Issue(s): Avengers #13, Avengers #14
Published Date: Feb-Mar 65
Title: "Trapped in... the castle of Count Nefaria!" / "Even Avengers can die!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Paul Laiken & Larry Lieber - Script on issue #14
Don Heck - Penciler
Jack Kirby - Layouts on issue #14
Dick Ayers / Chic Stone - Inker

Review/plot: I always saw the Avengers as being above fighting street-level crime (as opposed to world conquering super villains and other global menaces), but because of the Avengers, the Mafia Maggia is losing serious money, so i guess they had been dealing with regular crime as well, in between issues. A major Maggia player but not necessarily the leader (based on his comment at the end of the issue that he doesn't want to be sent back to Europe because the Maggia punishes failure) named Count Nefaria decides to step in and handle things personally.

In probably the most elaborately expensive plan to fight super-heroes ever, the Count has his entire castle moved to the United States brick-by-brick. He then invites the Avengers to his castle for a phony charity fundraiser.

While they are in the castle they are lulled into unconsciousness and Nefaria is able to create electronic duplicates of them..

...which he uses to destroy the Avengers' reputation.

Meanwhile, the Teen Brigade, who the Avengers told to wait outside the castle until the fundraiser started (seemingly days ago), finally get tired of waiting so they sneak into the castle but get caught and imprisoned.

The Avengers are let out of the castle but find themselves being attacked by the US army.

The Fantastic Four also figure that they'll have to go after the Avengers, but they are told by the government to stay out of it.

The Avengers are on the run, and have to hide in one of their many secret headquarters. Henry Pym does some elaborate Ant-Man stuff to find out why everyone's after the Avengers, and he heads back to the club house to proudly tell everyone the news, but they're all like "Yeah, we, uh, heard it on the radio.".

Eventually of course the Avengers defeat Nefaria (who does not seem to have any powers) and rescue the Teen Brigade. But in the final battle, the Wasp is hit by a stray bullet and her lung is punctured.

Judging by the credits, issue #14 was a rough job, although interestingly it is the first comic i have where Stan Lee is credited with 'editing'. Kirby is doing layouts, and at least he adds interesting action poses.

There is only one doctor in the world that can save the Wasp, and he's moved in with an alien army that is hiding from another alien army.

The Avengers convince the doctor to come help the Wasp, and they kick the aliens off the planet. Here's Thor shouting the Avenger's official catch-phrase (after several failed attempts).

The Watcher shows up at the end to comment on these events, in his first appearance outside of the Fantastic Four and the Tales Of Suspense back-ups.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 8 - first Maggia, first Count Nefaria

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Marvel Triple Action #7, Marvel Triple Action #8

At first I thought, "Oh dag, Don Heck is tripping balls. Why does he think that a made Sicilian mafioso wears a monocle, a frilly shirt, and spotless gloves? Why does he have this gangster guy playing some weird death-trap machine that looks like the sort of piano that Max Rebo would use?"

(This view is not helped by the Count's subsequent appearances as the Dream Master in "Tales of Suspense" like 6 months later.)

It is a really silly thing for a connected mob guy to get up into.

But then I think, "Hey, the Silver Age Kingpin was equally ridiculous. And then there is Hammerhead and Silvermane, who are not exactly bringing dignity to the Five Families. Count Nefaria, come back, I didn't mean to dis you! You can jam with Sy Snootles all you want!"

By the way, the "Avengers 14" story seems to be a pretty important turning point in the Giant-Man/Wasp relationship. Prior to this, all they ever do is fuss nastily at each other: they are seriously screwed up. But this issue seems to be cathartic. For at least a year or two afterward, they have typical Silver Age marital-type discussions, but it's clear that they really do care about each other.

One thing you have to remember about Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne is the disparity in their ages. Pym is probably in his mid thirties and a widower (although the true status of his wife Maria is disputed). Van Dyne, while not a minor, is still dependent on a trust fund, probably putting her in her late teens or 20 or 21 at most. I think initially Pym is not interested in a romantic relationship at all, but his hormones realizes this is a hot teenager who is in love with him. It's taking him a while to work through his feelings in deciding that his intention are actually pure and it's OK to love Janet back. Despite her sometimes bubble headed thoughts, Janet is very mature for being so young, probably a consequence of her own father being a widow and needing to do things that her mother would normally do.

Blake performs magic surgery on Dr. Strange in JiM #108, but he doesn't think he's "skilled enough" to save the Wasp from a bullet wound? au contraire, i say!

i like the bit in the comic where Nefaria's put the Teen Brigade in this death trap where they'll be paralyzed if they touch the walls. he moves the walls to the point where they almost touch the TB and then says "see? i didn't hurt you. i don't do that kind of thing. if you touch the walls and end up paralyzed, it'll be all on you." it seems like the sort of thing that seems awfully witty when you're 9 ("I didn't hit you. you walked into my fist."). 9 or Flash Thompson...