When I read about
Google News’ recent announcement that it’s allowing comments to news stories from the people mentioned in the stories themselves, I immediately thought about a recent exchange in Chapter 5 of A.D. There, the reader wondered if one of the characters would actually use the language Josh Neufeld attributed to her. The character responded. Here’s a snippet:

Dean Haspiel: A.D. continues to amaze … My only criticism is with the last panel when the woman screams “I’m gonna die in this bitch!” It felt forced and took me out of the drama.

Denise: That woman is me, and that is exactly what I was thinking at that moment and for many, many moments during the hurricane. I was terrified, and that was my expression of terror, not false bravado.

For the full dialogue between Dean and Denise, reader and character (and indeed real person), click here (scroll down to “comments” area below the panels). It’s a fascinating exchange—and perhaps it’s the future of journalism.