What is Charlie’s central conflict and how does Nick help him overcome it?

Heartstopper is one of the first Western graphic novels to depict a gay relationship among teen boys. How can a graphic novel like Heartstopper help teens accept themselves and feel comfortable coming out, and why is it so important for stories like this to exist?

How do facial expressions and body language serve to characterize Charlie and Nick, as well as advance plot and set the tone for each scene? Why did the author choose to include so little dialogue?