Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (March 28, 2008)

AT LEAST NEITHER OF THEM HAS TO MARRY SOME REFUGEE FROM THE PLANET KRYPTON
Good news for fans of teen gay couple Wiccan and Hulkling of Marvel's the Young Avengers. A new issue hits stands this coming Wednesday and while their relationship doesn't get much play, it does get nicely acknowledged in a way that AfterElton.com contributor Lyle Masaki tells me is pretty extraordinary for how comics handle gay relationships. Lyle will blog more about the issue next. week, but for now I thought I'd include a couple of the panels.

For those not familiar with the characters, Hulkling is Teddy Altman, a shapeshifter, and Wiccan is Billy Kaplan, who can use magic to fly (among other things). Naturally, the storyline involves dead parents, missing parents, evil forces and all sorts of other complications I won't get into now.

Hulkling, Wiccan

But the new panels below deal with the two fellows having to part ways for a bit and their sweet, but awkward attempts to acknowledge their relationship and feelings for each other.

With their superpowers I say they go somewhere different — say, the Arctic or Mars. I hear those are really going to be the new gay destinations.

Wait a minute? Is Procter & Gamble sponsoring this comic?

Hopefully, we won't be following the As the World Turns model and have to wait 186 more issues for them to kiss.