Avengers Vol. 1 No. 13
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jkcarrierAvengers Vol. 1 No. 13
February, 1965
"Trapped in... The Castle of Count Nefaria!"
Rather exceptional story by: Stan Lee
Somewhat distinctive art by: Don Heck
Fairly compelling inking by: Dick Ayers
Moderately clear lettering by: Artie Simek
On the cover, we see a sinister figure -- the titular Count Nefaria himself -- working an elaborate control panel like a concert pianist. Green waves of energy stream forth from the machine, holding the mighty Avengers at bay.
The splash page shows the Avengers -- Captain America, Giant-Man, Thor, The Wasp, and Iron Man -- under attack by unseen forces. On a telephone pole nearby, a poster declares that the Avengers are wanted for treason, dead or alive! A caption assures us that we are about to learn how this came about...
As the story opens, a group of thieves are making off with a truck full of stolen furs. But their crime is interrupted by the arrival of Iron Man and Thor, who quickly apprehend them. Word of the aborted robbery soon reaches the members of the international crime organization known as the Maggia, and they're not pleased. The interference of the Avengers has been cutting deeply into their profits.
Suddenly, a device on the wrist of one of the gangsters begins to glow; he is being summoned by their leader, Count Nefaria. Nervously, the mobster places his hands on the "Sensitized Electro-Disc" mounted on the wall, and his image is projected halfway across the world to Nefaria's castle. Nefaria chews out the gang leader for his repeated failures, and tells him to prepare for punishment. As his image disappears, Nefaria ponders that he has been banished from the Maggia, and will have "no place to go -- none to turn to!" (I have to wonder if the "punishment" wasn't originally intended to be a bit more fatal, and either the Comics Code objected, or Stan had second thoughts.) He then begins to formulate a plan for dealing with the Avengers. Since the public only knows him as a respectable European nobleman, no one will suspect his true intentions.
Days later, the papers carry the news that Nefaria is moving his castle stone by stone from Europe to the New Jersey Palisades. The castle will be open to the public, with the profits going to charity (Sounds like he's going to be competing with the Palisades Amusement Park that was always being advertised in DC Comics!). Moreover, the Count sends a letter to the Avengers, inviting them to the grand opening. The heroes take him up on the offer, and soon arrive at the castle. Even Thor is impressed by the Count's fancy digs (while the Wasp seems quite taken with the Count himself). The Avengers are lead to individual guest rooms, where they can "freshen up" before the opening ceremonies.
But Nefaria has other plans. The Avengers soon fall victim to the "Time Transcender Beams" hidden in the lights of each room. Time seems to stand still for them, as the Count carries out his evil scheme. Rather than harm the Avengers directly, he plans to let others do his dirty work for him. He uses his scientific equipment to creates 3-dimensional images of each of the heroes, which he then beams into the Pentagon. The phony Avengers declare that they are taking over the country, and anyone who opposes them will be destroyed! The response is immediate -- the Avengers are declared traitors, to be shot on sight, and the military makes plans to hunt them down.
Back at the castle, Rick Jones and his pals in the Teen Brigade are wondering why the Avengers haven't reappeared. They decide to snoop around, but as they approach Nefaria's control room, they are spotted and captured by Maggia guards. While the kids cool their heels in the dungeon, Nefaria releases the Avengers, who don't realize that they've been unconscious for hours. Nefaria spins a yarn about having to postpone the opening ceremonies, and sends the heroes on their way -- right into the path of the U.S. military! Though they don't understand why they're being attacked, the Avengers fight back. Thor and Iron Man take out the tanks and planes, while Cap and Giant-Man hold the troops at bay to cover their escape, being careful not to injure anyone. The Avengers retreat to their secondary emergency headquarters, and learn of the charges against them. They realize that someone must have impersonated them, and suspect that Nefaria is somehow involved.
Across town at the famous Baxter Building, Reed Richards declares that if the Avengers have gone rogue, the Fantastic Four will have to help apprehend them. The Thing actually relishes the chance to match his strength against Thor, but a government agent arrives and instructs them to stay put. With the public so riled up against the Avengers, it's feared that any "super-powered celebrity" who shows their face will be attacked. So the government is warning them all to keep a low profile while they handle matters.
In Nefaria's dungeon, Rick tries to contact Iron Man with his miniature transmitter. Unfortunately, Iron Man's receiver was damaged in the fight with the army, and he doesn't get their message. But Nefaria detects the radio beam, and decides to punish the Teen Brigade by moving them to a different dungeon. Their new prison has transparent walls studded with suction cups coated with a strange substance. Nefaria warns them that one touch of the substance will put them into "perpetual suspended animation", and then causes the walls to close in on them until they are almost touching. The Count boasts that once again he has not harmed them directly -- they'll be safe as long as they stand perfectly still.
The Avengers are closing in on the castle, but run afoul of the Count's booby-traps; Thor, Giant-Man, the Wasp, and Iron Man are all paralyzed by a powerful chemical as soon as they come in contact with the building. Captain America manages to jump through an open window without actually touching the walls, and enters safely. He is attacked by Maggia goons, but makes short work of them, and soon finds Rick and his friends in the dungeon. Once they're all free, they split up in order to avoid Nefaria's men. Looking outside, Cap sees a navy destroyer travelling up the Hudson River; using his shield to catch the sun's rays, he flashes a signal to them.
Nefaria spots Captain America on his monitor screen, and zaps him with a paralyzing ray. When Cap wakes up, he is in chains, and Nefaria brags that he will be a hero when he turns Cap over to the authorities. Just then, Iron Man comes crashing through the wall. While Cap was distracting the Count, the Teen Brigade was able to find and free the Avengers. The heroes make quick work of the Maggia thugs, and close in on the Count himself. Panicking, Nefaria admits that he is the one who send the electronic images of the Avengers to the Pentagon, and tries to pass it off as a mere "prank". A general steps out from hiding and says that he's heard enough to exonerate the Avengers (presumably he came in response to Cap's signal, although this isn't stated). Count Nefaria will be deported, and no doubt punished by his Maggia superiors. All's well that ends well -- until Giant-Man notices that the Wasp isn't around, and then sees her unconscious body cradled in Rick's arms. A grief-stricken Rick says that she was hit by a stray bullet during the fight, and the issue ends on this cliffhanger.
--
Another solid, action-packed issue. While Count Nefaria is essentially just another mad scientist (in the same vein as Zemo or Kang), making him a European nobleman and the head of a Mafia-type cartel is a somewhat different spin on things. In a few of his close-ups, the Count resembles horror star Vincent Price. Nefaria went on to fight both the original and "all-new" X-Men teams, before making a memorable return in AVENGERS 164-166.
Captain America always seems to be "last man standing" in these stories, and his teammates are starting to look a little dumb by comparison; even the Teen Brigade comes off better than Thor and Iron Man this issue!
Wasp Watch: Not much glory for Jan this time out. She's not a factor in any of the battles, and her only contribution to the plot is getting shot at the end.
The Mighty Marvel Checklist features Fantastic Four #36, Spider-Man #22, Daredevil #6, Thor #113, Strange Tales #130, Suspense #63, Astonish #65, and Sgt. Fury #15.
February, 1965
"Trapped in... The Castle of Count Nefaria!"
Rather exceptional story by: Stan Lee
Somewhat distinctive art by: Don Heck
Fairly compelling inking by: Dick Ayers
Moderately clear lettering by: Artie Simek
On the cover, we see a sinister figure -- the titular Count Nefaria himself -- working an elaborate control panel like a concert pianist. Green waves of energy stream forth from the machine, holding the mighty Avengers at bay.
The splash page shows the Avengers -- Captain America, Giant-Man, Thor, The Wasp, and Iron Man -- under attack by unseen forces. On a telephone pole nearby, a poster declares that the Avengers are wanted for treason, dead or alive! A caption assures us that we are about to learn how this came about...
As the story opens, a group of thieves are making off with a truck full of stolen furs. But their crime is interrupted by the arrival of Iron Man and Thor, who quickly apprehend them. Word of the aborted robbery soon reaches the members of the international crime organization known as the Maggia, and they're not pleased. The interference of the Avengers has been cutting deeply into their profits.
Suddenly, a device on the wrist of one of the gangsters begins to glow; he is being summoned by their leader, Count Nefaria. Nervously, the mobster places his hands on the "Sensitized Electro-Disc" mounted on the wall, and his image is projected halfway across the world to Nefaria's castle. Nefaria chews out the gang leader for his repeated failures, and tells him to prepare for punishment. As his image disappears, Nefaria ponders that he has been banished from the Maggia, and will have "no place to go -- none to turn to!" (I have to wonder if the "punishment" wasn't originally intended to be a bit more fatal, and either the Comics Code objected, or Stan had second thoughts.) He then begins to formulate a plan for dealing with the Avengers. Since the public only knows him as a respectable European nobleman, no one will suspect his true intentions.
Days later, the papers carry the news that Nefaria is moving his castle stone by stone from Europe to the New Jersey Palisades. The castle will be open to the public, with the profits going to charity (Sounds like he's going to be competing with the Palisades Amusement Park that was always being advertised in DC Comics!). Moreover, the Count sends a letter to the Avengers, inviting them to the grand opening. The heroes take him up on the offer, and soon arrive at the castle. Even Thor is impressed by the Count's fancy digs (while the Wasp seems quite taken with the Count himself). The Avengers are lead to individual guest rooms, where they can "freshen up" before the opening ceremonies.
But Nefaria has other plans. The Avengers soon fall victim to the "Time Transcender Beams" hidden in the lights of each room. Time seems to stand still for them, as the Count carries out his evil scheme. Rather than harm the Avengers directly, he plans to let others do his dirty work for him. He uses his scientific equipment to creates 3-dimensional images of each of the heroes, which he then beams into the Pentagon. The phony Avengers declare that they are taking over the country, and anyone who opposes them will be destroyed! The response is immediate -- the Avengers are declared traitors, to be shot on sight, and the military makes plans to hunt them down.
Back at the castle, Rick Jones and his pals in the Teen Brigade are wondering why the Avengers haven't reappeared. They decide to snoop around, but as they approach Nefaria's control room, they are spotted and captured by Maggia guards. While the kids cool their heels in the dungeon, Nefaria releases the Avengers, who don't realize that they've been unconscious for hours. Nefaria spins a yarn about having to postpone the opening ceremonies, and sends the heroes on their way -- right into the path of the U.S. military! Though they don't understand why they're being attacked, the Avengers fight back. Thor and Iron Man take out the tanks and planes, while Cap and Giant-Man hold the troops at bay to cover their escape, being careful not to injure anyone. The Avengers retreat to their secondary emergency headquarters, and learn of the charges against them. They realize that someone must have impersonated them, and suspect that Nefaria is somehow involved.
Across town at the famous Baxter Building, Reed Richards declares that if the Avengers have gone rogue, the Fantastic Four will have to help apprehend them. The Thing actually relishes the chance to match his strength against Thor, but a government agent arrives and instructs them to stay put. With the public so riled up against the Avengers, it's feared that any "super-powered celebrity" who shows their face will be attacked. So the government is warning them all to keep a low profile while they handle matters.
In Nefaria's dungeon, Rick tries to contact Iron Man with his miniature transmitter. Unfortunately, Iron Man's receiver was damaged in the fight with the army, and he doesn't get their message. But Nefaria detects the radio beam, and decides to punish the Teen Brigade by moving them to a different dungeon. Their new prison has transparent walls studded with suction cups coated with a strange substance. Nefaria warns them that one touch of the substance will put them into "perpetual suspended animation", and then causes the walls to close in on them until they are almost touching. The Count boasts that once again he has not harmed them directly -- they'll be safe as long as they stand perfectly still.
The Avengers are closing in on the castle, but run afoul of the Count's booby-traps; Thor, Giant-Man, the Wasp, and Iron Man are all paralyzed by a powerful chemical as soon as they come in contact with the building. Captain America manages to jump through an open window without actually touching the walls, and enters safely. He is attacked by Maggia goons, but makes short work of them, and soon finds Rick and his friends in the dungeon. Once they're all free, they split up in order to avoid Nefaria's men. Looking outside, Cap sees a navy destroyer travelling up the Hudson River; using his shield to catch the sun's rays, he flashes a signal to them.
Nefaria spots Captain America on his monitor screen, and zaps him with a paralyzing ray. When Cap wakes up, he is in chains, and Nefaria brags that he will be a hero when he turns Cap over to the authorities. Just then, Iron Man comes crashing through the wall. While Cap was distracting the Count, the Teen Brigade was able to find and free the Avengers. The heroes make quick work of the Maggia thugs, and close in on the Count himself. Panicking, Nefaria admits that he is the one who send the electronic images of the Avengers to the Pentagon, and tries to pass it off as a mere "prank". A general steps out from hiding and says that he's heard enough to exonerate the Avengers (presumably he came in response to Cap's signal, although this isn't stated). Count Nefaria will be deported, and no doubt punished by his Maggia superiors. All's well that ends well -- until Giant-Man notices that the Wasp isn't around, and then sees her unconscious body cradled in Rick's arms. A grief-stricken Rick says that she was hit by a stray bullet during the fight, and the issue ends on this cliffhanger.
--
Another solid, action-packed issue. While Count Nefaria is essentially just another mad scientist (in the same vein as Zemo or Kang), making him a European nobleman and the head of a Mafia-type cartel is a somewhat different spin on things. In a few of his close-ups, the Count resembles horror star Vincent Price. Nefaria went on to fight both the original and "all-new" X-Men teams, before making a memorable return in AVENGERS 164-166.
Captain America always seems to be "last man standing" in these stories, and his teammates are starting to look a little dumb by comparison; even the Teen Brigade comes off better than Thor and Iron Man this issue!
Wasp Watch: Not much glory for Jan this time out. She's not a factor in any of the battles, and her only contribution to the plot is getting shot at the end.
The Mighty Marvel Checklist features Fantastic Four #36, Spider-Man #22, Daredevil #6, Thor #113, Strange Tales #130, Suspense #63, Astonish #65, and Sgt. Fury #15.
