In 22 July 2022 the Linux kernel updated to version 5.18.13 on my system, causing the TTY to seemingly freeze during boot. But it was only visual! I was actually at the framebuffer login screen all along, and could type blindfolded. I logged in and typed startx without seeing anything, and I was brought to my IceWM desktop.

Some forum threads and troubleshooting later, the only workaround to see the framebuffer was to disable Kernel Mode Setting (KMS), but I was fine logging in blindfolded. It was just annoying I could not use my framebuffer.

Fourteen months later, the Linux kernel updated to version 6.5.2 on my system, fixing this bug! The days of logging in blindfolded are over.