Talking About ‘Dorian Gray’ With Enrique Corominas

This interview with writer and artist Enrique Corominas is occurring because his upcoming adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray (1890). It will be seeing release from publisher Titan Comics in September 2026. Corominas has an extensive career which includes creating the covers for the Spanish edition of George R. R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire series. While there are many adaptations of the works of Oscar Wilde it is rarer for them not to be a movie, a play, or a book. Thus, this occurrence is notable not just for being a new iteration of what many consider a classic, but one that is in this medium.

Benjamin Hall: What intrigues you most about author Oscar Wilde’s version of Dorian Gray?

Enrique Corominas: The Picture of Dorian Gray is my favorite novel, so it fascinates me for countless reasons. We all know it’s a gothic drama about narcissism, morality, and the fear of being influenced by others, but what interests me most is Wilde’s reflection on art: how art influences people, and how people influence art.

Hall: Why adapt something so famous for its narrative and its many other adaptations?

Corominas: Because the adaptations I’m aware of are either teen horror movies or more-or-less gay melodramatic plays and films for old folks. There is one exception: The Picture of Dorian Gray (Albert Lewin, 1945), which is a masterpiece that actually respects the novel’s gothic drama tone and many of its themes. But I felt that no one had adapted the story to another medium while truly respecting its original spirit.

Hall: Will this be more of a straight re-telling plus visuals or does it have some of your own personal views?

Corominas: The last thing I wanted to do was a summary of the novel with pretty pictures … Oscar would have appeared in my dreams to slap me if I had done that! Or better yet, he would’ve sent the Canterville Ghost to make me pay! I think I’ve managed to draw a lively comic in which the adaptation comes down to making visual and script choices unique to the medium. To stay true to the spirit of the work, I had to change many things.

Hall: Do you think that, like George Orwell’s 1984 (1949), the tale of Dorian Gray is somewhat timeless because of the commentary within it?

Corominas: In this era of Instagrammers and AI, Dorian Gray is more relevant than ever. Narcissism is part of the human condition, and without artistic expression, we wouldn’t truly be human. So yes, Oscar managed to write a work that is even more immortal than his own character.

Hall: Does the completion of this comic inspire you to do more adaptations?

Corominas: Yes, it inspired me to adapt Wilde’s short stories into comics. It would be quite a challenge to pull off.

Hall: Lastly, is either your artistic style or your sensibility for art different after the completion of this work?

Corominas: I tried to make the art style in Dorian Gray sensual and ornate, filled with nods and references to symbolism and many, many Victorian artists. Adapting this work was a real masterclass for me; it allowed me to study literary and artistic decadentism in some depth, and it opened many doors. I only hope Oscar grants me a fraction of his talent so I can integrate those influences into my own work. My dream would be to convey in a single image — in a single painting — many of the emotions that Wilde’s work awakens in me. Although, as Oscar himself said: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Hall: Thank you, Enrique Corominas, for your answers and time.

Corominas: Thank you, and Comicon, for your questions and for your work in supporting comics and their creators.

Dorian Gray will see release from Titan Comics at bookstores on 22nd September and comic shops on 23rd September. It is available for preorder until August 31st.