As Superman prepares to soar back into theaters, we’re seeing more scenes with some of the supporting characters. Since most of them aren’t the best known, it seemed like a good time to go over who some of them are. I don’t plan on covering Superman, Lois Lane, or Lex Luthor. I sort of figure anyone interested in the movie is likely familiar with them.

Hawkgirl– Hawkgirl and Hawkman are in close contention for winning the prize of “most rewritten backstories.” There have been at least two, arguably three, different incarnations of Hawkgirl in the comics, ranging from reincarnated Egyptian princess to cop from the planet Thanagar with a penchant for swinging her mace first and asking questions later. The version in the movie at least shares a name with one of the reincarnated Egyptian princess versions, but how much, if any, of that background makes it in we’ll have to wait and see, as well as which abilities she’ll have. I think it’s a safe bet we’ll get to see her smack something hard with her mace at least once.

Mr. Terrific II– What I expect the biggest difference from the comics to the movies will be that Michael Holt, the man we’ve seen in the previews, is actually the second Mr. Terrific; the first was a Golden Age character who has been dead for years. Holt is a polymath genius, gifted in multiple different sciences, and a highly skilled inventor and engineer. He is frequently referred to as the third smartest person in the world (make your own guesses who ranks where), and in the comics supposedly has 14 PhDs, several black belts, and is a former Olympic decathlete. His mask has various sensors in it, and in the comics, renders him invisible to technology. His most useful invention are the T-Spheres, which can fly, perform reconnaissance, carry an array of sensors and weapons, and can project holograms. How many of these abilities of his will carry over into the movie remains to be seen.

Guy Gardner– The Green Lanterns are an intergalactic police force in DC Comics, who wear a ring that uses the bearer’s willpower to create almost any object imaginable. Earth’s best known Green Lantern is probably Hal Jordan. This isn’t him. Guy was raised by an abusive father in Baltimore, made it to college, got hurt while playing football, and became a social worker. Later, he was chosen as a backup Lantern for when Hal was unavailable. After a major personality change which might have been from a head injury, Guy is outspoken, brash, and utterly unconcerned with other people’s feelings. He’s had a few different versions of his powers in the comics, but I suspect the movie will just deal with his main, Green Lantern persona. Guy has no powers, but his ring is capable of nearly anything he can imagine, allowing him to fly, create constructs, shield himself from harm, and, in the comics at least, has a vast database constantly updated by the thousands of Lanterns on active duty.

Metamorpho – Rex Mason was an adventurer who was transformed by a mysterious artefact called the Orb of Ra. It gave him a monstrous appearance, but gifted him with remarkable powers. Among his abilities in the comics are being able to turn into any element, stretch or reshape his body, and incredible resistance to injury of any kind. In the comics, his powers are due to a betrayal by Simon Stagg, and Stagg Industries has appeared in the previews for the movie. Which powers he ends up with, and how he fits into the larger world, isn’t certain yet. The character has been shown minimally in the previews, and, so far at least, never with the other characters.