Part of a “hidden image” fantasy puzzle series Hildebrandt did in 1982-1983: “see if you can find the boar, lizard, elf, snail, crocodile, axes, and fourteen other hidden images within this puzzle.”
Archive for the 'Jigsaw Puzzles' Category
‘Monster Meeting’ Jigsaw Puzzle by Greg Hildebrandt (APC, 1983)
Published April 7, 2016 Fantasy Art , Jigsaw Puzzles Leave a CommentEarl Norem’s Giant Alien Illustration—Restored!
Published February 25, 2016 Alien Trilogy , Earl Norem , HG Toys , Jigsaw Puzzles 7 Comments
As I’ve said before, Earl Norem’s work on HG’s Alien license, including the target from the Alien Blaster Giant Target Set and this, the 36″ tall jigsaw puzzle, is some of the finest in pop culture illustration. Artist Stephen Kick recently bought a copy of the puzzle, scanned every single piece into Photoshop, assembled the pieces, cleaned and restored them, and gave us a big, beautiful poster. The before and after images are above.
Go to Steve’s post to see more, including some GIFs of the entire process—it took him eight hours. And maybe drop him a line of thanks. The puzzle is not easy to come by, and, because of the size, it’s almost impossible to see quality images of the whole thing. Now, everyone gets to enjoy Norem’s work up close without spending a small fortune.
While you’re at it, check out Steve’s many other incredible designs, like this custom Boba Fett blaster, for instance.
Clash of the Titans Jigsaw Puzzles (Whitman, 1981)
Published January 19, 2016 Clash of the Titans , Jigsaw Puzzles 11 Comments
Here are three of the four puzzles produced by Whitman. You can see them all in the last shot. The same artist painted all of the covers, but I can’t make out the signature.
UPDATE (1/21/16): Thanks to Ian for identifying the artist as R.L. Allen. Allen did a series of Universal Monster jigsaw puzzles for Whitman in the late 1960s, as well as quite a bit of work for the Masters of the Universe franchise.
Alien Outline Jigsaw Puzzle (HG Toys, 1979)
Published January 11, 2016 Alien Trilogy , HG Toys , Jigsaw Puzzles Leave a Comment
Alien Jigsaw Puzzle (HG Toys, 1979)
Published April 29, 2015 Alien Trilogy , Earl Norem , HG Toys , Jigsaw Puzzles 9 Comments
One in a series of the bleakest jigsaw puzzles ever produced on planet Earth. Others in this format included the Space Jockey and the Nostromo in flight, but the real prize is the 250-piece, 36″ tall beauty featuring art by Earl Norem, who also illustrated the unforgettable Alien “target” from the Alien Blaster Giant Target Set (see it here on an episode of Toy Hunters).
The marketing of Alien was one of the strangest, most decadent moments in the history of toy licensing, and one of the greatest kid moments in the history of kid-dom. 20th Century Fox foolishly sold the license across the board expecting the film to come back with a PG rating, and ended up having to sell parents on one of the most violent movies ever made, and arguably the most terrifying.
I found a blurb in Starlog (below) detailing the scope (but not the extent) of the merchandising campaign. The only products I haven’t seen are the Don Post mask and the pajamas (!). One of the Roach t-shirt transfers is here, the Ben Cooper costume is here, and you can see the Kenner-produced “world’s ugliest doll” (a.k.a. the greatest action figure ever made) here.
`Great White Shark’ Jigsaw Puzzle (Circa 1975, HG Toys)
Published April 22, 2015 HG Toys , Jigsaw Puzzles 2 Comments
Hilariously unironic. I’m surprised there’s not a bloody seal in the beast’s mouth. Almost as fun as the 6-foot-long inflatable Jaws.
(Image via eBay)
Presto Magix Jigsaw Puzzle: The Amazing Spider-Man (Circa 1980)
Published April 13, 2015 Jigsaw Puzzles , Presto Magix/Dry Transfers , Spider-Man 1 Comment
Awesome in retrospect, but probably annoying in action. If I want to do a puzzle, I’ll do a puzzle. I don’t want my Presto Magix action scene constrained by unnecessary borders.
The back of the box is blank. There was a hulk set as well.
(Image via eBay)
Eerie Jigsaw Puzzle (Milton Bradley, 1977)
Published January 22, 2015 Comic Books , Jigsaw Puzzles , Ken Kelly , Sci-Fi/Space Art , Warren Publishing 2 Comments
There were six puzzles in the series, per the entry below from the 1979 Milton Bradley catalog*. I’ve got a close-up of another puzzle here.
The brilliant art on the one above is from Ken Kelly for Eerie #64. Kelly’s cover work is featured on four of the six puzzles.
*The blurb reads
This spine-chilling puzzle assortment has long been wanted by all our fans of the macabre and grotesque. From Warren Publications “Eerie” and “Creepy” comic series, we present in puzzle form, six cover illustrations that are considered to be classics by comic book collectors…
“Considered to be classics by comic collectors” is a backhanded compliment, isn’t it?
(Images via eBay)
Creepy Jigsaw Puzzle (Milton Bradley, 1977)
Published October 17, 2014 Jigsaw Puzzles , Magazines/Zines , Warren Publishing 3 Comments
According to a post at The Magic Robot, Milton Bradley released three puzzles featuring art from Creepy covers, and three featuring art from sister magazine Eerie. I’ve seen a couple on eBay and both had a copyright date of 1977. I’m not a collector, but I might make an exception for these. It’s a brilliant idea, and I find it telling that a major, family friendly corporation like Milton Bradley would license the lurid output of Warren Publishing.
You can read Creepy #28 at the Internet Archive. The cover artist is Vic Prezio, who contributed to Eerie and Famous Monsters of Filmland as well. He also worked extensively in the men’s action-adventure pulps of the 1960s. See more of his work at Flickr.
Many of the original Warren titles are online now. If you’re interested in reviewing issues, drop me a line. I think that would be a fun, worthwhile project.
Middle-Earth Mural Poster Puzzle (1968)
Published July 22, 2014 Counterculture (1960s) , Fantasy Art , Jigsaw Puzzles , Lord of the Rings, The 3 Comments
The art is from the first authorized paperback edition of The Lord of the Rings, released by Ballantine in 1965. Artist Barbara Remington famously had not read any of Tolkein’s books before completing the project; she had only heard accounts from friends. The end result befuddled and irritated Tolkien, but became hugely popular with his young fans—and most everyone attracted to mind-altering substances.
Remington’s bright canvas came in a poster version as well, seen below. The demarcations separating the individual covers are obvious.
(Poster puzzle images via eBay)
2 Warps to Neptune 