Count Nefaria

Count Nefaria
Count Nefaria battles the Avengers on the cover of Avengers #166 (Jan. 1978). Art by George Pérez and Ernie Chan.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Avengers #13 (Feb. 1965)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Don Heck (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Luchino Nefaria
Team affiliations	Maggia Legion of the Unliving Death Squad Lethal Legion Ani-Men
Notable aliases	The Dream Master
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, durability, healing and longevity Optic blasts Flight

Count Nefaria is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the father of Madame Masque.

The character first appears in The Avengers #13 (February, 1965) and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.

Luchino Nefaria is a wealthy Italian and traditionalist that also desires greater wealth and power, driving him to join the Maggia criminal organization. The recently formed Avengers superhero team, however, thwart many of his plans and force a direct conflict, so Nefaria lures the Avengers to his castle on the pretence of a charity event, and places the group in suspended animation, using images which threaten to take control of America. After he releases them, the Avengers become suspicious of him after hearing they are wanted and they cannot remember what happened at the castle. They go to the castle, however nearly all of them are paralyzed by Nefaria's gas. Meanwhile, the Teen Brigade were captured by Nefaria, and when they tried to contact the Avengers were thrown in a dungeon which would place them into suspended animation if they touched the walls. Captain America gets into the castle without touching the ground, other Avengers, or walls, and freed the Teen Brigade, who gave the antidote to the Avengers. Captain America was also paralyzed, and with his hands and feet attached to ropes he was suspended between floor and ceiling, where Nefaria mocked him, saying he would be a hero for capturing him. However, Iron Man then burst through the wall. Neferia was defeated and deported after an officer heard him confess to being in the Maggia. In retaliation, Nefaria then unsuccessfully attempts to destroy Iron Man, and then suffers yet another defeat when stopped by the mutant X-Men team. Nefaria reappears several years later and attempts to take control of the United States base NORAD, but is stopped by the X-Men once again. Nefaria attempts to escape in a plane which is attacked by the X-Man Thunderbird. The plane then explodes, killing Thunderbird and injuring Nefaria.