Despite the comic book precedents, Black Widow SHOULD be the next Captain America. Her character arc from assassin to spy, and finally to a selfless Avenger, is unrivaled in the MCU. No other character has come farther in their development — from someone complicit within their given worldview to a selfless, courageous hero — like Natasha Romanova, the Black Widow. Whosoever holds that shield, if he or she be worthy, shall possess the power of Captain America, and Black Widow has proven herself to be more than worthy — if not in style, in spirit — to take up the mantle of Captain America, leader of the Avengers.

Memorial Day Weekend is typically a time to reflect on those who served our country and paid the ultimate price, but in Arizona, it’s a time for comics, cosplay, a little chaos and more at the annual Phoenix Comicon. This gathering of geeks clogs the downtown streets where attendees brave triple-digit weather to meet their heroes, show off their costumes, and connect with others like themselves. However, unlike years before, Phoenix Comicon 2017 will go down in infamy with its daily, unexpected doses of drama occasionally veering towards a life or death struggle.

If you’ve been to a movie theater in the last week, you know that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, much like its predecessor, had a great soundtrack…though not a perfect soundtrack. Tracks like Sweet’s “Fox on the Run” and Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” grabbed fans’ attention in the Guardians Vol. 2 trailer. Even the film’s opening with ELO’s “Mr. Blue Sky” mesmerized viewers, who watched with glee as Baby Groot danced just for them. However, in other moments, the music was lacking or just didn’t fit quite right. Fortunately, there are plenty of hidden or forgotten gems from the 60s, 70s, and 80s that would have made Awesome Mix Vol. 2 just a little more awesome:

Just over three years ago, Marvel Comics introduced one of their greatest heroes — not only in the vein of legacy characters but in their universe’s entire lineup — as a response to the underrepresentation of Muslim characters in comics. Yes, Kamala Khan filled a much-needed void, yet her unique call to heroism, under the pen of G. Willow Wilson, allowed her to become much more than just a one-dimensional answer. In her first story-arc alone, Kamala brilliantly embodied a multitude of character traits and roles missing from modern comics, taking her on an evolution unlike any before.

In a year like no other, 2016 was home to an abundance of superhero and sci-fi films. In this mess of movies, there were strong standouts and disappointing duds, but hey, at least the studios are trying! No matter how these films turned out, especially when compared to one another, we were all fortunate enough to be able see our favorite heroes, from Captain America to Captain Kirk, appear on the silver screen. Before, we could only find them in the pages of comic books and on the smaller screens in our own homes, but now, they are all around us and significantly more prevalent in popular culture. For that, and for the opportunity to see them towering in theaters before us, we will always be thankful. However, that will not stop us from ranking 2016’s superhero and sci-fi movies, from worst to first. In doing so, I do not intend to put down a film or its creators; I simply wish to create a dialogue, one that will hopefully improve superhero and sci-fi films for years to come. Additionally, this list is by no means scripture; everyone will have their own interpretations and opinions on each film.

Don’t let the release of dramatic new titles like Champions or Death of X blindside you; this week there is one more comic you need to pick up! For the first time in several years, the resilient private investigator, Jessica Jones, is back! While Jessica has appeared regularly across the Marvel universe, including a stint with the New Avengers, this is her first, real solo title since the acclaimed Alias series ended in 2004. Yet in the last decade of Marvel comics and through all the landscape-altering events, Brian Michael Bendis has finally decided to continue Jessica’s unique story from a new place in time. As usual, The Source picked up this new title, and we’re ready to tell you all about it in our Jessica Jones #1 review.

Recently, one series has rocked the comic book world to its core, featuring one of Marvel’s greatest and underrated Avengers, Vision. Written by Tom King, the acclaimed writer behind Vertigo’s The Sheriff of Babylon, and drawn by Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Vision has become one of Marvel’s best comics currently being published. If you don’t believe it, The Source has compiled a short list featuring the 6 reasons to start reading the Vision series!

Since the dawn of the comic book superhero, heroes have been expressed throughout varying forms of media: The Dark Knight has been the focus of several films, a bronze statue of Captain America will find a permanent home in New York, and the Punisher’s logo has found itself among those serving in the U.S. Army as well as the Navy SEALs. In each of these forms, humanity honors their heroes while using their image to inspire hope, the great promise of humanity. To add to this tradition, the United States Postal Service has recently teamed with Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment to create 75th Anniversary Forever Stamps to honor the life and legacy of the first popular female superhero, Wonder Woman.

Over the last few weeks, AMC’s broadcast has blessed comic book fans with a brilliant adaptation of Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon’s series, Preacher. Sunday night, an epic finale for the first season was aired, featuring each of the characters at their very best. The finale was as brilliantly unorthodox as previous episodes while wasting no time in its hour-and-a-half run to set up the rest of the series. The Source has seen this shocking series finale and is ready to discuss it in our Preacher Season 1 Finale Review.

Recently, there’s been significant discussion regarding the upcoming Justice League film. Details are being announced little by little, cluing us in and keeping us interested. With San Diego Comic-Con currently hitting its stride, we’re sure to learn more. However, concerns for Ben Affleck’s solo Batman film have not been completely allayed. All we know is that Affleck himself will be directing and that an original story will be written for the film. Beyond that, the film remains up in the air, a formless enigma that may or may not feature Edward Nygma (get it?). As we wait, we dream, hoping for the best. With our knowledge of Batman comics, history, and his other film adaptations, The Source has compiled a few ideas for the next chapter in the hero’s filmic narrative. We present to you, the fans, the six things we need to see in Ben Affleck’s Batman film!

After years of uncertainty and fear, AMC decided to try their hand with the seemingly cursed series, announcing a pilot in 2013. Now, three years later, thanks to the big wigs at AMC, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Sam Catlin, and executive producers, Garth Ennis and Steve Dillion, Preacher is FINALLY airing on television with style. Although part of that credit for style goes to the actors as well. In the series, Jesse Custer aka Preacher is played by Dominic Cooper, Tulip O’ Hare by Ruth Negga, Cassidy by Joesph Gilgun, Hugo Root by W. Earl Brown, and Arseface by Ian Colletti. So far, 6 episodes have aired since the premiere on May 22nd, meaning that we have a lot of ground to cover. So, let’s get caught up with AMC’s Preacher, and take a look at episodes 1 & 2 of this genre-bending series.

It’s been almost a month since the thrilling release of the ninth installment in the Fox-owned X-Men franchise, X-Men: Apocalypse. By now you have probably seen the film and had your own mixed review of the plot, the effects, the characters, and of course, the highly anticipated Quicksilver scene. However, there is probably one thing left on your mind. It’s subtle, but nonetheless looms in the distance, gnawing at you, begging for your consideration. Could it have to do with a need to read more about the history of Psylocke?

During my time between panels, exploration, buying comics, breaks for mustache-shaped pretzels, and mandatory stops for water, I interviewed some of the talented guests the con managed to acquire. Thankfully, one of these guests was the revered Jae Lee, who gained prominence in the industry through his work on Namor the Sub-Mariner. From there, he went on to join Image Comics, where he wrote and illustrated his own book, Hellshock. Yet, he is most recognized for his award-winning work on the Inhumans with Paul Jenkins. Since then, Lee has also worked on the Dark Tower comic series, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias, and Batman/Superman. You can keep up with all of his work on jaeleeart.com.

As an Arizona native and a contributing writer for The Source, this weekend I had the fortune of talking to multiple comic book creators, artists, and writers at the annual Phoenix Comicon. Taking place over four days at the Phoenix Convention Center, I lived, breathed, and absorbed comics and heroes underneath a dependably blazing Arizona sun. During my time between panels, exploration, buying comics, breaks for mustache-shaped pretzels, and mandatory stops for water, I interviewed some of the talented guests the con managed to acquire. The most insightful and perhaps most inspiring interview spawned from a conversation with Todd Nauck.

During my time between panels, exploration, buying comics, breaks for mustache-shaped pretzels, and mandatory stops for water, I interviewed some of the talented guests the con managed to acquire. One of these guests was Beth Sotelo, a colorist, artist, and creator of her own comic, Grump. She’s worked for some of the best in the industry, including Marvel, DC, Aspen Comics, and Top Cow Productions. You can keep up with her work on her website: bethsotelo.com or follow her on Twitter @Midimew. Despite her incredibly busy weekend at the con, Beth Sotelo took the time to talk to me for a few minutes about her life, her work, and her own creation, Grump.

As a leader of multiple iterations of the X-Men and even his own school for mutants, Cyclops is admirable and respectable. Yet, in the original X-Men movies, X-Men, X2, and X-Men: the Last Stand, Cyclops is not portrayed in this way; he is seen as much more arrogant, annoying, inconsiderate, and even pathetic. Worst of all, he is pitifully killed off in the beginning of X-Men: the Last Stand, which left no room for improvement in his character… until now! At last, there is hope! With the arrival of X-Men: Apocalypse this week, there is a new, younger version of Cyclops played by actor Tye Sheridan. With hope in our hearts and optimism in our brains, we have compiled some of Cyclops’ finest moments from the comics to create a six-part guide on how X-Men: Apocalypse can finally get Cyclops right.

If you do not already spend hours of your life binge watching the almost infinite number of streaming TV shows and movies on Netflix, you might be soon enough. If you like films such as Captain America: Civil War, Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you may want to add another monthly expense to your list. It turns out that, four years ago, Netflix and Disney signed one of the greatest deals for themselves and for comic book fans, and this September the deal will finally take effect; Netflix will be the exclusive video streaming source for Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and Pixar movies.

Civil War is upon us. The imminent betrayal beckons, awaiting the masses of impatient moviegoers to watch with amazement as heroes collide, tearing each other a part, mentally and physically. Yet while we eagerly anticipate the blockbuster release of Captain America: Civil War, we have thought little about the war itself, distracted by the paramount appearances of Spider-Man and Black Panther. In each of the teasing trailers, we see our colorful Avengers dancing to the beat of battle, choreographed to epic proportions. Reunited friends, foreboding warnings, flying bullets, intense stares, fiery explosions, new costumes and characters all set to a building soundtrack distract us from the reality of the film, the stakes of Civil War. This struggle for clarity amidst the overwhelming, superhero bombast leads me to ask the following question: is Bucky worth it?

The month of April has wound down and given way to May; the showers have ceased, the pranks have come and gone, and all of the college students are studying for their finals. Well, almost all of them. This one has been doing some typical reading, and fortunately, this week Marvel Comics blessed us with another monthly, mutant-filled issue of X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever. The last time we saw our hero, Bailey Hoskins, he was trying to sort through an encounter with Mystique; she tasked him with killing the world’s most powerful mind-reader, the Professor himself. So where was he this month? What happens next? Why should you care? We look through it all and tell you how great it is in this, our review of X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever #3.

“To Serve Man,” “The Invaders,” “Time Enough at Last,” “Eye of the Beholder,” “The Dummy,” “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” and “Five Characters in Search of an Exit;” these are just a few titles in a long list of unforgettable episodes of the celebrated series, the Twilight Zone. Yet when something was so perfect the first time around, is there any legitimate room for improvement? Can the dynamic established by Rod Serling and his team be expanded upon over 50 years later, especially considering the inferior remake from the 80s and the short-lived single season reboot from 2002? For better or worse, the CBS broadcasting company, who own the rights to the Twilight Zone, and Ken Levine, the creator of the popular game, Bioshock, seem to think they can by adding a unique twist to their own Twilight Zone reboot.