Miserable Americans is a comic book series created, written and developed by artist Evan Derian. It is currently being independently published but is available for theatrical adaptation, animation, video game or expanded publication. Please contact the creator and copyright owner for Miserable Americans click here.

A Small Disturbance in Dreaming is my first gallery show self published in a book to begin with, the collection contains 15 pieces based on influences of surrealism and expressionism. All the pieces in the book are original digital illustrations. Some of the pieces from the book are shown on the right. Prints ranging from 10” x 10” to 18” x 18” will be for sale from the book. The book, itself, will be the first publication for any of these pieces. Click this link to purchase the book from the online store.

Created for a gallery show called Wild Mutations, this portrait of Iggy Pop is a large 30” x 40” canvas giclee in an edition of 4. It carries through stylistically the expressionistic leanings of my recent work with emphasis on shapes and bright flat colors.

The Wild Mutations show was based on the style of rock ‘n’ roll and the effects and changes it brings about in the artists as well as the fans. Iggy has forged a decades long career and gone through many career evolutions and changes. The aim of my piece was to capture Iggy’s fiery spirit and his eclectic style and vision through the chaotic lines and balance of colors.

Currently available for purchase. Click here.

Digital illustration on canvas. A exploration of expressionistic and pop art sensibilities combined. The figure cuts through the canvas and the line work is chaotic filled in-between with bright flat colors.

The piece has been re-imagined in a color print 20” x 16” (edistion of 3) and an off white on white version at 20” x 16” (edition of 3)

Large hot pink version printed on canvas at 50” x 21”, signed on the back. #1 in a series of 4. Canvas and prints available in the online store.

Commissioned to do a series of classic rock artist portraits, I chose David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Elton John. This series of illustrations uses my style of gestural line work and vibrant color to help bring these portraits to life.

“Rocket Man: Elton John” is a 16” x 20” illustration currently available as a limited edition poster.

Art print available for sale here.

Digital illustration. This piece explores expressionistic illustration style with a rhythm of flat colors from a pop art sensibility. The portrait consumes the canvas in super close-up in reflection of the singers brazen public performance and persona. This piece is available in the online store in editions on canvas and giclee prints. click here

Illustrations, page art, and promotional work from the third book in the Miserable Americans series, including a detail of Lincoln throwing up on Kennedy just because.  Miserable Americans series is available in the online store.

Digital illustration of Iggy Pop and Sid Vicious, entitled “The Punk Meets the Godfather”. Expressionistic illustration to be included in the 8” x 8” forthcoming illustration book “Tits and Explosions”. Also will be available for purchase as a 14” x 14” giclee print and a large format canvas.

I've been working on a style combining expressionism, illustration with the sensibilities of pop art colors. This series of illustrations has broached a wide variety of subject matter. Mostly figurative representations of internal emotions. At the end of 2020 I found myself emotional compromised by the state of a contentious election and what seemed like the open integration of narcissism, corruption and willful abuse of good will and decency. I attempted to convey the simple representation of what evil feels like, and convey that feeling in this illustration. Image is available in a limited edition of 3 giclee prints and large canvas editions.

With the 2024 election approaching I felt inclined to revisit this illustration and create off shoots and re-interpretations for what promises to be a very disappointing election year, in which people will be proud and boastful in exercising the worst they have to offer. We celebrate ego and bravado above accomplishment, wisdom and intelligence. I will most like end up distorting this image in the attempt to keep up with how distorted our ideals become.

Preparing the Miserable Americans series for a digital launch has prompted me to go back to the original books and do some fixes and refreshes. Like a musician remastering old songs…. this is a chance to look back and bring the first book up-to-date with more accomplished style of the later books. Whether it was due to inexperience or not necessarily having the style and feel of the series completely worked out, this is a rare opportunity to address previous work and better match it to the more established style and feel of the current books. Whether it’s new drawings or revised scenes, the Miserable Americans book 2 refresh is a new experience on the second chapter of the series. A new printed version is available in the online store click here. A digital format release will be available soon.

Illustrations, page layouts and concept art for my Batman project. A short story entitled “Epilogue to the Killing Joke". The premise follows the conspiracies that have developed over the ending of the original Killing Joke and whether Batman killed the Joker at the end of the story. My short story concept is an interpretation of what might have actually happened after. This gallery displays various illustrations, cover art, and page layouts, all in various stages of completion. The short story is now viewable in the blog section. View the video trailer here

Miserable Americans is getting a graphic novel. The first four books of the series are being compiled into an assembled trade paperback. The adjacent images are the first series of cover designs for this paperback edition. Check back here as the project develops for more updates about the release of this book.

Preparing the Miserable Americans series for a digital launch has prompted me to go back to the original first book and do some fixes and refreshes. Like a musician remastering old songs…. this is a chance to look back and bring the first book up-to-date with more accomplished style of the later books. Whether it was due to inexperience or not necessarily having the style and feel of the series completely worked out, this is a rare opportunity to address previous work and better match it to the more established style and feel of the current books. Whether it’s new drawings or revised scenes, the Miserable Americans book 1 refresh is a new experience on the first chapter of the series. A new printed version is available in the online store click here. A digital format release will be available soon.

“She Gave Me That Look Again” - expressionistic illustration in combination with bright flat colors. Digital illustration offered on limited edition canvas, and giclee. Image will also be available on various product imprints. Small 8” x 8” canvas and large 24” x 24” canvas now for sale in the online store. Click here.

The illustration is entitled “I’ll Never Touch You”, which is a lyric from his 1976 song “Breaking Glass”. The illustratioin is comprised of 3 separate illustrations of Bowie layered upon one another but offset and skewed slightly. Bowie, throughout his career, created a multitude of characters and personas that he layered on top of his own true self often revealing aspects of the true personality underneath or quiet often fearful manifestations of himself or the world around him. The arms outstretched upwards, in the illustsration represent the efforts of inspiration and creativity, reaching out skyward, meanwhile the figure looks downward and contemplative. I used the arms upward and the figure facing downward to express the dichotomy of inspiration vs the internal, darker subject matter isolation and alienation that Bowie often dealt with themetically in his songs. The line work is chaotic and expressionistic, which coincides with Bowies constant manipulation and integration of musical styles. As well, I used a wide variety of vivide and bright colors intersperced within the chaotic spaces created from the line work as an intent to mirror the joyous musicality of Bowie’s catalog resulting from this deconstructing and reassembling of musical styles and trends.

Illustration on large format canvas, 30” x 40”. Also available in a limited edition 12” x 16” giclee print. Canvas and limited edition giclee prints available in the online store.

Furthering the figurative exploration in combination with expressionism and bright pop art colorization. This piece further breaks down the formal elements of the figure and divides the canvas into two slightly off symmetrical images.

Miserable Americans book 5 is the latest comic book in the Miserable Americans series. View sketches, excerpts and full page art from the book.

Synopsis: After the mysterious ambush of the FBI agents as they closed in on the clones of Lincoln and Kennedy, the two Presidents, with the aide of a bar maiden named Ginger Goldmine, seek out refuge in a rundown Chinese restaurant. Once there, Kennedy and Lincoln come to grips with the truth of the assassinations that ended their lives. The mysterious organization that cloned the two Presidents, regroups in their efforts to reacquire their clones, while the clone of Warren G. Harding makes other plans. Book 5 is a bonus sized story topping out at 36 pages. click here to purchase.

Digital illustration on canvas. This piece further explores expressionistic and pop art sensibilities combined. The figure cuts through the canvas and the line work is chaotic filled in-between with bright flat colors.

Digital Illustration printed on canvas; 8” x 14”, framed, signed on the back. (#1 in a series of 3). Large canvas 23” x 40” (#1 of 4) also available. Signed and numbered on the back. .This piece is available in the online store click here.

Digital illustration on canvas. This piece further explores expressionistic and pop art sensibilities combined. The figure cuts through the canvas and the line work is chaotic filled in-between with bright flat colors.

Digital Illustration printed on canvas; 26” x 30”, framed, signed on the back. #1 in a series of 5. Also available as giclee 8” x 10” print in a series of 10, signed on the front. Available in the online store. Click Here.

Translation: Death of Arrogance: Portrait of Austrian painter Egon Schiele. Large format illustration on canvas. 72" x 36". The first of my endeavor into portrait illustration and exploration into expressionistic style and patterns of bright flat colors. The illustration is based on a photo of the artist on his death bed. Schiele died in the influenza pandemic of 1918. 12” X 23” giclee print available in the online store.

Illustrations and samples from the fourth book in the Miserable Americans series. The book is currently available in the online store.

Illustration of Keith Richards. Giclee print on canvas, 36” x 36”. Also available in “12 x “12 limited edition giclees. Limited edition canvas and giclee prints available in the online store.

Graphic design image for use on t-shirts and products.

Digital illustration available in large format canvas and limited edition gyclee prints, as well as t-shirts and other promotional products. Check out the online store on this site. Or my teepuplic page here.

Large format illustration, 30” x 40” on canvas.

Large format illustration on canvas, 48” x 60”. Self-portrait of myself at 25 drawn at the age of 50.

Portrait of actress Carol Lombard. Black and white illustration; available at 8” x 10”, 16" x 20, and 23” x 30”.  Canvas giclee and prints in limited editions in the online store.

Large format illustration entitled “The Return of Marylin Monroe by Andy Warhol” - 36” x 42”, digital illustration giclee on canvas. Limited edition.

Logo and t-shirt design combining the block M of the University of Michigan and the Batman logo. T-shirt is currently sold out.

Graphic image for product and t-shirt design.

One page illustration and text for the Werewolf Anthology called Lycan Lore published by Source Point Press and available at Amazon

The second book in the Miserable Americans series deals primarily with Lincoln and Kennedy's escape from the secret facility that had been keeping them captive. The gallery offers page samples and detailed illustrations from the book. Miserable Americans 2 is available in the online store

Poster art celebrating the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics characters the Joker, Catwoman and Robin. Submitted for the 2015 San Diego Comic Con program guide.

Graphic art and tshirt design entitled the Devil's Music. (Satani Yerazhshtut'Yun is the Armenian translation). Tshirt to be available for sale soon.

Abraham Lincoln is a star character in my comic book series Miserable Americans. Poster art and various illustrations of Mr. Lincoln as he appears in the series. He was also the 16th President of the United States and did some cool stuff back then.

Graphic design for t-shirts and prints. 

Catwoman poster art.  Based on the purple skin-tight, thigh-high boot wearing Catwoman of the 1990's. Poster art will be available for sale online soon.

The fifth (and second to last book) in my first series Insignificant Gods. Cover art, page layouts and detailed illustrations are shown here. Insignificant Gods #5 is available in the online store.

Tshirt design. Marvin Sunk (aka Alice Cooper) was used to brainwash the youth of America.  "We hate love. We hate Joy. We love money." was his mantra. Tshirt art to be available soon for purchase.

The first book in the Miserable Americans series. Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy, apparently having survived the assassination attempts on their lives awake to a world that is not quite what it seems.

Cover art for a short story one shot comic book written by Jeremy Dobry. Illustration and layout design.

Illustrations and page art from my second book in the Insignificant Gods series. This book is now SOLD OUT and out of print.

Ultimately this will be the complete collection for the Insignificant Gods series. The 6 issue series, at some point in time, will be compiled into a brand new graphic novel with this new cover art and additional concept drawings and unused page art. This will be the ultimate collected edition of the True Love Killer storyline.

Graphic design image for t-shirt and product design. T-shirt design available on my online store here. More products and options available here.

"Split" is to be my first official attempt into the Super-Hero genre. The first story is written. I was thinking of publishing this purely as a Web comic on my site first and then possibly going to print. As of now the project is on a temporary hiatus.

40th Anniversary show at Green Brain Comics. Reinterpretation of page 5 from Fantastic Four #1. Green Brain Comics, in Dearborn, Michigan, held an art show commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of the first issue of the Fantastic Four. Artists were asked to recreate a page of art from that book in their own style. 

This is the official Miserable Americans logo and icon for the corresponding comic book series and all related merchandise.

The last issue in the Insignificant Gods series.  The story is completed as Richard comes face to face with his past and Roxy must make the ultimate sacrifice to stop the demon who has possessed her friend.  The series is available still as individual books, however a revised graphic novel compilation is in the works.

Character study for as yet undisclosed graphic novel in progress.

The first printing of the entire Insignificant Gods series compiled into the True Love Killer graphic novel. This collection compiled all 6 issues into one large format. This version is currently out of print.

Insignificant Gods #1 is the first comic book I ever created. It is dark, gothic and most definitely flawed… but it is my first. So much effort and guts went into trying to create a comic book for the first time, it's not hard to be fairly fond of the book. Two years of my life went into developing this; from concept to writing to pencilling and inking and layouts and lettering. Every stage was new and every stage had to be figured out. I'm sure every comic book creator has their "first". This one is mine.

Illustration of Daron from the Insignificant Gods series and the True Love Killer graphic novel used for promotion and poster art.

Poster / promotional art from the Insignificant Gods series.  Roxy Drinking illustration.

The story heats up as Roxy's friend Agnes goes missing. Incinerator continues his search for Agnes. Richard confides in Daron and continues to struggle with trying to remember his past.

Artwork based on the undying legend of actor Rody McDowell as "Cornelius" in the original Planet of the Apes film series.  These are illustrations, tshirts and wall graphics based on the iconic image.