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Joe Edwards, an artist who worked on the 1942 debut issue of Archie comics and later created the character Li'l Jinx, has died. He was 85.

Edwards died on February 8 at his home after years of treatment for heart problems, said his son, Todd Edwards.

A Manhattan native, Edwards served in the US Army during World War II, illustrating training manuals.

Edwards then turned to comics, joining the former MLJ Comics, the precursor to Archie Comics.

Along with drawing the popular red-headed teenager, Archie Andrews, and his pals Jughead, Betty and Veronica, Edwards created Li'l Jinx, a precocious girl who had her own comic book for a time and still appears as a character in others, said Victor Gorelick, vice president and managing editor of Archie Comics.

Todd Edwards said his father always carried a sketch pad, and despite failing health in later years he would delight doctors and nurses with sketches drawn personally for them. "He loved it when he could make people smile," his son said.

Edwards is also survived by his wife, Eda Selnick, another son, Ken, a daughter, Naomi, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.