Showtime’s Dexter had a killer showing today at San Diego Comic-Con 2011. Ralph Garman introduced the panel, which included Michael C. Hall (as the titular Dark Defender), C.S. Lee (Forensic specialist Masuka), David Zayas (Detective Angel Batista), James Remar (who plays the ghost of Dexter’s dad, Harry Morgan), and this year’s guest star Colin Hanks (who plays newcomer Travis Marshall), along with executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Scott Buck, and Manny Coto.

The panel began with a preview of an upcoming Dexter-themed Facebook game, created by street artist/designer Marc Ecko. Then they played an exclusive preview of the season 6 trailer [watch it here below] featuring guest stars Colin Hanks and Edward James Olmos. There were loads of religious overtones to this year’s killings, and was set to Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.”

Colin Hanks mentioned he feels extremely lucky to be on this year’s show. Michael C. Hall discussed the trials of working with the two young actors who play his son, who are beginning to learn the word “no.” Hall and executive producer Colleton mentioned that the focus this year would be on Dexter finding a moral (and perhaps religious) foundation for his son.

C.S. Lee said this year Masuka will be getting some interns, and perhaps they will be chosen from fans online.

Colleton was asked if any of Jeff Lindsay’s subsequent Dexter books would become the basis for future seasons. She replied that they bought the rights to the first book as a launching point, and do not even look at any of the other Dexter novels.

Hall was asked if he fears the show will be instructive to potential serial killers. He said that there were so many steps that they don’t show, and that most of the situations Dexter gets into, that would be impossible to realistically get out of, so in short, no.

Hall also mentioned that they shoot mainly in Los Angeles and Long Beach, doubling for Miami, and that they’ve pretty much sucked the marrow out of Long Beach locations.

At this point Mos Def surprised the crowd and joined the dais. Mos plays a character this season named Brother Sam.

C. S. Lee was asked if Masuka would be pursuing something less perverted and more romantic in a relationship. He said if you asked Masuka, he’d say his ways WERE romantic. But seriously, he says viewers should expect to see more romance for Masuka. He also joked about the qualities Masuka shares with C.S. Lee, the actor. He said he draws a lot of Masuka from his friends (and they know who they are).

Colin Hanks talked about how wonderful it is to work with Edward James Olmos, who constantly ribbed him about what his mom would think about his role on the show.

Hall said that although viewers may not see too much of stepkids Astor and Cody this year, they’re not completely out of the picture.

A Con guest asked if Jennifer Carpenter’s character Debra’s constant cursing was the cause of any amusing incidents on set, at which point Mos Def dropped the F-bomb, and Colin Hanks had to remind him of the rules prohibiting cursing while on a Comic-Con panel.

Dexter Season 6 premieres this Sunday, Octover 2nd on Showtime.

Trailer