Count Nefaria
Context
Count Nefaria is a classic Marvel Comics villain. He debuted in 1965 as a mob boss, but gradually evolved in a powerhouse villain with quasi-Kryptonian powers.
For some reason we wrote this guy up very early on, so this is a very old set of mostly technical notes rather than a modern profile with the works.
Background
- Real Name: Count Luchino Nefaria.
- Marital Status: Widower.
- Known Relatives: Whitney Frost a.k.a. Madame Masque (daughter).
- Group Affiliation: Maggia, Lethal Legion II, employer of the Ani-Men.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 6’2” Weight: 230lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Black (white at temples).
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Powers and Abilities
Count Nefaria was a brilliant criminal mastermind and organised crime leader. He has considerable scientific expertise and access to various exotic high-tech weapons. Using a process developed by Professor Sturdy, Nefaria later drained superhuman power from the Lethal Legion (Living Laser, Power Man and Whirlwind).
He then multiplied it a hundredfold, developing near-limitless superhuman strength, speed and invulnerability – not to mention laser vision.
Nefaria later further developed his powers, so he could defy gravity. He also seemed to possess some superhuman hearing and could tap into other ionic beings and imposing his will upon them.
History
Count Nefaria first encountered the Avengers just after the group had formed, before he himself had any powers. Because the Avengers had interfered with Maggia operations Count Nefaria moved to America, bringing his family’s castle with him to be re-assembled in New Jersey.
Once completed Nefaria opened his home to the public for an admission fee to be donated to charity. Count Nefaria invited the Avengers to the opening where he trapped with time-transcender beams.
While he had the Avengers in suspended animation Nefaria created hologram images of his captives. Nefaria’s holograms announced that they intended to take over the United States, and when the Avengers escaped they found themselves at odds with the U.S. military.
Nefaria was finally defeated, and the Avengers cleared of wrong-doing, but Nefaria had lost his preeminence as a Maggia leader.
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Master plans
Later Nefaria plagued Iron Man with a machine that could kill the Golden Avenger in his dreams. Nefaria was defeated once again. Nefaria also attempted two different blackmail schemes, but both were foiled. The first was countered by the original X-Men and the last by the new X-Men. However, the X-Man Thunderbird lost his life trying to stop Nefaria from escaping.
Finally, Nefaria set into motion his own demise. Nefaria reformed the Lethal Legion with the super criminals Power Man, the Living Laser, and Whirlwind. Nefaria had Professor Kenneth Sturdy, a former assistant to Baron Heinrich Zemo, increase the Lethal Legion’s powers before sending into battle with the Avengers.
Nefaria’s real motives though were gain super powers for himself. Nefaria had Sturdy analyze the genetic structure of the three super criminals. Sturdy then duplicated the powers in Nefaria but increased a hundred times.
There’s a catch
Nefaria repaid Sturdy by killing him, but before he died the professor told Nefaria that his new powers had accelerated his aging and that he would die within days. Nefaria flew into a rage and caused a great deal of damage in New York City before the Avengers stopped him.
Later Nefaria was supposedly killed when his daughter tried to force Tony Stark to reverse the Count’s aging. Madame Masque hijacked Stark’s Jupiter Landing Vehicle to use as a weapon against Iron Man. In the resulting battle Iron Man pushed the JLV into the count’s life support equipment, accidentally killing him.
Recently Nefaria reappeared, resurrected, and even more powerful than before. Taking the ionically powered Wonder Man and Goliath as his thralls, it took the combined might of the Mighty Avengers alongside the Thunderbolts to stop his mad schemes.
Description
See illos.
Personality
Early in his career, Nefaria was a suave, aristocratic villain. Just after gaining his powers he almost went mad with power, and went on a rampage. Now in fuller control of his faculties and ionic powers, Nefaria is a true master villain with delusions of godhood. His speech is quite loquacious.
Quotes
“Cease this rebellious tantrum, or I shall become STERN.”
DC Universe History
Instead of the trio of two-bit villains he received his powers from Superman of course. Nefaria had his cells modified similar to Superman’s, but processes ionic energy instead of solar.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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Count Nefaria
| Dex: 10 | Str: 25 | Bod: 20 | Motivation: Power Lust |
| Int: 08 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Crime lord |
| Inf: 08 | Aur: 06 | Spi: 06 | Wealth: 016 |
| Init: 040 | HP: 110 |
Powers:
Control: 12, Energy Absorption: 09, Energy Blast: 19, Directional Hearing: 08, Flight: 14, Invulnerability: 20, Jumping: 14, Laser Beam: 19, Skin Armor: 04, Superspeed: 14
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Control only works on Ionically charged beings.
- Energy Absorption only works on Ionic Energy.
- Superspeed has Multiple Dice Actions.
Skills:
Charisma*: 08, Gadgetry*: 08, Scientist*: 08, Vehicles: 05, Weaponry (Exotic, Firearms): 06
Advantages:
Connoisseur, Headquarters: Expansive, Genius, Scholar (Ionic Energy), Language (Italian), Leadership, Life Support (Full).
Connections:
Maggia (High), Underworld (Low), Criminal Scientists (Low), Grim Reaper (Low).
Drawbacks:
SIA (Immortality), Minor Psychological Instability.
Previous Statistics
Just after Nefaria received his powers He lacked Control, Energy Blast, Directional Hearing and Flight.
Before Nefaria received his treatments from Professor Sturdy he possessed no Powers no Life Support Advantages and his physical attributes were
Dex: 05 Str: 03 Bod: 04
Init: 21
In Both Previous Incarnations he possessed 1 AP less Will and Mind and he doesn’t possess a Scholar in Ionic Energy.
Helper(s): Sébastien Andrivet, Patrick Sawyer, Nick Yankovec, OHOTMU, www.sigma.net/burch/nefaria/nefaria.html (defunct), Peter S Piispanen aka The Angel, Azrael
Source of Character: Marvel Universe.