There is a repeat of a 2010 documentary on The Eagle and Dan Dare on BBC Radio 4 Extra today. It is repeated several times and available on the radio iPlayer.
It's funny how the Eagle was created as a retaliation against the US horror comics flooding Britain at that time whereas 2000ad and Action were an antithesis against the blandness of US mainstream comics of the day.
According to a clever friend of mine, before Dan Dare became 'pilot of the future' he was originally conceived as 'Chaplain-'!? Don't know if it's true, will have to listen to find out...
That rings a bell, and a quick look on google images..
(http://i.imgur.com/RZBkyMu.jpg?1)
All is explained in the documentary gentlemen.