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This fall, both Democrats and Republicans across the country will experience a new political wave. Buoyed by Donald Trump’s low approval numbers, his divisive policies, and the rise of the #MeToo movement, women across the country are throwing their hats in the ring and running for office. In Alabama, where Democratic Senator Doug Jones stunned the political world by winning in the deeply Conservative state, more Black women than ever are getting into the race. "It's so important that we step up, that we show the nation that we can lead," Jameria Moore, 49, told NBC News. Moore is running for a judgeship on the Jefferson County Probate Court, and is just one of three dozen Black women campaigning as Democrats in the red state. "That, here in Alabama, we're ready to lead our state into the future." After Jones’ improbable senate win, which was aided by Black women who overwhelmingly supported his campaign, groups have been pouring resources into Alabama to encourage more Democrats to pursue offices across the state, and Black women are heeding the call. "This place that was so resistant to change, where, now, a group of women who were looked down upon and dealt first-hand with the vestiges of slavery and segregation are the ones who can lead us forward — it's monumental," said Quentin James, founder and director of the Collective PAC, a  group focused on recruiting African-American candidates. "Where better to demonstrate the progress being made than in Alabama.” Audri Scott, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Alabama's 2nd District, said Jones’ win inspired Black women to flex their political power both in and out of the voting booth. “The tinder was laid down, but Doug Jones was the spark that started a fire in Black women knowing they have a lot of power,” she said. Groups like Emerge Alabama and Woke Vote have been cultivating female candidates in the state for years and are focused on replicating Jones’ success by building a broad coalition of supporters. Dejuana Thompson, founder of Woke Vote, said it’s fitting so many Black women are running for office in Alabama because they have been at the forefront of the Democratic Party for years. "Black women have been leading this party for years and showing up for Democratic issues for years, and the community follows their lead," she said. "So when we have any opportunity to engage people of color, it creates a space for the student, the teacher, the mom to find their purpose. … We can leverage that into motivation to turn out for elections." Head to the NBC News website to read their full report on the wave of Black women running for office in Alabama.

After ten years of trying to sell her eight-bedroom estate, Mary J. Blige has taken her home off the market. Will Kendu keep it?

Writer: Jason Latour / Artist: Robbi Rodriguez / Marvel Comics

The meandering plot of Gwen Stacy finds new lows in Spider-Gwen #30, in what is arguably the most difficult-to-read issue of the series thus far. What’s more disappointing is that it comes at the cost of the one plot we’ve been enduring this long to see—Spider-Gwen versus Daredevil—and instead, the issue takes a side path to more convoluted dimension travel and failed jokes from dimensional Watchers. This is becoming a bit of a habit for Spider-Gwen, taking the long road for a scenic view without much scenery at all, just a longer, more frustrating trip. And if you want to get out, at this point, I would hardly be surprised.

Spider-Gwen #30 pulls Gwenom into another dimension where she is faced with herself, leading to a series of conversations that give her a wider perspective on her life and what she could be. Interspersed with Gwen’s conversations with an alternate version of herself are scenes of the Watchers in a zany-type comedy, as they try to reset the dimensional timeline back to a point of stability. It all leaves you unsure if you’re meant to worry, speculate, or laugh, making it difficult to take any of those options at all. As with most distraction plots that feel like fillers, it’s hard to tell exactly what you’re meant to gain from it at all.

The best thing Spider-Gwen can do right now is jolt itself back to when its plot was clearest, set a clear goal, and ignore any luring distractions and get back to basic storytelling. For all its great moments—and this series has had plenty—Spider-Gwen right now is doing the most to do the least. We can’t wait until it weathers this storm and finds itself intact on the other side.

6 out of 10Reading Spider-Gwen? Find BNP’s other reviews of the series here.

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After Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez unveiled the Puerto Rico benefit anthology Ricanstruction at the New York Times, we also revealed art from one of the stories written by Hamilton star Javier Muñoz. Today, I’ll be exclusively sharing art from another Ricanstruction short story. This time, it’s my own story — illustrated by artist Glenn Urieta — called “A Yellow […]