Never the Twins Shall Meet

11 - Two Gangs, Both Alike In Dignity

This week, Pie and Lulu travel to gang-ruled 1920s Shanghai to discuss These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, a historical fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Topics include the novel’s dramatic romance, the atmospheric historical setting, and how Gong puts her own spin on the classic tale of love and rivalry.

 

Other media mentioned:

• In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
• The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
• The Books of Ambha by Tasha Suri
• Batman: Under the Red Hood by Judd Winnick
• Suicide Squad: Bad Blood by Tom Taylor
• Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
• The Green Knight (2021) directed by David Lowery
• Romeo + Juliet (1996) directed by Baz Lurhmann
• Romeo & Juliet (2013) directed by Carlo Carlei
• Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

 

Content warnings: discussions historical colonialism and imperialism, medical horror, plagues/pandemics, self harm/suicide, and gang warfare

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

10 - X-Men X-Travaganza

This week, Pie and Lulu explore their most literary and intellectual pastime during the pandemic: reading a lot of X-Men comics. Covering comics from the eighties to the present day, topics include favorite characters, underrated comic runs, and thoughts on the unusual current status quo of the X-Men. Oh, and also cosmic tragedies, coming out stories, and karaoke–you know, all the usual staples of superhero comics.

Comics discussed in-depth:

• Astonishing X-Men (2012-2013) by Marjorie Liu
• All-New Wolverine by Tom Taylor
• House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman
• Rictor and Shatterstar’s publication history
• Rogue and Gambit’s publication history
• Generation X by Christina Strain
• The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont
• Iceman by Sina Grace
• Hellions by Zeb Wells

 

Other comics and media mentioned:

• Heathen by Natasha Alterici
• Uncomfortable Labels: My Life as a Gay Austistic Trans Woman by Laura Kate Dale
• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
• The Wolf and the Woodsman Ava Reid
• House of M by Brian Michael Bendis
• X-Force by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost
• X-Men: Season One by Dennis Hopeless
• All-New X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis
• Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinburg
• New Mutants (1983) by Chris Claremont
• X-23: Innocence Lost by Craig Kyle
• X-23 by Marjorie Liu
• The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
• New X-Men by Grant Morrison
• X-Factor Investigations by Peter David
• Rogue and Gambit: Ring of Fire by Kelly Thompson
• X-Men Gold by Marc Guggenheim
• Mr. and Mrs. X by Kelly Thompson
• Excalibur by Tini Howard
• Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont
• X of Swords by Jonathan Hickman and various others

 

Content warnings: Discussions of the Holocaust, racism in comics, (fictional) human experimentation, and homophobia

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

09 - The Gothic Vibes Are Strong With This One

This week, it’s all about gothic vibes! Pie and Lulu take a look at two gothic-inspired novels: Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. We discuss the spooky atmospheres and isolated manor settings that both of the books share, as well as our love for the female protagonists. Also, why are we both afraid of mushrooms now? Listen to find out why!

 

Other media mentioned:

• Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom
• X-Men: From the Ashes by Chris Claremont
• The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• Made You Look (2020) dir. Barry Avrich
• A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

 

Content warnings: discussions of eugenics, incest, racism, cannibalism, abuse, medical horror, gun violence, murder, and suicide

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

08 - An Anthropological Study of Cohabitating Vampires

This week, Pie and Lulu take a dive into two very different takes on vampires: the 2014 comedy-mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows and S.T. Gibson’s gothic novella A Dowry of Blood. We discuss comedic versus traditional interpretations of vampires, immortal roommate drama, and how human the heart of vampire stories can really be.

 

Other media mentioned:

• The Deep by Rivers Solomon
• How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
• The Dig (2021)
• What We Do in the Shadows (TV show)

 

Content warnings: discussions of an abusive relationship and all the death/blood-drinking/murder that vampires entail.

07 - Dead Gods Double Feature

This week, Pie and Lulu dive into two fantasy novels featuring dead gods: Deeplight by Frances Hardinge and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. We discuss world-building, portrayals of fantasy religions, and how these books use the concept of dead divinities to explore the power of belief and storytelling.

 

Other Media Mentioned:

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner
• The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
• The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Daredevil (Marvel comics)

 

Content warnings:

Discussions of murder, body horror, ableism, emotionally manipulative relationships, drowning, PTSD, slavery, genocide, infanticide, and rape.

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website. 

06 - Captain America Called, You're Grounded!

In a somewhat chaotic sixth episode, Pie and Lulu revisit their superhero comic nerd roots by rereading Young Avengers. A teenage superhero team originally created in 2005 by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung, members of the Young Avengers have gone on to become popular throughout the Marvel universe, starring in team books, solo stories, and epic comic crossovers. Starting back at the first run and reading all the way up to recent months, we discuss one of the most bonkers family trees at Marvel, LGBTQ+ representation in superhero comics, and the difficulties of life as a superpowered teen crimefighter, as well critiquing what has or hasn’t held up in the years since we first discovered these comics.

 

Content warnings: discussions of drug addiction, sexual assault, antiblack racism, human experimentation, depression, and suicidal ideation.

 

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

 

Comics discussed in-depth:

Young Avengers (2005) by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung

Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung

Young Avengers (2013) by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie

Empyre by Al Ewing & various others

Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling by Chip Zdarsky and Anthony Oliveira

King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling by Tini Howard (correction: with art by Luciano Vecchio)

Other comics & media mentioned

I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan

All-New Wolverine by by Tom Taylor

House of M by Brian Michael Bendis

Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona

X-Factor Investigations by Peter David

Hawkeye by Matt Fraction

Vengeance by Joe Casey

Marvel Boy by Grant Morrison

New X-Men: Academy X by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir

The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen

America by Gabby Rivera

America Chavez: Made in the USA by Kalinda Vázquez

Guardians of the Galaxy by Al Ewing

X-Factor by Leah Williams

Marvel Voices: Pride anthology (upcoming)

Hawkeye by Kelly Thompson

West Coast Avengers by Kelly Thompson

05 – A Well-Meaning Lesbian Orc With a Sword

In this week's episode, Pie and Lulu exclaim their love for the fantasy novel The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood. Topics include how the novel melds science fiction and fantasy, its laugh-out-loud humor, our love of stories about the multiverse, the casual inclusion of gay and lesbian characters, and an over usage of the phrase "dubious wizard father figure."

Content warnings: mentions of murder, violence, cults, and human sacrifice.

04 - RIP to Orpheus and Eurydice But We're Different

In this week's episode, Lulu and Pie take a dive into two mythology-infused superhero comics: Angela: Queen of Hel by Marguerite Bennett and Midnighter and Apollo by Steve Orlando. Topics include the way these two comics retell the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, LGBTQ+ representation, demons made of ramen, and monopoly-playing supervillains.

 

Content warnings: discussions of death, slavery, homophobia, and human experimentation

You can learn more about Never the Twins Shall Meet at our website.

03 - If Music Be the Food of Love, Gay On

In this week's episode, Pie and Lulu dive into three adaptations of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare's classic comedy: the National Theatre's 2017 production, the Public Works musical, and the web series Twelfth Grade (Or Whatever). Topics include how these adaptations explore the play's themes of gender and sexual fluidity, gay pirates, and why it's probably a bad idea to marry someone just because he looks like your crush.

 

Content warnings: discussions of homophobia and transphobia

02 –The Great Shadow and Bone Reread

In anticipation of the upcoming Netflix adaptation, Pie and Lulu reread Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and evaluate how it has held up over the years. We discuss the book’s romance, world-building, exploration of the Chosen One archetype, hopes and hesitations regarding the TV show, and our undying love for Genya Safin. 

Content warnings: emotionally manipulative relationships, ableism.