Showtime's favorite serial killer with a heart returns for a fifth season to find its hero shaken to the core

At the Comic-Con International panel for "Dexter" Thursday, the theme of the upcoming fifth season was revealed to be Dexter's nightmare is of his own creation. A serial killer must reap what he sows. If Dexter is going to satisfy both his own dark cravings and impose a moral code unto himself that justifies his amoral behavior, then he surely must expect that it would one day come back to haunt him -- which it brutally did at the end of the fourth season.

So while Dexter's wife, Rita, paid the ultimate price for Dexter's extra-curricular pursuits, Dexter now must face the consequences of the choices he has made. He will face life as a single father, of not only his son, but Rita's two children left behind who blame him for failing to protect their mother.

In addition to those challenges and the restrictions single fatherhood will impose on his personal time, Dexter will have to face true guilt -- the nagging remorse and agony of feeling that this was perhaps his fault. Rita may not have died from his hand, but he may have painted the bulls-eye on her. Someone targeted her to get to him. Additionally, his sister Deb will also start to feel suspicious of what is really going on with Dexter as they are grieving, but they are exhibiting their grief so diametrically differently. This may create a chasm between them as well.

During the panel, actor James Remar who plays Dexter's deceased father Harry, who speaks to Dexter as if he were Dexter's conscience, said that despite the grisly nature of the show, it is an absolute blast working with Michael, Jennifer and the rest of the cast and crew. The dance between Dexter and Harry is simply cool as Harry is fundamentally the voice of Dexter's journey towards humanity -- or the checks and balances for Dexter's darker instincts and nature.

This season will answer the question whether Dexter can have it all, and the answer is a resounding "no!" The loss of Rita will consume Dexter in different ways -- not only the unwanted human emotions of guilt and grief, but also the time constraints her loss now imposes upon him and the opening of the door of suspicion by those around him as to who he really is. Thus, Dexter is in a much more emotionally ragged place -- not in control like he usually is. This rawness will wear on him and push him in ways he cannot anticipate.

In a funny analogy, when a fan asked Michael if he thought of Dexter as having similarities with Batman, Michael thoughtfully responded that perhaps because they both have surrendered to the darkness and are trying to learn to manage it that in his own way, Dexter is a lot like Batman. After all, both do take it upon themselves to pick up the sword of vengeance and their own sense of justice to wield as they see fit. Only at Comic-Con, would anyone ever dream that up, but remarkably the analysis seemed to fit!

So, in addition, to the inner and inter-personal struggles, this upcoming season will introduce special guest stars Julia Stiles, Johnny Lee Miller and Peter Weller.

"Dexter" returns for its fifth season Sept. 26 on Showtime.