As one of the comic book worlds first and most influential superheroes, Captain America is a pop culture icon. He is the central figure of two recent solo films and was a critical part of 2012s The Avengers, one of the highest grossing movies of all time. But despite Caps popularity and name recognition, many casual fans do not have a full understanding and appreciation for the characters depth and complexities. Just because he dresses up in red, white and blue, and has stars and stripes on his shield, people shouldn't assume that Captain America is just a naïve, pro-American "yes" man the comic book equivalent of Uncle Sam. These 12 essential Captain America stories (listed chronologically) should hopefully paint a broader picture of the man dubbed the Star-Spangled Avenger. While not necessarily a definitive representation of the best Captain America stories (though many arcs on this list are quite great), these are the ones you should read if youve just seen the movies and want to understand exactly how this guy became such an icon, or if youre a general comic book enthusiast who happens to have a huge blind spot to the world of Cap. Click "next" below to get started...