Jo-El Azara

Joseph Franz Hedwig Loeckx, known professionally as Jo-El Azara, was a Belgian comic book artist born on 4 May 1937. He died on 7 February 2023. Azara is best remembered for his clean, expressive ligne claire style and his work on the humorous adventure series *Clifton* and *Taka Takata*, both of which appeared in the pages of *Tintin* magazine. He began his career in the late 1960s, contributing to a range of European comic publications. Over a career spanning from 1969 to 2014, he was credited as artist, inker, and letterer on twenty issues, with his work appearing in titles such as *Tempo*, *Seriespesial*, *Kuifje*, and *Collectie Jong Europa*. Azara often collaborated with writers, bringing a lively, cartoonish energy to his panels. His legacy lies in his contributions to classic Franco-Belgian comics, particularly his clean storytelling and character design. While not a household name outside of European comic circles, his work remains appreciated by collectors and readers of vintage *Tintin* serials.