Josh Renaud5h ago

In an alternate universe somewhere, nobody has heard of “webcomics.” Instead, there are thousands of “telecomics.”

In 1992, Don Lokke Jr. coined the term “telecomics” to describe his new digital comic strips, drawn primarily in the ANSI art format and distributed online through BBSes.

This is the final in-depth profile in my "ANSI art and webcomics" series!

https://breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03/25/don-lokke-and-mack-the-mouse/

#webcomics #comics #retrocomputing #bbs #ansiart #textmode #longreads #history #computerhistory

Show threadThe Green Herring13h ago

The workstages of Kaoru fighting a robot! It started as a narrow strip, some stages were done on my Steam Deck at work, and the robot was drawn in a separate file before I merged it into the main one.

#Timelapse #FurryArt #ANSIArt #TextmodeArt #PixelArt #FantasyArt #Nonbinary #Furry #Art #MastoArt #FediArt

The Green Herring15h ago

Most mages need their feet on solid ground to cast magic, but Kaoru Morimoto (they/them) is not most mages.

#FurryArt #ANSIArt #FantasyArt #Nonbinary #TextmodeArt #PixelArt #Furry #Art #MastoArt #FediArt

Mistigris computer arts1d ago
Mistodon: this rather angular purple #ANSIart logo in promotion of Gemenon BBS was drawn by Zeus II and included in last month's unthemed MIST0226 artpack collection.
Show threadJosh Renaud3d ago

RE: https://digipres.club/@kirkman/116241827181329943

My forthcoming profile of Don Lokke and his "telecomics" has been a lot harder to write than I expected.

But I'm very happy with the latest drafts. The end is finally in sight.

(This will be the fifth and final installment of my "ANSI art and webcomics" series: https://breakintochat.com/blog/category/ansi-art-and-webcomics/?order=asc)

#retrocomputing #vintagecomputing #ansiart #textmode #textart #comics #webcomics #history #computerhistory #longreads

Mistigris computer arts4d ago
Mistodon: a regretful reprint, this #ANSIart promo for #BlackSunshine BBS was drawn by Mavrik and released in the MIST0695 artpack collection released 31 years ago. It depicts the offbeat Image Comics hero #TheMaxx. RIP to his creator #SamKieth.
MeaTLoTioN4d ago

If you've done 6 impossible things this week, why not round it off with a trip onboard "thE grAvY trAIn" TONIGHT at 21:00 UK! (1pm Pacific/4pm Eastern)

https://erb.pw/y/tgt20260321

#DontPanic #thEgrAvYtrAIn #TextMode
#RetroComputing #BBS #ChipTunes #TrackerMusic #ANSIArt #ASCIIArt

dON'T pANiC - iT'S gRAVY tRAiN tIME! (2026-03-21)

Odysee
Mistigris computer artsMar 17
Mistigram: this social media posting may be the only place you get to see this #ANSIart illustration of internetting while drunk (not recommended), drawn by Picrotoxin and included in last month's new unthemed MIST0226 artpack collection.
Mistigris computer artsMar 17
Mistodon: this social media posting may be the only place you get to see this #ANSIart illustration of internetting while drunk (not recommended), drawn by Picrotoxin and included in last month's new unthemed MIST0226 artpack collection.
Show threadJosh RenaudMar 17

In the decade after Ward Christensen and Randy Suess created the first BBS, there was a growing tension between commerce and the common good.

BBSes were born in a spirit of openness and sharing, but it wasn't just a hobby anymore, according to folks like Jack Rickard and Phil Becker. It was "an emerging growth industry of unprecedented opportunity."

https://breakintochat.com/blog/2026/03/16/business-of-bbsing-ansi-art-and-webcomics-part-4/

#retrocomputing #ansiart #textmode #ansi #bbs #bbsing #computerhistory #history #mastoart #comics #digipres