La Perdida

Jessica Abel’s La Perdida (2001–2005, Fantagraphics) follows a young Mexican-American woman who, seeking a deeper connection to her heritage, relocates to Mexico City and becomes entangled with a group of expats and locals. Over five issues, Abel writes and draws a tense, character-driven story that explores identity, cultural dislocation, and the consequences of romanticizing a place. The series stands as a landmark in early-2000s independent comics for its nuanced, unglamorous portrait of Mexico and its sharp critique of the foreigner’s gaze.