Throughout the 1950s, '60s and into the '70s, "Hammer Horror" became a reliable shorthand for a particularly gothic aesthetic filled with dramatically lit castles, creepy old men with upperclass English accents and chills that managed to be both over-the-top and surprisingly effective.

Following the studio's disappearance in 1979 after almost falling into bankruptcy, Hammer Films returned in 2008 with a string of updated horror titles including The Woman in Black, The Quiet Ones, The Resident and Let Me In, a remake of the Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In.

Titan's Hammer line, which aptly launches in time for Halloween, will feature a mix of classic Hammer titles and all-new properties. In a statement accompanying the announcement, editor David Leach said, "Hammer is the home of some of the most groundbreaking horror and genre films in motion picture history. Together, we're going to make some terrifyingly good comics."

The British-based publisher has built a reputation for its licensed material, with series based on Doctor Who, Heroes Reborn, Assassin's Creed and NBC's The Blacklist in its portfolio. Its next high-profile launch starts in May, based on Showtime's Penny Dreadful.