A great deal of Marvel Comics' Civil War storyline focused on Spider-Man, the masked hero who was likely impacted most by the events that unfolded during the big crossover epic. There was a great deal of attention given to Tony "Iron Man" Stark, who led the pro-registration government forces, as well as Ms. Marvel, a hero resurging in popularity in part through her role in the war.

But Captain America, the symbol of a nation who opposed the new registration law and took to the streets as a rebel, was in many ways the heart of the story. And, while the big battles took place in other volumes, Civil War: Captain America takes a closer, more personal look at the impact on the man, as well as his longtime lover, Sharon Carter, who as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. is charged with bringing Captain America to ground. Bucky Barnes, Captain America's World War II sidekick who recently resurfaced after years as a sleeper assassin, also shares a portion of the spotlight with former S.H.I.E.L.D. chief Nick Fury.

There's a little less action here than in some chapters of the saga, but it doesn't really seem to be missing while you're reading it.

Captain America is not a necessary part of the overall Civil War storyline, and readers can get the gist of the saga without picking it up. But the experience is poorer without it.