120. I read a book by Carry Slee about fake news
I.
Generative AI makes it very easy to remove a personās clothing from photos. I wrote a piece this week about these kinds of ānudifyā apps for NU.nl. Experts explained to me that it doesnāt matter whether the fake nude image resembles reality. The victim knows it isnāt real, but those around them do not. This makes it a nasty tool for malicious individuals to blackmail others.
At the same time, I read the young adult novel Fake! by Carry Slee this week. Itās about a group of friends who are driven apart by fake news. Levi gets into a row with Emiel and kicks him. Emiel runs off and heads alone to a fortress, where he slips, falls badly and ends up in a coma. A video appears on YouTube in which it looks as though Levi has kicked Emiel into a coma. The clip goes viral and, although the content is untrue, nobody believes in Leviās innocence. With all the consequences that entails.
I grew up reading Carry Sleeās books, such as Spijt! and Razend! I havenāt read anything by Slee for years, but this book managed to captivate me just as it always has. What the teenagers go through is quite intense. Thereās intrigue, suspense, falling in love and all sorts of other complicated teenage themes. Fake! doesnāt just refer to the fake video (which might make parents reading along wonder: what would I have believed if Levi were my son ā my own eyes or my childās words?). In various storylines, the characters get caught up in problems by clinging to lies.
Itās anything but subtle. I do think that young people who experience this story will better understand that sharing something online without thinking can have serious consequences. A warning and a bit of education from Carry Slee, wrapped up in a gripping story. Letās hope young people read this; then perhaps theyāll stay away from abuse tools such as nudify apps.
II.
Ryan Northās current Fantastic Four series is my favourite Marvel series at the moment. Last week he was in Utrecht for Heroes Dutch Comic Con. I brought along my copy of the first issue of his FF (featuring a lovely Alex Ross variant cover) to have him sign it. It was my first time at a Comic Con. I have to say ā comics didnāt dominate this particular Comic Con. The international writers and artists looked a bit out of place, whilst hordes of cosplayers filed past.
That did give me a nice chance to have a quiet chat with North. The tall Canadian was in the Netherlands for the first time and felt right at home here. āI didnāt feel tall, I felt of normal height,ā he wrote in his newsletter this weekend. And our cycle paths were a revelation too. āIn Canada, where Iām from, as a cyclist you have to fight for a spot on the road.ā
I complimented North on his writing for Fantastic Four, issue 33 of which has just been published. It marks the end of the current series. Then the numbering starts again at 1. Clever move by Marvel, because next month the new Fantastic Four film is coming to the cinema and then people can jump straight into the comic.
North approached Fantastic Four with a healthy sense of trepidation. After all, it is one of Marvelās longest-running series. āIām following in the footsteps of people like Lee and Kirby,ā he said. Giants. Quite a challenge. āPeople are bound to compare your work to theirs, so I try to do my own thing.ā
John Byrne, another big name. He wrote one of Northās favourite *Fantastic Four* stories: *Terror in a Tiny Town[](#footnote-1)* (issue 236, published in 1981)Ā¹. For North, thatās how a *FF* comic should be. āIāve had a few good ideas, until I started working them out and thought: hang on, this is just a variation on *Terror in a Tiny Town*.āNorth is appreciated by fans, but is something of an odd man out at Marvel. Marvel heroesā storylines can go on endlessly, but almost all of Northās Fantastic Four stories can be read as stand-alones. āI wouldnāt even know how to write a long story,ā he said. āIād come up with ten stories for ten separate comics. After that, Iād probably be sacked and Iād be fine with that. But Iām still here. Iāve just signed a contract for another six comics. So Iāll definitely be carrying on with it for the coming year.ā
PS.
Sefās new album is out: lieve monsters. I love it when artists donāt stand still, and this record sounds very different from his previous one. With more room for filters and electronics. Iāll have a listen over the next few days to see if it all comes together. Current favourites: ruimte/tijd, oeps, lieve monsters (and the last bit of hel).
In the 1970s, Bob Dylan wrote a note to Barbra Streisand. āIn childish handwriting, he wrote his question in different colours of chalk: āWill you sing with me?āā, Streisand recalls. āI thought, āWhat on earth am I supposed to sing with Bob Dylan?āā Fifty years later, it finally happened. Dylan chose the American classic The Very Thought Of You and together the octogenarians recorded a saccharine version. You have to hear it to believe it.
Wes Anderson has filmed a fun new advert for the luxury pen brand Montblanc. It features Rupert Friend and Michael Cera (and Sandstorm by Darude, yes, really).
- - -As a Field Notes fan (theyāre expensive little books, but they scream to be written in all day long ā thatās the only thing that helps me), I really enjoyed this interview with founders Aaron Draplin and Jim Coudal.
Youāve just read blog post ā120, written during the week of 23 to 29 June 2025. Subscribe to my free newsletter to receive this blog in your inbox every Sunday.