Showtime Web Site Offers New Side Of "Dexter" Amid Other Online Features

The descriptive term "drawn out" usually isn't considered a compliment, but for Showtime's latest feature, it seems appropriate.

Showtime's Web site, sho.com, is currently featuring a different look to one of its most popular series with "Dexter: Early Cuts." The animated webisodes focus on main character Dexter Morgan's detailed description of his process of selection as a serial killer.

On the premium cable series, Dexter (Michael C. Hall) fulfills his inner need to kill - brought about by a traumatic childhood experience - by working as a blood spatter expert for the Miami Metro Police Department while moonlighting as the city's protector. The webisodes track back to before the events of the series, showing the evolution of Dexter and his earlier kills. Just like the series, the animation is contains a great deal of both darkness and blood.

The artwork is the design of Kyle Baker, whose resume includes both the Marvel and DC Comic labels, in addition to work for HBO, Warner Brothers Feature Animation, DreamWorks Animation and Cartoon Network. The author of numerous graphic novels, Baker also has received artist honors such as the Harvey Award and the Eisner Award.

In addition to the webisodes, there are other new "Dexter"-themed features across the Internet. Aside from "Dexter's Follow the Code," which works through platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, YouTube also has "Where's Dexter," a takeoff on the "Where's Waldo" book series. The site DextersChangeTheBaby.com allows users to alter the visage of Dexter's newborn child with their own images.

The fourth season of "Dexter" premiered Sept. 27 with regular cast members Hall, Julie Benz, Jennifer Carpenter, C.S. Lee, Lauren Vélez and Desmond Harrington, along with special season star John Lithgow as Dexter's fellow serial killer, the Trinity killer. New episodes of both the series and the webisodes air Sundays on Showtime and sho.com, respectively.