As a longtime fan of the quirky and lovable character Ernest P. Worrell, I must say that I am absolutely thrilled to learn about the latest project bringing him back to life – or rather, the pages of a graphic novel. Arief Russanto, an Indonesian artist, is the man behind the magic brushstrokes that are breathing new life into our beloved Ernest.
After a gap of 25 years, Ernest P. Worrell embarks on a new journey in the comic book titled “Ernest & the Dream Stone“, which introduces the iconic character created by actor and comedian Jim Varney for the first time in a graphic novel format. In this comic, penned by writer Corey Perkins and illustrated by M. Arief Russanto, Ernest will encounter Dr. Otto, another character portrayed by Varney in the movie “Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam“. The plot revolves around a magical “Dream Stone” that makes Ernest’s dreams come true, but also brings his nightmares to life. Since Ernest is such a kind-hearted character, one would assume this would be beneficial; however, it also unleashes his fears, which can be dangerous for someone with an overactive imagination. This becomes evident when he accidentally summons Dr. Otto into reality.
College professor Perkins, a dedicated admirer of Ernest for life, has collaborated on an authentic comic, partnering closely with Josh Cherry (the rights holder of the Ernest franchise) and receiving approval from Justin Lloyd (nephew of Jim Varney and author of the biography The Importance of Being Ernest). Thus, this becomes the first official Ernest story since Varney’s passing in 2000.
Through Kickstarter, Perkins is financing the project, and within just the initial 30 hours of fundraising, they have managed to gather over $40,000. This not only surpasses the project’s target of $35,000 but also ensures that the project will indeed proceed as planned.
As a longtime admirer of Ernest, it’s me who got roped into this adventure! Honestly, I can’t recall how it happened, but I’ve been an avid fan since my childhood. Remember Eric Jones, my kindergarten pal? He was the one who introduced me to ‘Ernest Goes to Camp’, and I instantly fell for the Ernest movies. Over the years, I’ve penned graphic novels and scripts about them, and then, surprisingly enough, I got a chance to sit down with the franchise owner for some intriguing conversations.
2021 marked the beginning of the concept for “Ernest & the Dreamstone”. Later on, I wrote the script. To ensure its authenticity and Ernest-like charm, we put in a tremendous amount of effort. We didn’t rush this project because I hold these movies close to my heart. It was crucial for me that if someone watched this new Ernest production, they would truly feel it was Ernest. We spent time perfecting the humor and vocal cadences so that when you read it, Ernest’s voice echoes in your mind. Similarly, while working with the illustrator, I made sure the facial expressions were distinctly Ernest-like. In essence, we dedicated significant effort to make this feel genuine.
During the chilling months, I purposefully choose to launch this crowdfunding campaign; it’s no coincidence. The graphic novel I’m working on feels like a supernatural follow-up to the hilarious Halloween film, “Ernest Scared Stupid.” Just like in “The Dreamstone,” our hero Ernest finds himself battling against a menace he accidentally unleashes.
“This story is my love letter to Ernest Scared Stupid, which has become one of my favorite movies. Not my favorite Ernest movies, my favorite movies,” Perkins told ComicBook. “You’ll see a lot of influence from that movie, but Ernest has some new challenges to face in this story. It’s not just pure horror — there’s also a heartfelt story arc going on behind it. I got that from the pathos of Ernest Goes to Camp.I know a lot of people might think, ‘Pathos? Ernest Goes to Camp?’ Go back and watch it. Yes, it’s a zany comedy. Yes, it’s funny. Yes, it’s slapstick. But there are some really touching moments that are almost magical in the way Jim Varney, as Ernest, gets people to emote.”
Initially, Perkins drafted the project as a screenplay because he had prior experience with such formats, and creating comics was uncharted territory for him. Subsequently, Perkins and Cherry began refining the concept. However, an essential aspect of comic creation – the artwork – was absent during their early discussions. Perkins mentioned that finding the perfect artist to bring his vision to life was a time-consuming process.
Perkins extensively searched the web in various countries to find the perfect artist, conducting tests with multiple candidates. He encountered numerous talented artists during his search, eventually discovering Arief Russanto.
Russanto hails from Indonesia, and his enthusiasm for the project was unparalleled. According to Perkins, they consistently received images from Russanto as he worked tirelessly to perfect the expressions and resemblance, all while they were auditioning artists for the book.
According to Perkins, it’s not him who is returning Ernest, but rather Arief. Though I may have penned the story, Arief is the one actively working in the field, fetching us back. It’s truly enchanting what he’s accomplishing. We’re simply delighted to have him around.
Colors are the work of Mariam Yasser, while Perkins and Russanto are equally involved in the project. The book is being edited by Erin Natal, known for her creation Ernest Goes to Podcast. Graphic design and marketing duties are handled by Maureen (Mo) Edwards from #ErnestWatchParty.
It’s possible that some might contend that an “Ernest” project without Jim Varney is destined for the same outcome as the 2012 “The Three Stooges” movie. However, it’s essential to remember that while Varney played a crucial role in making the character popular, he wasn’t the sole creator of Ernest. John Cherry, the father of Cherry, who was an ad executive, originated the Ernest character and introduced it to Varney. A string of regional advertisements became hugely successful, which eventually led to the character embarking on its first cinematic journey.
Over time, Ernest transformed into an undisputed film celebrity and cultural sensation. Following his work in numerous advertisements under the name Ernest, Varney then starred in a sequence of short films, eventually moving on to nine full-length movies, indeed nine of them!
He first appeared in a commercial-free comedy show called “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!” on Saturday mornings. This role earned him a Daytime Emmy Award. The first movie, titled “Ernest Goes to Camp,” was released in 1987. Jim Varney, who starred in it, was joined by a cast of relatively unknown actors, including Richard Speight Jr., who later became famous for Supernatural, as well as Iron Eyes Cody and John Vernon. This movie, produced with an estimated budget of $3.5 million, earned $23.5 million at the domestic box office and remained popular in video rental stores, generating profit for many years after its release.
Perkins openly acknowledged the challenge of creating a graphic novel without Jim Varney as Ernest. He emphasized that no graphic novel could replicate the charm and magic found in Jim Varney’s performances as Ernest in the films. However, he assured readers that they put in tremendous effort to ensure the graphic novel felt as authentic as possible given its format. While it won’t evoke the same feelings as watching “Ernest Scared Stupid” as a child, he expressed hope that readers would still find the magic of Ernest in the book. Justin Lloyd, Jim Varney’s nephew and biographer, has been supportive and endorsed the project. You can see his guest appearance in our Kickstarter trailer if you visit it. The support from key figures like him has been invaluable in bringing back Ernest.
The 150-page comic book will be made available to our patrons in December 2025, approximately one year following the conclusion of our crowdfunding project.
The fundraising drive on Kickstarter for “Ernest & the Dream Stone” commences on September 17th and continues until October 17th, perfectly timed for the arrival of the eerie autumn season. To stay informed about updates, you can register here.
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2024-09-18 20:15