Josh Renaud
@kirkman.bsky.social
Husband to a Boliviana. Daddy. Emperor of the Renaud Empire. Lover of Atari, BBSes, retro tech, and Tolkien. Journalist at stltoday.com. The guy behind breakintochat.com.
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Do you remember BBSes? ANSI art? Interested in comics or obscure history?
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Do you remember BBSes? ANSI art? Interested in comics or obscure history?
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
This profile was deeply reported, the result of countless hours of research.
I don't know of many others doing this level of in-depth work on little-known #retrocomputing topics.
All my work on Break Into Chat is free — I've never charged a penny! If you enjoy it, please support me by reposting.
I don't know of many others doing this level of in-depth work on little-known #retrocomputing topics.
All my work on Break Into Chat is free — I've never charged a penny! If you enjoy it, please support me by reposting.
January 3, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This profile was deeply reported, the result of countless hours of research.
I don't know of many others doing this level of in-depth work on little-known #retrocomputing topics.
All my work on Break Into Chat is free — I've never charged a penny! If you enjoy it, please support me by reposting.
I don't know of many others doing this level of in-depth work on little-known #retrocomputing topics.
All my work on Break Into Chat is free — I've never charged a penny! If you enjoy it, please support me by reposting.
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Great pixel art, smooth scrolling and tons of large sprites, this game is technically impressive, but somebody forgot to add the fun. Such an iconic character from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic really deserves better.
youtu.be/LuSd5Xwpyw4?...
Another great video from @gears-of-games.bsky.social
youtu.be/LuSd5Xwpyw4?...
Another great video from @gears-of-games.bsky.social
Judge Dredd - Quick Look - Atari ST
YouTube video by Gears of Games
youtu.be
January 3, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Great pixel art, smooth scrolling and tons of large sprites, this game is technically impressive, but somebody forgot to add the fun. Such an iconic character from the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic really deserves better.
youtu.be/LuSd5Xwpyw4?...
Another great video from @gears-of-games.bsky.social
youtu.be/LuSd5Xwpyw4?...
Another great video from @gears-of-games.bsky.social
Do you remember BBSes? ANSI art? Interested in comics or obscure history?
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Do you remember BBSes? ANSI art? Interested in comics or obscure history?
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Check out my profile of ANSI artist Eerie, a talented teenager in Quebec in 1994 who created an original but short-lived online comic that was later the subject of a controversial claim.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Sometimes at Repair Cafe we get items in that are a pleasure to repair. This was one of those things, a Tomy Super Cup Football Game from the mid-80s. As you can see from this disassembly it's basically a motor driven gearbox. An absolute joy to work on. This was not working due to a motor jam.
January 3, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Sometimes at Repair Cafe we get items in that are a pleasure to repair. This was one of those things, a Tomy Super Cup Football Game from the mid-80s. As you can see from this disassembly it's basically a motor driven gearbox. An absolute joy to work on. This was not working due to a motor jam.
A good new year's resolution for the City of St. Louis: stop people from dumping along the Riverfront Trail. It's pervasive. It's shameful.
January 3, 2026 at 1:13 AM
A good new year's resolution for the City of St. Louis: stop people from dumping along the Riverfront Trail. It's pervasive. It's shameful.
Fascinated (and repulsed) by this Chinese AI-generated trackback post, linking to my new profile of "Eerie" and "Inspector Dangerfuck." I fear for the future.
Anyway, skip the slop and enjoy the *real* in-depth piece here:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Anyway, skip the slop and enjoy the *real* in-depth piece here:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
January 3, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Fascinated (and repulsed) by this Chinese AI-generated trackback post, linking to my new profile of "Eerie" and "Inspector Dangerfuck." I fear for the future.
Anyway, skip the slop and enjoy the *real* in-depth piece here:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Anyway, skip the slop and enjoy the *real* in-depth piece here:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Restless.
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
ANSI art and webcomics, Part 3: Eerie and "Inspector Dangerfuck" - Break Into Chat
In 1994, a teenager wanted to be noticed in the ANSI art scene. So he created "Inspector Dangerfuck": a profane, stoned, gray-skinned cartoon detective.
breakintochat.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Restless.
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Cultural differences gave Eerie a different sensibility from his U.S.-based ANSI art counterparts in the 1990s.
He had grown up in Quebec reading funny French and Belgian comics known as bandes dessinées; they were into serious superhero comics.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#comics #ansiart
He had grown up in Quebec reading funny French and Belgian comics known as bandes dessinées; they were into serious superhero comics.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#comics #ansiart
January 1, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Cultural differences gave Eerie a different sensibility from his U.S.-based ANSI art counterparts in the 1990s.
He had grown up in Quebec reading funny French and Belgian comics known as bandes dessinées; they were into serious superhero comics.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#comics #ansiart
He had grown up in Quebec reading funny French and Belgian comics known as bandes dessinées; they were into serious superhero comics.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#comics #ansiart
Reposted by Josh Renaud
When Eerie first began drawing ANSI art, he brought to it a personal style — loose, elastic, cartoony — strongly influenced by works like "Tintin," "Spirou," or "Léonard."
It didn't quite fit in with the shifting stylistic sensibilities of the U.S. ANSI art scene.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
It didn't quite fit in with the shifting stylistic sensibilities of the U.S. ANSI art scene.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
January 1, 2026 at 11:09 PM
When Eerie first began drawing ANSI art, he brought to it a personal style — loose, elastic, cartoony — strongly influenced by works like "Tintin," "Spirou," or "Léonard."
It didn't quite fit in with the shifting stylistic sensibilities of the U.S. ANSI art scene.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
It didn't quite fit in with the shifting stylistic sensibilities of the U.S. ANSI art scene.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
The ANSI artist Eerie, subject of my latest in-depth profile, also drew some amazing Calvin portraits — even though he had grown up influenced more by the tradition of French and Belgian bandes dessinées.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
(3/x)
#comics #webcomics
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
(3/x)
#comics #webcomics
January 1, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The ANSI artist Eerie, subject of my latest in-depth profile, also drew some amazing Calvin portraits — even though he had grown up influenced more by the tradition of French and Belgian bandes dessinées.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
(3/x)
#comics #webcomics
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
(3/x)
#comics #webcomics
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the final "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip by Bill Watterson. It would be hard to overstate how much this strip meant to teenagers like me growing up during its 1985-95 run.
I'm proud that my own kids can quote it today — and at length!
(1/x)
#comics #webcomics
I'm proud that my own kids can quote it today — and at length!
(1/x)
#comics #webcomics
January 1, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the final "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip by Bill Watterson. It would be hard to overstate how much this strip meant to teenagers like me growing up during its 1985-95 run.
I'm proud that my own kids can quote it today — and at length!
(1/x)
#comics #webcomics
I'm proud that my own kids can quote it today — and at length!
(1/x)
#comics #webcomics
I'm curious about this forthcoming book, "Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins: The Function of Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth."
One part of the personal talk I gave at @westmoot.org last year compared the ruin/decay in my local midwestern town with Middle-earth.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/tolkiens-...
One part of the personal talk I gave at @westmoot.org last year compared the ruin/decay in my local midwestern town with Middle-earth.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/tolkiens-...
Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins
The structural and symbolic purposes of ruins in literary texts have a long history, yet few scholars explore their importance within J. R. R. Tolkien's legenda…
www.bloomsbury.com
January 1, 2026 at 6:31 PM
I'm curious about this forthcoming book, "Tolkien's Medievalism in Ruins: The Function of Relics and Ruins in Middle-earth."
One part of the personal talk I gave at @westmoot.org last year compared the ruin/decay in my local midwestern town with Middle-earth.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/tolkiens-...
One part of the personal talk I gave at @westmoot.org last year compared the ruin/decay in my local midwestern town with Middle-earth.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/tolkiens-...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
happy new year
January 1, 2026 at 12:56 PM
happy new year
Restless.
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
ANSI art and webcomics, Part 3: Eerie and "Inspector Dangerfuck" - Break Into Chat
In 1994, a teenager wanted to be noticed in the ANSI art scene. So he created "Inspector Dangerfuck": a profane, stoned, gray-skinned cartoon detective.
breakintochat.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Restless.
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Lonely.
Very talented.
In 1994, Eerie was just a teenager. But he was also a prolific artist, musician, programmer, writer and publisher trying to find his place in the pre-web online world.
A #retrocomputing #longreads profile for the holiday weekend.
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
PART 3! In 1994, a teenager in Quebec wanted to make his mark in the underground scene. So he drew an original ANSI art comic starring a profane, stoned, gray-skinned detective called "Inspector Dangerfuck."
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
December 31, 2025 at 10:56 PM
PART 3! In 1994, a teenager in Quebec wanted to make his mark in the underground scene. So he drew an original ANSI art comic starring a profane, stoned, gray-skinned detective called "Inspector Dangerfuck."
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
Reposted by Josh Renaud
PART 3! In 1994, a teenager in Quebec wanted to make his mark in the underground scene. So he drew an original ANSI art comic starring a profane, stoned, gray-skinned detective called "Inspector Dangerfuck."
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
December 31, 2025 at 10:56 PM
PART 3! In 1994, a teenager in Quebec wanted to make his mark in the underground scene. So he drew an original ANSI art comic starring a profane, stoned, gray-skinned detective called "Inspector Dangerfuck."
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #comics #webcomics #ansiart #bbs
One year ago tonight I released an artpack celebrating "Instant Graphics and Sound," a unique Atari ST-specific corner of BBS history. Still proud of it!!
#retrocomputing #IGS #vintagecomputing #atari #PixelArt #MastoArt #textmode #ansiart #asciiart #atarist #bbs
#retrocomputing #IGS #vintagecomputing #atari #PixelArt #MastoArt #textmode #ansiart #asciiart #atarist #bbs
🎉 💾 🎨
Celebrate the new year with a fun new artpack: IGNITE 01!
This pack celebrates IGS, a unique Atari ST-specific corner of BBS history, with 18 new images and animations.
Download the pack:
mistigris.org/packs/IGNITE...
Learn more about it:
breakintochat.com/blog/2024/12
Celebrate the new year with a fun new artpack: IGNITE 01!
This pack celebrates IGS, a unique Atari ST-specific corner of BBS history, with 18 new images and animations.
Download the pack:
mistigris.org/packs/IGNITE...
Learn more about it:
breakintochat.com/blog/2024/12
December 31, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Josh Renaud
The rare, pale grotto sculpin fish has become a rallying point for local support and conservation efforts in Perry County.
This endangered fish species lives in 5 Missouri caves. And nowhere else.
The rare, pale grotto sculpin fish has become a rallying point for local support and conservation efforts in Perry County.
www.stltoday.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The rare, pale grotto sculpin fish has become a rallying point for local support and conservation efforts in Perry County.
Reposted by Josh Renaud
Do you ever wonder about the burning existential questions …
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
December 28, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Do you ever wonder about the burning existential questions …
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
Do you ever wonder about the burning existential questions …
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
December 28, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Do you ever wonder about the burning existential questions …
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
What was “ANSI art”?
What was a “bulletin board”?
Were there ANSI comics?
Heck, how do you even define "comics"?
… Well, I've got some answers:
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#retrocomputing #textmode #history #comics #webcomics
Reposted by Josh Renaud
PART 2 IS HERE! Get ready to tackle the ABCs of retrocomputing philosophy and existence:
• What was ANSI art?
• What were bulletin boards?
• How do you even _define_ comics?
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#ansiart #retrocomputing #bbs #comics #history #textmode #textart
• What was ANSI art?
• What were bulletin boards?
• How do you even _define_ comics?
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#ansiart #retrocomputing #bbs #comics #history #textmode #textart
ANSI art and webcomics, Part 2: BBSes and the artscene - Break Into Chat
What was a "bulletin board"? What was "ANSI"? Who were the people doing this stuff? Were there ANSI comics? Heck, how do you even define a "comic"?
breakintochat.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:21 PM
PART 2 IS HERE! Get ready to tackle the ABCs of retrocomputing philosophy and existence:
• What was ANSI art?
• What were bulletin boards?
• How do you even _define_ comics?
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#ansiart #retrocomputing #bbs #comics #history #textmode #textart
• What was ANSI art?
• What were bulletin boards?
• How do you even _define_ comics?
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
#ansiart #retrocomputing #bbs #comics #history #textmode #textart
Bill McClellan remembers Harry Levins and many other P-D alums we lost this year.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
McClellan: When Harry met Sadie ... remembering old friends
Columnist Bill McClellan remembers former co-workers, particularly his friend Harry Levins.
www.stltoday.com
December 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Bill McClellan remembers Harry Levins and many other P-D alums we lost this year.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
Reposted by Josh Renaud
🤷♂️ "Very little is readily available"
🤷♀️ "I couldn't find much"
🤷♂️ "Scarce and unreliable at best"
For 20 years, there have been mea culpas for the dearth of details about one particular, provocatively-titled piece of webcomics history.
So let's fill in the blanks!
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
🤷♀️ "I couldn't find much"
🤷♂️ "Scarce and unreliable at best"
For 20 years, there have been mea culpas for the dearth of details about one particular, provocatively-titled piece of webcomics history.
So let's fill in the blanks!
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
December 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
🤷♂️ "Very little is readily available"
🤷♀️ "I couldn't find much"
🤷♂️ "Scarce and unreliable at best"
For 20 years, there have been mea culpas for the dearth of details about one particular, provocatively-titled piece of webcomics history.
So let's fill in the blanks!
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...
🤷♀️ "I couldn't find much"
🤷♂️ "Scarce and unreliable at best"
For 20 years, there have been mea culpas for the dearth of details about one particular, provocatively-titled piece of webcomics history.
So let's fill in the blanks!
breakintochat.com/blog/2025/12...