Dorian Gray #1
Written by Darren G. Davis and Scott Davis
Art by Federico De Luca
Cover by Federico De Luca
Dorian Gray created by Oscar Wilde
Bluewater Comics
Release Date: July 25, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Bluewater Comics is an independent comic publisher who is unique in their devotion to biography and literary adaption genres. With the success of titles like Quartermain and Sherlock Holmes, this month introduces readers to Dorian Gray #1, what could be its most ambitious ongoing monthly series yet.

Oscar Wilde’s wit is nearly impossible to replicate, and luckily the writers eschew attempting such a thing. Opting instead for a loosely based take on the Faustian themes and the characters in the original novel, they trade 19th century London for present day New York City. While Wilde is near and dear to my heart, I have never been a literary snob, nor do I intend to become one. Any medium that inspires people to pick up a book or enjoy said book again in a new way is a fabulous thing. Writers Darren G. Davis and Scott Davis just might have enough tenacity and decadence to make this comic fun too. That always helps, so people will actually buy it.

Empire has exclusively premiered the poster for Dorian Gray, the big-screen adaptation of the Oscar Wilde classic The Picture of Dorian Gray. Check out the site to see the full version.

Last month, the international teaser trailer for the Oliver Parker film, starring Prince Caspian‘s Ben Barnes, was debuted at STYD, which you can watch here below.

The story revolves around the handsome young Dorian (Barnes) who’s swept away by a hedonistic lifestyle in Victorian London after meeting the charismatic Lord Henry Wotton (Colin Firth). After an artist paints his portrait, Dorian says he’d do anything to keep his youthful beauty captured in the painting, even sell his soul.

The film, which also stars Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Rebecca Hall, will be released in the UK on September 9; no date has been confirmed yet for the U.S. release.