French cartoonist Jacques Martin, creator of the popular comic book hero Alix and a collaborator on the Tintin books, died aged 88 on Thursday, publisher Casterman announced.

Martin, who studied in Belgium, collaborated with Tintin creator Herge for 19 years on numerous cartoon books featuring the famous boy reporter and his faithful dog Snowy.

Enjoying success in his own right after his creation, Alix sprang from the pages of the Tintin magazines to become its own brand, Strasbourg-born Martin plundered Imperial Rome, Egypt and the Napoleonic era for the backdrops to his stories.

Due to failing eyesight, Martin had long left the drawing to others.

He died on Thursday in Switzerland.

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