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Racket Squad in Action (1952) comic books 1953-1955

  • Issue #5
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 5
    • Paper: Off white
    • Label #3922108005
    • Consignment. 3% buyer's premium charged at checkout.

    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.

  • Issue #7
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 7
    • 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.

  • Issue #8
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 8

    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.

  • Issue #9
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 9
    • 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.

  • Issue #10
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 10
    • Water damage. Chew.

    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.

  • Issue #12
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 12

    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.

  • Issue #14
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 14

    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.

  • Issue #19
    Racket Squad in Action (1952) 19

    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.