The first two of these three issues wrap up the “World Trust” storyline begun in the last two, in which massive portals have opened popped up around the world and swallowed world capitals, while the third serves both as an epilogue to that story and a preview of the next major storyline that begins in issue #64.
At the end of the last issue, Namor the Sub-Mariner showed up at Avengers Mansion and asserted his membership in team. As issue #59 starts, he seems to be rethinking that decision.
While Namor calmly explains his concerns, Captain America returns with Henry Peter Gyrich, who also recently “asserted” his way back into working with the team and desperately wants to impress Cap, to little avail.
We see a nice juxtaposition below of Cap calling out Gyrich’s massive ego just before someone with an ever bigger one shows him deference (much to Sam’s approval and amusement).
Cap deals with some business matters, starting with Namor’s damage bill and proceeding to the Scarlet Witch, who has been possessed by an aspect of the cosmic being the In-Betweener—although Cap is just as concerned with Vision’s recent coldness towards her, which he is happy to see is starting to warm up.
Tony doesn’t have any news regarding the mysterious portals himself, but T’Challa called in some help…
…about which no one else is pleased, but Doom does know what’s going on (some of which readers saw in the last issue, although I didn’t show it here).
After Doom leaves the Zoom, Tony acts out against the screen before accusing T’Challa of endangering the team. Cap tries to calm things down, urging the Panther not to reach out to enemies on his own…
…but his mention of “secrets” invokes the revelation from Black Panther #8 about why he originally agreed to join the team. Carol sees double standards at work, while T’Challa stands his ground, defending his actions.
This only risks making Cap need to repeat himself, but he needs to issue yet another damage bill first.
When Wanda arrives at the meeting, she gives Cap a welcome respite from reprimanding petulant children and fills in more of the story, after which Cap uses a hand and a few words to show both his faith in and his care for his longtime teammate.
By the end of the issue they find Order, who sends most of them to the 13th dimension before Thor returns to Midgard* to join the fight.
* Earth — Ed.
Issue #60 opens with Sam remembering when the Red Skull bonded him telepathically with birds, most tightly to his sidekick Redbird, through whose eyes Sam can see.
Sam sees the missing capitals on whatever world they’re on, but can;t find the most important thing of all (which Order was holding before they were dismissed). Cap, naturally, is only forced on the task at hand.
That task presents itself in the person of Scorpio of the Zodiac, who used “the Key” to separate the In-Betweener and get Chaos’s power to… whatever maniacs want power for, it really doesn’t matter, does it?
Scorpio starts to kill the Avengers with his aura, but Sam and Redwing save the day with a mighty YOINK!
This frees Chaos and the Avengers from his hold, allowing Cap to fulfill his true task: giving praise.
After Scorpio reclaims the key, he animates some monsters and sicks them on the Avengers, but there might be more Avengers than he accounted for—because where did the shield come from all of a sudden?
Earlier Scarlet Witch, Namor, Thor, and Ant-Man—well, mainly the Scarlet Witch—defeated Order, eliciting a jealous comment from the Sub-Mariner…
…after which she transported the three of them with the shield to join the rest, effectively assembling the Avengers once again (although Cap gets to announce it).
Namor maintains his petty insolence…
…while Cap’s waxes inspirational in light of T’Challa’s uncharacteristic defeatism.
After Ant-Man uses the bugs above to subdue Scorpio, Wanda turns to assembling the In-Betweener himself, who sends the Avengers and all the stolen cities home before warning them of a great evil coming who will claim one of their lives.
In the aftermath, Cap and Sam bookend their opening scene from issue #57, and as Cap is asserting his responsibility to make the team work better, he gets an alarming call from the Wasp…
…the contents of which are explained in the opening page of issue #61: The Avengers are now their own nation (or something to that effect).
Remember that name (and definitely don’t rearrange the letters).
Gyrich is being Gyrich, and Cap politely tolerating him. When Gyrich tries it with Jarvis, however…
…Jarvis is not having it, and makes Cap’s point a little more directly, which makes Gyrich lose it (seeming more like Dale Gribble than ever) and pushes Cap a little closer to the edge.
Janet gets in on the action too, leading Gyrich to let his guard down a bit (which is good) but he then accuses Cap of being perfect and never making a mistake. We know this is not true, and Cap definitely knows it and obsesses about it every moment of his life—which Gyrich, to his credit, recognizes, but too late. Of course, Cap does not respond in kind, but instead counters with kindness, respect, and opportunity.
(“And no, you can’t be Bucky.”)
In case you missed his regal belligerence, Namor returns to fulfill a duty and then some.
Cap responds with the same gratitude, offering Namor a regular spot at the table he brought…
…but nah.
Sam is more agreeable, and he and Redwing are given a special mission: to follow Gyrich, whom Redbird sees meeting with Secretary Rusk and receiving orders to spy on the Avengers for him.
Thor—currently in his “Lord of Asgard” phase—is a stern and simple “no,” without the Sub-Mariner’s mockery or derision. (We will see the Lord of Asgard in issue #63, however. You just can’t keep that guy away!)
We conclude with the latest iteration of the team, standing in front of Avengers Embassy, with Cap giving an ambivalent look towards the Avengers flag flying above the United States one.
ISSUE DETAILS
Avengers (vol. 3) #59, December 2002: Geoff Johns (writer), Kieron Dwyer (pencils), Rick Remender (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Comicraft (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 3) #60, January 2003: Geoff Johns (writer), Kieron Dwyer (pencils), Rick Remender (inks), Tom Smith (colors), Richard Starkings and Albert Deschesne (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Avengers (vol. 3) #61, February 2003: Geoff Johns (writer), Gary Frank (pencils), Jon Sibal (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors), Richard Starkings and Albert Deschesne (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in Avengers: The Complete Collection by Geoff Johns Volume 1.
PREVIOUS ISSUES: Avengers #57-58 (October-November 2002)
ALSO THESE MONTHS: Captain America #6 (December 2002) and Captain America #7 (February 2003)
NEXT ISSUES: Avengers #63 (March 2003)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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