Joseph Franz Hedwig Loeckx (4 May 1937 – 7 February 2023) was a Belgian comic book artist. He worked under the pseudonym of Jo-El Azara. Important series he worked on include Clifton and Taka Takata. Biography Loeckx was born in Drogenbos, Flemish Brabant, near Brussels, Belgium, on 4 May 1937. Loeckx is sometimes referred to as Joseph-R. Loeckx in error. During his working life, first he used the penname of Jo-El, subsequently Ernest, and thereafter worked as Jo-El Azara, under which name he has drawn most of his comics. A long career of working with the great names in Belgian and French comics, including Hergé, Macherot, and Uderzo, he was active in publishing his own Taka-Takata albums under his Azéko label. Loeckx lived in the south of France, close to the Pyrenees. His lifelong partner, Josette Baujot, died on 13 August 2009. He died on 7 February 2023, at the age of 85. References External links Taka Takata official site Jo-El Azara biography on Lambiek Comiclopedia 1937 births 2023 deaths Belgian comics artists Belgian comics writers People from Drogenbos