don’t see often in the pages of a horror comic, but somehow Eisner-nominated writer Cullen Bunn and artists Jesus Hervás and Federico Sabbatini nailed it.

Invasive introduces us to a new class of surgeon that will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. With a complex storyline, the stakes are high, and every page turn brings new revelations that keep readers guessing about what will happen next. Invasive‘s pacing of the spot on, drawing readers deeper into its unsettling world with each passing page.

In addition to a stellar plot, Invasive features stunning artwork from Hervás that brings to love a nightmarish world. Jesus’ illustrations capture gruesome details of the surgical world while creating a dark and eerie atmosphere of fear and unease that permeates every panel. The muted shadows and colors add to the overall sense of dread, making Invasive visually attractive in such a creepy way. Something that will haunt readers well after turning the final page.

Invasive is a great blend of horror, suspense, tension and mystery. A truly unsettling story by Cullen Bunn, Jesus Hervás and Federico Sabbatini and it is no wonder the series was a 2023 National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award Comics Finalist. This tale pushes boundaries and challenges conventions is horrifying in all the right ways.

The collected edition of Invasive hits bookstores everywhere on October 22, 2024 and local comic shops on October 23 from Oni Press.