Featuring: Avengers
Release: December 10, 1964
Cover: February 1965
12 cents
Rather exceptional story by: Stan Lee
Somewhat distinctive art by: Don Heck
Fairly compelling inking by: Dick Ayers
Moderately clear lettering by: Artie Simek
20 pages
| Previous | #310 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #63, Story B | Reading order | Avengers #14 |
| Avengers #12 | Avengers | Avengers #14 |
The cover is pretty off for a Kirby composition. I’m pretty sure Count Nefaria is supposed to be manipulating the controls, but he looks passed out to me.
Solid opening splash page of the Avengers looking furtive near the wanted ad.
The story opens with Iron Man and Thor stopping a fur robbery. Honestly, that seems somewhat beneath them; I’d be more comfortable with such crimes being left to conventional authorities or more down-to-earth vigilantes.
Up to this point, there was no evidence the Avengers were proactively seeking out any types of crimes to stop. They responded to two global threats–the Lava Men and Kang. They occasionally seek out the Hulk to fight, but usually just wait for a villain to attack them. Villains in these stories tend to be much more proactive. But now we learn the Avengers have been actively fighting crime for a while now.
This story introduces the Maggia, an organized criminal organization, perhaps inspired by real-life Mafia.
I’ve lost count of the number of American castles we’ve seen, many with a design that predates European settlement of America. I’m glad to see them finally explain how one got here from Europe. Europe is actually full of such castles.
Count Nefaria spends several weeks moving his castle to America, stone by stone. He sets up in the New Jersey Palisades overlooking the Hudson. Dr. Pym’s house is in the area.
Count Nefaria invites the Avengers to a charity benefit at his castle. We’ve seen lots of superheroes invited to lots of events to benefit charity. What’s the one thing they have in common?
Admiral?
It’s a trap!
Captain America tells Rick he has to wait outside and go in with the general public. Because he’s not special.
Nefaria traps all Avengers in time transcender beams, then creates duplicates of each. He sends fake Avengers electro-images to the Pentagon, where they declare war on the world. He then releases the Avengers to do battle with the US military.
They go to pains to explain how Nefaria likes to keep his hands clean, never himself killing, just manipulating events so his foes die.
The “Avengers” had their confrontation at the Pentagon. The government holds a news conference. Extra editions are printed. The Pentagon declares war. Wanted posters appear throughout the nation. This all happens really fast because the Teen Brigade are still waiting outside Nefaria’s mansion, hoping to be let in.
Nefaria fears his punishment for failing the Maggia. I had earlier gotten the impression that he was in charge of the Maggia, but I guess not.
The issue has a dramatic ending. We learn a stray bullet had hit the Wasp, and she was seriously injured. We’ll skip ahead to the next issue of the Avengers to learn the fate of the Wasp.
That ending is interesting, but overall these Lee/Heck Avengers really just don’t work for me. I love the Avengers. I love large swaths of Avengers history. But this period seems like a lull. I’ll become more enthusiastic about the title when we meet John Buscema.
Captain America was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
Rating: 42/100, ★★½
Significance: ★★★★☆
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers vol. 2. You can find it in Avengers Epic Collection vol.1: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Giant-Man
- Captain America
- Thor
- Iron Man
- Wasp
- Count Nefaria
- Rick Jones
- Mr. Fantastic
- Invisible Girl
- Thing
- Human Torch
Minor characters:
- Ted (Teen Brigade Member)
Story notes:
- Full title: Trapped in… “The Castle of Count Nefaria!”
- Giant-Man still in old costume.
- Introduction of the Maggia.
- Count Nefaria most powerful crime lord on Earth, and possibly head of Maggia. Believed to be Europe’s wealthiest nobleman by world.
- Nefaria communicates with Maggia with the electro-ray signal. The electro-disc allows the image of a member to be projected to the Count’s castle. The punishment for failure is banishment from the Maggia.
- Martial law declared.
- All superhero groups under quarantine due to public mood.
- Wasp hit by stray bullet.
- Nefaria deported.
| Previous | #310 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Tales of Suspense #63, Story B | Reading order | Avengers #14 |
| Avengers #12 | Avengers | Avengers #14 |
