This post on IDW Publishing's website serves as a perfect companion to yesterday's article at Comic Book Resources sifting through the details of the return of the Angel license to Dark Horse.

Last week it was revealed -- prematurely, it turns out -- that after nearly five years at IDW, the Angel comics will move in late 2011 to Dark Horse, home of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Dark Horse previously published Angel, first as a monthly then as a miniseries, from 2000 to 2002.

The surprise announcement naturally left fans of the IDW series, and the upcoming Spike spin-off, confused, leading IDW Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall to dedicate a thread on the company's message board to answering their questions. This week Ryall collected that thread's highlights for an "official Angel is leaving IDW Q&A" that clarifies some of the issues surrounding the move -- including, most notably, the driving force behind the decision. Namely, Buffy creator Joss Whedon.

"... Ultimately, these are all Joss Whedon's characters," Ryall wrote, "and if he decides that they're best-served being under another roof, then that's what will happen." Later, when asked whether IDW was outbid for the Angel license, Ryall added: "I would not have stopped doing Angel comics if it were up to me; money had nothing to do with it. These are Joss' characters and as I mentioned above, Joss wanted them all under one roof. And it so happens that that roof is located in Oregon, not San Diego."

Dark Horse published Buffy comics from 1998 to 2004 before launching the highly successful Season 8 in 2007. A canonical continuation of the cult-hit television series, Season 8 is supervised by Whedon, who also wrote the opening and closing arcs. The series will conclude in January with Issue 40 before relaunching as Season 9 -- alongside the return of Angel -- in late 2011.