These issues are not the most significant, but do include some interesting moments with the Scarlet Witch challenging Captain America’s leadership—and speaking of whom, Cap doesn’t even appear in issue #13, and no one knows why except the editor (and us).
Cap is back by issue #14, most of which deals with the Beast’s return to greet his old friend Wonder Man, the levity of which also inspired some cute insets with Kurt Busiek and the late George Pérez.
While Beast is making a quiet entrance to Avengers Mansion, Wanda checks on Cap’s misadventure and he congratulates her on her promotion (nominated by Tony in the last issue).
“That” was Simon, and soon they are at a jazz club with Wanda and Vision, where Simon unloads about behavior he’s ashamed of, including killing enemies, attacking teammates, and embezzling from his own company—most of which was excused, forgiven, or forgotten, except by Simon himself. Without commenting on the behavior itself or Simon’s culpability for it, Hank makes a good point that the fact that Simon is worried about it at all means he is not a bad person.
George is really itching to draw some action, but Kurt has to catch up on the writing.
Meanwhile, the rest of team are in Washington, DC, to look into a sighting of the big bad from the last issue, Lord Templar, whose possible connection with the U.S. government Cap is very curious about (and we see a little of his cynicism about the media from the recent Skrull affair in his own title).
But they are recalled to New York after this issue’s big bad, Pagan, attacks, and Cap is disappointed with how the Scarlet Witch and the Jazzy Avengers handled things so far. He takes charge and makes field assignments, but Wanda has issues (based on her earlier observation that Pagan can absorb force used against him).
Cap seconds Wanda’s warning after the fact before giving a negative assessment of the team’s performance, fueling Wanda’s resentment (which has been building for several issues now).
We literally see a little more of her thinking below before she opens the discussion formally.
One more glimpse of George and Kurt…
…before returning to Wanda and Cap in issue #15, where she calls him out on his failed leadership. Instead of getting defensive or blaming others, as so many other “leaders” would do, Cap agrees and sincerely asks her for suggestions to help the team improve.
One idea is to rotate chairing weekly meetings, with Firestar taking first shot when they get news that Lord Templar has been spotted very near the headquarters of the Triune Understanding, the organization Triathlon is involved with. When Pagan shows up instead, Cap and Wanda disagree over jurisdictional matters, but Cap pulls rank as field leader.
While the Avengers struggle against Pagan, the other fella shows up, and while Cap wants to take care of them both before they cause too much damage…
…Triathlon notes that Lord Templar stands a better chance of defeating Pagan, which he does before leaving the team with a condescending insult. While Thor is left bruised, Wanda notes a violation of the law of transitivity that suggests all was not what it seemed.
Cap agrees, especially given the way the Triune leader spins the whole affair, accusing the Avengers of overstepping and incompetence.
Wanda’s right, but not for a while, as the team has to deal with the Wrecking Crew and Ultron first in the coming issues…
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 3) #14, March 1999: Kurt Busiek (writer), George Pérez (pencils), Al Vey (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings, Wes Abbott, and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 3) #15, April 1999: Kurt Busiek (writer), George Pérez (pencils), Al Vey and Scott Koblish (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings, Wes Abbott, and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Avengers Assemble Volume 2.
PREVIOUS ISSUE: Avengers #12 (January 1999)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #7 (March 1999), Captain America #15-16 (March-April 1999), Avengers Forever #4-5 (March-April 1999), Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #8 (April 1999), and Cable #66 (April 1999)
NEXT ISSUES: Avengers #16 (May 1999)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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