Count Nefaria

COUNT NEFARIA [Count Luchino Nefaria]

First Appearance: Avengers V1 #13 (Feb 1965)

First Avengers Appearance: Avengers V1 #13 (Feb 1965)

Other Appearances of note: Avengers V1 #164-166, (1977), 

Avengers V3 #32-34 (2000) /Thunderbolts V1 #43-44 (2000)

Count Luchino Nefaria is a descendant of a noble Italian family and inherited great wealth and power. His lust for riches led him to become a powerful figure in the international crime syndicate known as the Maggia. Frustrated by The Avengers’ interventions into the family business, Nefaria launched a plan to trap and destroy the Avengers.

Nefaria, became a frequent enemy of the Avengers and also fought both Iron Man and the X-Men on a number of occasions. Nefaria recruited Professor Sturdy, a former associate of Baron Hienrich Zemo, to assist him in using the technology that Zemo, and later the Enchantress, used to create Wonderman and Powerman respectively.

Nefaria gained impressive superhuman powers based on the Living Lazer, Powerman I, and Whirlwind. These eventually mutated Nefaria into a being of Ionic energy capable of holding his own against the combined might of The Avengers, The Thunderbolts, and his daughter Madame Masque.