Take the EAGLE jigsaw challenge!

By John Freeman on December 27, 2025 • ( 0 )

Everyone likes a jigsaw, right? Especially in the “downtime” between Christmas and New Year. So how about an EAGLE comic inspired challenge?

Waddington’s EAGLE Jigsaw (artist uncredited)

Produced in the 1950s under licence by Waddington’s, this circular EAGLE jigsaw, measuring 20″ in diameter, features a selection of scenes and characters from the weekly adventure comic: Dan Dare and friends; Storm Nelson, the cast of “Riders of the Range”, and Harris Tweed, extra special agent. The artist, unfortunately, is uncredited.

Waddington’s produced a number of popular circular jigsaws in the 1950s featuring themes like farming, transport, sports, and pop culture, typically in between 500 – 600 pieces and often with detailed, colourful scenes by artists like Frank H. Simpson, aka Frank Simpson.

As with much EAGLE and Dan Dare merchandise of the period, these jigsaws aren’t hard to find on eBay (search for “Eagle circular jigsaw”) or other auction sites. The price of these varies depending on box condition and whether they are complete.

Waddington’s also published a Dan Dare jigsaw, too, a copy currently offered here on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) – or search for “Dan Dare Circular Jigsaw” on eBay.

Waddington's 1950's Dan Dare The Circular Jigsaw Puzzle

Head downthetubes for…

• Richard Sheaf has been documenting EAGLE and Dan Dare tie in merchandise on his marvellous Boys Adventure Comics Blog

• The Jigasaurus – An index of Jigsaws

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.