Does your Mother know?

GLAAD has just announced the winners of the 25th annual media awards, and wouldn't you know it? Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Matt Wilson has won the Outstanding Comic Book category, beating contenders Batwoman, Fearless Defenders, Husbands and Life With Archie into second place.

For those that aren't aware, Young Avengers is the first comic from a major publisher to feature a predominently queer cast, and is especially notable because for the entirety of its 14-issue run, it was never once promoted as That Gay Superhero Comic. It's probably okay to point it out in this context, though.

Few would deny that the industry has a long way to go when it comes to minority representations in virtually every area, but when a comic like Young Avengers can exist for a year in an industry that still thinks a book starring anything other than a straight white male is a risky prospect, that's an achievement in itself.

And so, Panel Beats salutes Young Avengers, its readers, its publishers, and most of all its creators. Because everyone needs a superhero like themselves, and for 14 issues they gave superheroes to the people who need them most.