In 2015, the blog Wait But Why began publishing a series on Elon Musk and his various exploits. More hagiography than examination, writer Tim Urban’s witty blog posts portrayed Musk as a visionary genius deeply concerned with the future of humanity and adept at tapping technological trends.

The series, conveyed through endearing stick-figure illustrations, starts with a comic depicting Musk’s people calling Urban to set up an interview. Urban’s head immediately falls off, stunned at the attention he’s receiving from “the world’s raddest man.” It’s jokey and cute. Later in the series, Urban explains how Musk has grand plans to deliver affordable electric cars to the masses, protect us all from AI, and guide us to a wondrous climate change–free future. Musk comes off as brilliant but relatable, a down-to-earth billionaire looking out for humanity’s collective interest and always down to talk to a silly little blogger who draws stick figures.

It’s strange looking back on the series eight years later. The hagiography that Musk developed and Urban diligently scribed now lies in tatters. Musk is no longer in the news for audacious presentations touting affordable electric cars and space colonization, but for actions ranging from the disreputable (his stewardship of Twitter, his personal life) to the cartoonishly villainous (alleged torturing of monkeys).