Jessica Abel

Jessica Abel was born in 1969. The American cartoonist is best known for her graphic novel *La Perdida*, the long-running anthology *Artbabe*, and the instructional work *Drawing Words and Writing Pictures*. She also collaborated with radio producer Ira Glass on *Radio: An Illustrated Guide*. Her path into comics began with self-publishing *Artbabe* in the early 1990s, which quickly established her as a distinctive voice in alternative comics. Abel’s style combines clean, expressive linework with a keen ear for dialogue and a focus on character-driven narratives, often exploring themes of cultural dislocation and creative process. She chaired the illustration department at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for several years and also works as a coach for creative professionals. Among her notable co-creations is *Trish Trash: Rollergirl of Mars*, a young-adult graphic novel series. Her later career has balanced teaching, writing about the craft of comics, and producing her own work. She has been recognized with a Harvey Award and a Lulu Award, cementing her legacy as both a practitioner and an influential educator in the medium.