Comic Title: Action Comics #57
Publisher: DC (Detective Comics, Inc.)
Address: 480 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: February 1943
Approx. On Sale Date: December 16, 1942 Copyright Date December 12, 1942
Source: Library of Congress, Periodicals 1943
Until 1958 DC did not report actual on sale dates to the copyright office
The publication dates listed in LoC records are NOT release dates.

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.10
Page Count: 64
Editor: Jack Schiff

Title: "Crime's Comedy King"
Pages: 13

Feature(s):
Superman (of Earth-2)

Writer: Jerry Siegel
Artist: John Sikela

Reprinted In:
Superman-Tim (#5) (1942)
Wanted, the World's Most Dangerous Villains #9 (1973)
Superman:The Action Comics Archives Vol. 4 HC (2005)
Superman:The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 3 HC (2017)
DC's Wanted:The World's Most Dangerous Super-Villains HC (2020)
Superman:The Golden Age Vol. 5 TPB (2020)

Feature Character(s)

• Superman (last appearance in Action Comics #56; next appearance in Superman #21)

Supporting Character(s)

• Lois Lane (last appearance in Action Comics #56; next appearance in Superman #21)
• Perry White (last appearance in Action Comics #56; next appearance in Superman #21)
• Jimmy Olsen (last appearance in Action Comics #52; next appearance in Superman #24)

Villain(s)

• Prankster (last appearance in Superman #20; next appearance in Superman #22)
• King Ruggles and his men (Dutch and Red named; racketeers; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Mrs. Farnsby and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Ostriches (no further appearances)

Synopsis:
The Prankster returns, proposing a deal to racket boss King Ruggles. He takes money from Ruggles, then turns himself in to the police. Prankster then donates the money to charity, which wins him favor in the public. He is acquitted in court and befriends many celebrities. Then he robs those celebrities and turns the money over to Ruggles. He plans to double-cross his partner, but Superman has been keeping an eye out for trouble and is able to capture Ruggles and his men. However, the Prankster escapes.