Superhero comics tend to be about a lot of flashy costumes, big fights and lots and lots of colorful drama.

But the really good comics are also about people -- not just the ones behind the masks, but also the ones around them. Spider-Man is one such hero whose writers have consistently explored the Man as much as the Spider.

That explains why the Peter Parker, Spider-Man chapter of Marvel's massive Civil War crossover storyline is one of the best of the bunch. While other volumes deal with the drama, the climactic battles and haymaker punches that could take out a city block, writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has focused on Peter Parker through the eyes of the women -- and one young boy -- around him.

The first story, nicely painted by Clayton Crain, revolves around Jordan Harrison, a promising young student in Parker's biology class. Sure. it's cool when your teacher reveals to the world that he's a costumed superhero, but Jordan is a little more than worried about how this might affect his grades, his one-on-one tutoring sessions and his chances at getting into college. Things get even more complicated when Doctor Octopus shows up before attendance can even be taken.

Angel Medina and Sean Chen take over the pencils for the rest of the book, and their take (Chen's in particular) on Peter's women -- Mary Jane, Aunt May and the Black Cat -- are among the best I've seen. Sure, there's plenty of fisticuffs -- the Chameleon has hired a bunch of baddies, including Electro and Rhino, to take out Peter's family, now that his identity is known -- but the book's really about the way in which those closest to Peter deal with the stress in his life. Aunt May is a rock despite her own personal tragedies, and the way she deals with the Chameleon is brilliant. Mary Jane taps into her reserves of hidden strength as she tries to resist her own impulse toward flight. And the Black Cat -- well, she just gets mad.

Civil War may have been about big choices and even bigger battles, but Peter Parker, Spider-Man quietly ignores the hoopla and plumbs new depths of Marvel's most complex and interesting character. Even if you ignore the rest of the hype, this book is a must for all Spider-Man fans.