Angel is getting a new sidekick.

J. August Richards made guest appearances on the WB's "Angel" last season as Charles Gunn, but he's now a permanent, vampire-fighting cast member on the "Buffy" spin-off show, EW.com reports.

According to August, his character will lead a team of vampire hunters and form an alliance with the brooding "good" vampire Angel (played by David Boreanaz) in the new season.

August appeared on three episodes of "Angel" last season and has already read the show's fan mail, which he said has been mostly positive about his performance.

August is also getting a little help preparing for fans from Alyson Hannigan, who plays Willow on "Buffy".

"Oh, I'll talk to anybody," he said about fans. "Alyson Hannigan said the first year it's 'Don't I know you from somewhere?'' The second year it's 'Aren't you that guy on that show?' And the third year it's 'Hey, J. August Richards!' I've already gotten so much of 'Don't I know you from somewhere?' But I won't ever tell someone that they know me from TV, because I'll feel really stupid if they recognize me from somewhere else.

--AllPop