Ernest & the Dream Stone

Yer February Update, Vern!
7 months ago – Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 11:12:52 AM

Vernon!

Guess what?!

(Rolls eyes)

…Vern, chickens don’t have butts.

Anyways, we’re officially entering the final stretch. We’re on page 110 (Arief’s pencils are below!). We’ve added a few splash pages and extra goodness to really spice things up, so we’re now looking at about 168-ish pages total.

Gosh, I haven’t waited this long on something this exciting since a Norwegian prince texted me out of the blue and told me if I donate my life savings of $37 and wait patiently… I’d become a millionaire! Can you believe that?!

…Still waitin’ on that one.

But this here? We’re talkin’ soon, Vern. Just around the corner. This year. 2026! So hang tight and we’ll finally get this bad boy wrapped up, how ’bout ye?

One thing about our illustrator, Arief Russanto — he brings it every. single. day. By the end of this process, we’re all going to have a graphic novel we’re incredibly proud of. 

Here's a few of the latest samples (as always -- I  have to pick pages that don't have spoilers). 

In a crowd, or alone in a neighborhood, Arief packs every panel with gorgeous detail.

Until next time!

Corey from Ernest Goes to Comics

🎉 Happy Belated New Year, Vern! 🎉
8 months ago – Thu, Jan 29, 2026 at 08:49:36 AM

Quick January check-in: we’re at page 100. Production always slows down a bit during the holidays, but we’re back at it and moving forward. Check out Arief’s latest page below!

Our illustrator is working extra hard to make sure Ernest looks like Ernest—the expressions, the timing, every goofy beat that makes you say, “Yep… that’s him.” On top of that, he’s packing the pages with an incredible amount of detail.

Here’s a sneak peek at one of his newest pages, where Dr. Otto’s Gloombeam is hemming the town in… which uh, not exactly a good thing, Vern. 

Thanks, as always, for your patience and support. We’re excited for what’s ahead in the new year!

Corey
Ernest Goes to Comics

🎄 Merry Christmas, Vernon! 🎄
9 months ago – Thu, Dec 25, 2025 at 12:06:15 PM

May your stockings be stuffed, and your chimney be, uh, stuffed...  with Ernest. Hangin’ upside-down, blood rushin’ to his head, panicked as Vern reaches for...

Quick update: we’re now on page 95, Yes, it's movin' slow, but, Arief Russanto, the artist, is putting in TONS of effort to make every page is chalked full of fantastic detail, and really caring to make sure Ernest looks like the Ernest we all know and love. 

We’re so grateful the support, laughs, and holiday cheer.

Corey
Ernest Goes to Comics

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, Vern!
10 months ago – Fri, Nov 28, 2025 at 07:45:47 AM

I hope everyone’s stuffed full of turkey and feeling extra grateful... mostly for the five extra pounds we all just gained.

We’re sittin’ around page 90 right now, moving slow but steady! Check out three panels from one of our latest pages below!

Thanks for sticking with us, Vernon!

Corey from Ernest Goes to Comics

🎉 Happy One-Year Anniversary, Vern!
12 months ago – Mon, Oct 20, 2025 at 09:50:40 AM

That’s right, Vern! One year ago, we were buzzing as that little Kickstarter counter kept climbing higher and higher. Backers from all around the world came together to do something special -- bring Ernest back for the first time in over 25 years! 

What. A. Thrill.

I remember I woke up around 3:45 a.m. in Nashville, and Mo Edwards rolled out of bed around 1:45 a.m. in Seattle, so we could launch the campaign.

And boy, was I nervous. My brain was running laps:

I launched it. Scrolled through the page one last time. Then scrolled back up --and BAM! Someone had already pledged within minutes! I just sat there staring, thinking, "No way..."

Then another pledge.
Then another.
Then another.

Not long after, Justin Lloyd (Jim Varney’s nephew), Josh Cherry (Ernest IP owner, actor, and writer), and I were on the morning news in Nashville talking about the project while Mo was fielding updates and comments. 

See the news clip here:

After the segment aired, we checked the page and said,

“Holy crap... we’re going to fund this bad boy on the first day!”

And sure enough, thanks to YOU, Ernest & The Dream Stone landed in the top 1–2% all time in comic/graphic novel Kickstarters! And we did it without a publisher. So if anyone asks me about you, Vern, I'm goan tell 'em straight up, "They're a great bunch of guys and gals, KnoWhutImean?!"

As we just wrapped Episode 25 of the Kickstarter Podcast, I found myself reflecting on how proud I am of this entire team. A lot of comic adaptations from famous movie IPs just slap something together -- but that’s not what we did. From scriptwriting to artist selection to Kickstarter planning, we put in the time, heart, and elbow grease. When you open this, it won’t just feel like a story about Ernest—it is Ernest. Back. Bold. Spooky. And full of heart.

We’re now sitting around page 84 --a little slower than we originally expected, sure -- but honestly, we’re so proud of how it’s coming together.

Here’s page 74, penciled by our incredible artist, Arief Russanto:

To each and every one of you (except the semi-naïve mad-scientist, Dr. Otto Von Shnick-Ick-Ick-Ick) -- THANK YOU!

With an abundance of gratitude and a dash of Eggserroneous,

Corey from Ernest Goes to Comics