Buffy : Season 8

For "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fans, the ongoing debate regarding the identity of Twilight, the mysterious villain causing all sorts of chaos for the "Season Eight" cast, was the story of 2009. Now, just a few weeks into the new year, it appears that the secret is out — or is it?

While we’ll save details surrounding the big reveal for after the jump (to avoid offending spoiler-sensitive readers), it’s safe to say that the face behind Twilight’s mask came as a surprise to, well... just about everyone. But as fan of Joss Whedon’s "Buffy-verse" can attest, there’s usually more than meets the eye when it comes to the surprises he and his creative team have seeded over weeks, months, and in the case of Twilight, years.

That’s why we’re thrilled to bring you the first word from Whedon himself about the big reveal, what it means for upcoming "Season Eight" writer Brad Meltzer (who scripted the story arc in which Twilight is supposedly unmasked), and as a bonus for Splash Page readers, the first, exclusive look at two upcoming "Buffy: Season Eight" covers. Oh, and consider this your SPOILER ALERT!

"Brad Meltzer is the master at taking what’s before you and peeling it back to show what’s beneath," Whedon told MTV News of the big reveal and the role it will play in Meltzer’s run, which kicks off next month with the penultimate arc before Whedon himself takes the writing reins to close out "Season Eight."

"In this case, that applies to characters, assumptions, motivations, mythos, masks, and most spectacularly, clothes," added Whedon. "Season Eight officially goes into high gear in Brad’s extraordinary arc. Try to keep up."

Now, just in case you haven’t been following at home, the news first broke last week when the covers to Dark Horse Comics titles shipping in April were posted online — including a pair of covers for issue #34. The covers featured Buffy in the arms of her former lover, the vampire with a soul, Angel... who just happened to be wearing Twilight’s costume, sans mask.

And to say that the ’Net caught fire could be the understatement of the year.

However, MTV reached out to "Season Eight" editor Scott Allie for more thoughts on the big reveal.

"So, yeah... Twilight is Angel," said Allie after a long pause. "You know, I’ve gone four years not letting myself say that."

However, Allie was quick to indicate that the identity of Twilight is only the first of many big surprises in store for the big "Season Eight" finale.

"The fact that his identity is out there now actually tells you very little about what’s going to happen," he said. "This has been the plan from the very beginning of ’Season Eight,’ and it does make sense, believe me."

With Angel currently the subject of an entirely separate series at IDW Publishing, Allie explained that just because the character has only made "silly little cameos" in Dark Horse’s "Buffy" universe thus far, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been able to play a more significant role if the right story presented itself — and this is that story. Additionally, despite the dual series unfolding in the Buffy-verse, Angel’s appearance in "Season Eight" doesn’t clash with the timeline of his solo series at IDW.

"The timelines don’t overlap yet," said Allie. "The ’Angel’ series at IDW picks up at end of ’Angel’ television series, but ’Buffy: Season Eight’ started up a significant amount of time after the television series ended."

"These continuities will be made to jibe, which doesn’t cancel out IDW’s continuity or what they’re doing with the character," he added.

And lest we overlook one of the other notable elements of the whole Twilight saga, Allie noted that the newly revealed identity of the character should add an interesting element to discussions of how Twilight (the "Buffy" character) relates to "Twilight" (the book and movie franchise). While Allie noted that the name Twilight had been in place for the "Season Eight" villain since well before Stephenie Meyer’s novels became the phenomenon they are today, he did note some irony in how the coincidence played out.

"The irony that you see in the villain being named Twilight is only made stronger when you realize that Twilight’s identity is Edward... I mean, Angel," he laughed.

"Buff the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight" #31 hits shelves Wednesday, featuring a story by Joss Whedon. Brad Meltzer kicks off his run next month in issue #32.