Editing Count Nefaria (section)

==Fictional character biography==
Luchino Nefaria is a wealthy Italian [[Aristocracy|aristocrat]] and traditionalist that also desires greater wealth and power, driving him to join the [[Maggia (comics)|Maggia]] criminal organization.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=106}}</ref> The recently formed [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] superhero team, however, thwart many of his plans and force a direct conflict, so Nefaria lures the Avengers to his castle on the pretense 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.<ref>''The Avengers'' #13 (February 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> In retaliation, Nefaria then unsuccessfully attempts to destroy [[Iron Man]],<ref>''Tales of Suspense'' #67 (July 1965). Marvel Comics.</ref> and then suffers yet another defeat when stopped by the [[mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] [[X-Men]] team.<ref>''X-Men'' #22-23 (July–August 1966). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Nefaria reappears several years later and attempts to take control of the United States base [[North American Aerospace Defense Command|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 (John Proudstar)|Thunderbird]]. The plane then explodes, killing Thunderbird and injuring Nefaria.<ref>''X-Men'' #94-95 (August–October 1975). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Now virtually destitute and discredited, Nefaria hires the supervillains [[Living Laser]], [[Erik Josten|Power Man]] and [[Whirlwind (comics)|Whirlwind]] to form the second [[Lethal Legion]]. The group rob several banks, and unwittingly finance an experiment Nefaria has created in a bid to become superhuman. Employing the former scientific adviser to [[Heinrich Zemo]], Nefaria devises a means of temporarily amplifying the abilities of the Lethal Legion, and then sends them into combat against the Avengers. The effect, however, is temporary and once defeated their combined abilities are drained by Nefaria who possesses them magnified a hundredfold. After a long and protracted battle, Nefaria is finally defeated.<ref>''The Avengers'' #164-166 (October 1977-December 1977). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Nefaria is then kept in isolation and under observation by the Avengers, and it is discovered that the process to empower him makes Nefaria immortal but vulnerable as his body reconfigures itself. Whitney Frost, also known as [[Madame Masque]] and the daughter of Nefaria, attempts to find a cure for what is believed to be his deteriorating condition. She hires the [[Ani-Men]] to attack [[Avengers Mansion]] and free her father. While battling Iron Man, Nefaria's life-support system is severed and his weakened form is crushed by a stored Jupiter Landing Vehicle.<ref>''The Invincible Iron Man'' #115-116 (October–November 1978)</ref>  Nefaria briefly reappears some time later as a corpse reanimated by the [[Grim Reaper (comics)|Grim Reaper]]. Grim Reaper directs Nefaria to attack the Avengers, but loses control soon afterwards and Nefaria dies once again.<ref>''The Avengers'' #353-354 (Early-Late September 1992). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Nefaria eventually reappears, but in an [[ion]]ic humanoid form, and constantly requires ionic energy to sustain his existence. He battles Iron Man<ref>''The Invincible Iron Man'' Annual 99. Marvel Comics.</ref> and later Captain America and [[Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder)|Ka-Zar]] in the [[Savage Land]] as he attempts to find sources of energy.<ref>''Captain America'' (vol. 3) #29-31 (June 2000). Marvel Comics.</ref> Nefaria then plans to detonate an ionic bomb, which will transform millions of people into an ionic state which he can then control, perceiving it as the best way to guarantee that he receives the respect that he feels he deserves. Nefaria gains control of the ionic heroes [[Wonder Man]] and [[Erik Josten|Atlas]] who he intends to use to kill the Avengers, but he is stopped by the combined efforts of the Avengers, fellow superhero team the [[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]] and Madame Masque, Masque using a weapon she had developed to disrupt Nefaria's own ionic energy.<ref>''The Avengers'' (vol. 3) #32-34 (September–November 2000) and ''Thunderbolts'' #42-43 (September–October 2000). Marvel Comics.</ref> He is next seen as an inmate of The Raft, a prison for supervillains, and escapes when [[Electro (Marvel Comics)|Electro]] stages a mass breakout.<ref>''The New Avengers'' #1-2 (January–February 2005). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Following the "[[Siege (comics)|Siege]]" storyline, Madame Masque sought out her father to help the [[Hood (comics)|Hood]] after [[Loki (Marvel Comics)|Loki]] took back the [[Norn Stones]]. The New Avengers capture John King (Hood's cousin) and use him to track the Hood and Madame Masque. After a battle with Count Nefaria, they capture the villains and bring all four of them to Maria Hill to place them under arrest.<ref>''The New Avengers Finale'' one-shot. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Nefaria returns in ''[[Moon Knight]]'', having established himself as the new Kingpin of [[Los Angeles]].<ref>''Moon Knight'' (vol. 4) #7. Marvel Comics.</ref> He kills [[Echo (Marvel Comics)|Echo]] in battle,<ref>''Moon Knight'' (vol. 4) #9. Marvel Comics.</ref> and is later apprehended by the Avengers.<ref>''Moon Knight'' (vol. 4) #12. Marvel Comics.</ref> Also in L.A., [[Daken]] attempts to kill him but fails.<ref>''Daken: Dark Wolverine'' #21. Marvel Comics.</ref> Later back in New York, he is summoned by [[Nightmare (Marvel Comics)|Nightmare]] to destroy [[Squirrel Girl]] in dreams, but is bested at finger-counting, and leaves.<ref>''The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl'' #11. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Secret Empire (2017 comic)|Secret Empire]]" storyline, Count Nefaria appears as a member of the Army of Evil and took part in the attack on Manhattan in retaliation for what happened at Pleasant Hill during "[[Avengers: Standoff!]]".<ref>''Secret Empire'' #0. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Spider-Geddon]]" storyline, Count Nefaria is engaging [[Doctor Octopus#Becoming the Superior Octopus|Superior Octopus]], who counters his ionic abilities by having his tentacles charged with energy that disrupts ionic fields. Count Nefaria breaks free from the tentacles as Superior Octopus plans to spy on him and threaten his family.<ref>''Spider-Geddon'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the "[[Sins Rising]]" arc, Nefaria forms a new incarnation of the Lethal Legion with [[Grey Gargoyle]], Living Laser, and Whirlwind in a plot to target the Catalyst.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #41. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #46. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #47. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 5) #56. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "[[Gang War (comics)|Gang War]]" storyline, Count Nefaria arrives at the location where [[Hammerhead (comics)|Hammerhead]] and his men are having a meeting. Having found out what happened to Madame Masque, Count Nefaria states to Hammerhead that he'll take the blame for what happened. He also tells Hammerhead that the crime lords will bow to the Maggia once again.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #37. Marvel Comics.</ref> At the Seat of Power, Count Nefaria meets with [[Silvermane]] where they talk about the upcoming gang war. In a surprising turn of events, a mysterious person takes control of Silvermane and attacks Count Nefaria.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #38. Marvel Comics.</ref> When Hammerhead's men arrive and confront Madame Masque, they find a defeated Count Nefaria and Silvermane's head in [[Shotgun (comics)|Shotgun]]'s arms as he throws them to the ground.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #40. Marvel Comics.</ref> After getting a status report of the gang wars from Shotgun, Madame Masque tells her father that she has a use for him.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #41. Marvel Comics.</ref> In the face-off in Central Park between the Maggia and Beetle, the [[Sinister Syndicate]], [[Digger (Marvel Comics)|Digger]], and the gang members recruited by Beetle, Count Nefaria is seen under the same mind-control spell that Madame Masque placed on Shotgun and Silvermane.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #42. Marvel Comics.</ref> As the fight in Central Park begins, Count Nefaria and Silvermane are tackled by Digger. Spider-Man and his allies appear and stop Nefaria.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #43. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' (vol. 6) #44. Marvel Comics.</ref>