Flash Gordon Time Lapse!

There's just something about Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon that keeps pulling me back to the drawing board.

The original 1936–1940 serials weren't slick — the sets wobbled, the rockets were on visible wires, and the cliffhangers were shameless. But that's exactly the charm. Crabbe brought a square-jawed, athletic sincerity to the role that no amount of budget could fake. He was Flash Gordon — swashbuckling energy, matinee-idol looks, and just enough camp to make it timeless.

Every time I sit down to draw him, I'm chasing that same feeling those serials gave audiences on Saturday afternoons: pure, unpretentious adventure. Ming the Merciless, the rocket ships, the ray guns — it's pulp sci-fi at its most joyful, and it still holds up as some of the most influential imagery in the genre (yes, even Lucas took notes).

This one's for the matinee heroes.

I also recorded the process, as I now have a dedicated camera above my drawing board in my new studio. Nothing fancy. It's just an old iPhone that serves no other purpose.