after two years in mexico city, abel moved to brooklyn, new york. abel created the five-issue, 250-page series "la perdida." published by fantagraphics books between 2000 and 2005 as a five-part mini-series. abel revised the text for its compilation and publication in 2006 as a hardcover volume by pantheon books. the book has received a positive critical response. the central character is a mexican-american woman, carla, raised by her anglo mother, who moves on a whim to mexico city to search for her identity.