Heroes getting curb stomped--The Count Nefaria trilogy Part 2

cover art by George Perez

Avengers #165 (November 1977) picks up right where the previous issue leaves off. The Avengers have beaten the Lethal Legion, but Count Nefaria has used super-science to give himself powers--if this were the DC Universe, we'd be comparing him to Superman--and proceeds to curb stomp the Avengers.

Writer Jim Shooter and artist John Byrne continue to give us expertly choreographed fight scenes, with the Avengers responding with courage and improvising what they hope will be effective tactics. But Nefaria is now simply too powerful. No matter what the Avengers try, he swats them aside.

Eventually, he literally drops a 40-story tall building on them. Certain they must be dead, he wanders around New York, enjoying his new powers by causing havoc and gloating about it.

But the Whizzer--the World War II speedster who had turned out to be the Scarlet Witch's dad (a plot twist later retconned away)--also tries to beat down the villain. He fails in terms of the physical fight, but manages to freak out Nefaria by pointing out that though Nefaria might be all-powerful, he's still a mere mortal. Eventually, he'll get old.

In the meantime, Iron Man digs through the rubble to find the Avengers. It's no surprise to the readers that they survived, but it is nice that Shooter and Byrne explains that they used their powers in a way that makes sense in a Comic Book Universe to save themselves. Wanda and Yellowjacket used their powers to dig a foxhole while Power Man held up the rubble.

In addition to Nefaria's sudden worries about his mortality, there's more effective character moments among the heroes at this point, as Iron Man insists on fighting Nefaria alone, while the other Avengers heatedly remind him they are a team.

Nefaria then shows up, demanding to see Thor--the Avengers' resident immortal. The enusing fight scene is another great battle. Nefaria is winning again, but this time it takes more of an effort as Iron Man revs up the power in his suit. Yellowjacket runs off--obviously he has a plan, but we'll have to wait until the next issue to find out what that plan is.

The issue ends on a visually and dramatically effective cliff-hanger, as Thor does show up. Is Nefaria powerful enough to stand up to the God of Thunder? We'll find out in two weeks. 

I continue to find this story arc effective and well-written. There's a strong plot, strong characterizations, great art and well-choreographed action.

Next week--well, my blog has covered superheroes, World War II soldiers and pre-Columbian Indians fight dinosaurs. Now we'll see who well Popeye the Sailor measure up against a prehistoric beast.