Racket Squad in Action (1952) comic books 1938-1955

Add to cart GD/VG 3.0 $27.00 View scans Water damage.

Cover by Frank Frollo. Stories and art by Walter Gibson, Dick Giordano, and Frank Frollo. Pre-Code crime comics from Charlton, focusing on swindlers and con games. An ordinary man falls for the Spanish Prisoner swindle, an ancient confidence trick better known these days as the "Nigerian prince scam." Waiter Jerry works in a casino where he has perfected the art of "cold-decking," or switching card decks, but in the end, the Joker's on him. Dr. William Neff, a real-life debunker dubbed the "Ghost-Breaker," reveals a spiritualism scam through trick photography. Plus advice to the reader on avoiding con artists. Some scripts in this issue may be by Walter Gibson, legendary writer of The Shadow's pulp adventures. The Spanish Prison Racket; Cold Deck; The Big Time Build-Up; Charge It; Dr. Neff, the Original Ghost-Breaker: The Spirit Photo Racket; The Horse That Couldnt Lose; Rackets. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart CGC 6.0 $833.00 View scans Paper: Off white Label #3922108005 Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

Add to cart GD+ 2.5 $299.95 or Best Offer View scans Lateral spine tears. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by humble cow

Cover art by Frank Frollo. Spirit Post Office starring Dr. Neff, the Original Ghost-Breaker, art by Frank Frollo. The Hotel Gypsy, art by Frank Frollo. 50 Miles on a Dime, art by John Belfi. Racket Lingo text story. Just off the Boat, art by Dick Giordano. The Old Master Swindle, art by Dick Giordano. Shake Well Before Choosing, art by Sal Trapani. Accidents Will Happen, art by Frank Frollo. A Quick Buck, art by Dick Giordano. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD- 1.8 $18.00 View scan 1" spine split. Water damage. 2 1/2" tear from top of front cover.

Cover art by Frank Frollo. The Kidnap Racket, art by Frank Frollo. Check and Double Check, art by Bob Forgione. When Odds Are Even It's Time to Be Wary, pencils by Dick Giordano, inks by Alfred Fago. Watch Out for the "Soft Job" Racket. Russian Roulette text story, art by Frank Frollo. You Can't Lose, art by Frank Frollo. Check Your Bag, pencils by Dick Giordano, inks by Alfred Fago. It's Time to Watch Out starring Dr. Neff, the Original Ghost-Breaker, art by Frank Frollo. Bet the Pot, art by Dick Giordano. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR 1.0 $10.75 Cover and centerfold detached. Water damage and mold. Staple rust and migration.

Cover art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. Easy Money Racket, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Tony Tallarico. Calm Cool and Collected, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. The Rug CleanUp, pencils by Dick Giordano, inks by Sal Trapani. Smooth as Silk, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Tony Tallarico. The Yogi from Chinchon text story, art by Frank Frollo. Opening Night, art by Stan Campbell. The Shiner, art by John Belfi. Swindle on the Midway, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG+ 4.5 $37.00 View scans

Cover art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. The Driver's Seat, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. The Death Notice Racket, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by John Belfi. Cut the Ace, art by John Belfi. The Other 10 Percent text story. Hush Money, pencils by Stan Campbell, inks by John Belfi. The Misery Chiselers, pencils by Stan Campbell, inks by Tony Tallarico. The Turn of the Wheel, art by Tony Tallarico. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD 2.0 $16.50 View scan Water damage. 1" spine split from bottom. Cover loose at one staple.

Cover art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. Two Fisted Fix, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. Ten for Five, pencils by Dick Giordano, inks by Sal Trapani. Reverse Twist, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. Penny-Ante Saledman, art by Sal Trapani. The Catsup Racket text story. Letter Perfect, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. Sharp Salesman, pencils by John Belfi, inks by Sal Trapani. The Fake Bond Swindle, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. Watch Out for... the Hold-Out, art by Jack Alderman. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG- 3.5 $90.00 View scans Water damage. Chew.

Add to cart GD/VG 3.0 $50.00 View scan Moisture damage.

Cover art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. Stamp of Guilt, art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. A Handful of Aces, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by John Belfi. The Able Arsonist, art by Frank Frollo. When Two Thieves Meet, art by Frank Frollo and Vince Alascia. Door to Door Swindle, pencils by Stan Campbell, inks by John Belfi. The Stradivarius Swindle, pencils by Frank Frollo, inks by Vince Alascia. 36 pgs. $0.10. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart FR 1.0 $650.00 or Best Offer View scans Cover detached. Hole punches. Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout. Graded by MCS, not consignor. Other items consigned by Mike'sRack

In all probability the most violent cover Steve Ditko ever did.

Cover by Steve Ditko. Stories and art by Bill Molno (credited as Joe Shuster), Carl Memling, Ray Osrin, and Chic Stone. Pre-Code crime comics from Charlton, focusing on swindlers and con games. In a particularly violent story, Wally and Doris have a swindle-and-robbery racket going, with Wally earning a reputation as a literal "lady killer." That is, until they cross the wrong woman - an undercover policewoman - in a story with some early action-girl art. Crooks pretend to be Soviet authorities to swindle Russian immigrants in America, in one of several stories this issue with art most likely by Bill Molno, ghosting for an ailing Joe Shuster. A couple is conned by phony stock-market advisors. Plus advice to the reader on avoiding con artists. Robbery by Appointment; The Ransom Swindle; Refund Artist; The Keys to Death; The Stock Market Swindlers; Fast Count; Protection Game; Fly-By-Night. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart VG- 3.5 $27.00 View scan Water spotting and foxing.

Cover by Joe Shuster and Ray Osrin. Stories and art by Joe Shuster, Bill Molno (also credited as Joe Shuster), Dick Giordano, Vince Alascia, Carl Memling, Ray Osrin, John Belfi and Chic Stone. Pre-Code crime comics from Charlton, focusing on swindlers and con games. Smooth customer Stockton Parkes runs a phony modeling agency, in a story with plentiful good-girl art. This is one of several stories this issue with art most likely by Bill Molno, ghosting for an ailing Joe Shuster (although other stories do appear to be Shuster's work). In another story, with grisly art by Superman co-creator Shuster, a strong-arm man threatens to pour acid on models' faces, but it's all an act using elaborate make-up. Business investors are conned by a fraudulent claim on uranium-rich land. Plus advice to the reader on avoiding con artists. Malignant Model Agency; Your Money or Your Face; Hot Ice; Tickets to Tragedy; The Case of the Crummy Corporation; A Case for the Police; The Basketball Scandals; Free Pick-Up. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart Fair $7.60

Cover by Dick Giordano. Stories and art by Carl Memling and Dick Giordano. Pre-Code crime comics from Charlton, focusing on swindlers and con games. Bunk Crawford and his cronies masquerade as frozen-food delivery men to swindle thousands of dollars in food from grocers and food customers. Gangsters murder a marijuana dealer and take over his "route" and his customers. The series starts to resemble more traditional pre-Code crime comics, with stories like the one about a gang planting rigged slot machines around town. Plus advice to the reader on avoiding con artists. The Big Freeze; Shakedown; The Captain Kidd Racket; Slot Machine Rackets; The Double-Talk Artists. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart GD 2.0 $8.80 Water damage. Chew.

Cover by Dick Giordano and Vince Alascia. Stories and art by Bill Molno, Sal Trapani, John Belfi and Chic Stone. Racket Squad's focus on swindlers and con games allowed it to survive the Comics Code longer than most Pre-Code crime comics. Ex-con Lester decides to "go straight" by switching to white-collar crime, specifically, insider trading. An "auto health plan" turns out to be just another swindle. Even the lanes are not safe, as crooked gamblers target bowling alleys. The Awful Waste; This Time Youll Play It Smart; Dont Be a Sucker; The Automobile Health Plan Racket; Hook Line and Sucker. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.

Add to cart Good $5.70

Add to cart GD 2.0 $5.70 View scan

Cover by Dick Giordano and Vince Alascia. Stories and art by Bill Molno, Vince Alascia, Sal Trapani, and Chic Stone. Racket Squad's focus on swindlers and con games allowed it to survive the Comics Code longer than most Pre-Code crime comics. A gangster tries to convince an up-and-coming boxer to take a dive. Officer O'Malley goes undercover to catch a strong-arm artist whose "social club" is just a method for getting kickbacks. Ex-con Syd tries to swindle a catering service by spoiling their food, but unfortunately, the party they're catering at that moment is for the police Racket Squad. The Dive; The Kickback Club; Memory Machine; The Spoiler; Mr. Numbers; The Softest Touch. 32 pages, Full Color. Cover price $0.10.