'Green Lantern' Round-Up: 7 Things You Need to Know Before Seeing the Movie

Everybody knows about Batman and Superman, but with the release of "Green Lantern," DC Comics is stepping into risky territory. Not everybody knows who Hal Jordan or the Green Lanterns are, as evidenced by this satirical video from the Onion News Network.

You don't want to be that person walking around the movie theater talking about "Greg Lantern," do you? Of course you don't. You want to be a cool person who...knows about comic books...

So to catch up on what you need to know about "Green Lantern" before you see it, here's a list of eight fun facts about one of DC's greatest superheroes:

1.  He's older than you think: The original Green Lantern was created in 1940 in the "Golden Age" of comic books, and he didn't have that sleek costume that Ryan Reynolds will be wearing in the movie. In fact, he wore a big cape and looked like a magician, which played into the fact that his ring was powered by magic. Green Lantern was rebooted in 1959 with a new costume, new ring (now a technological invention, not magic) and a new hero behind it: Hal Jordan. This will be the Green Lantern you see in the movie.

2.  It's DC, not Marvel: Green Lantern is a DC Comics character, which means he inhabits the same comic book universe as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the rest of the Justice League. That means that Reynolds as Green Lantern could eventually be in a movie with Henry Cavill as Superman and whomever they get to take over as Batman after "The Dark Knight Rises" (Christopher Nolan has said that his Batman stands alone). Green Lantern is not a part of the Marvel universe, which means he'll likely never appear with the X-Men, Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, or any of those other heroes that Marvel is gearing up for "The Avengers."

3.  Stay through the end credits: Speaking of yellow, if you stay through the end credits of "Green Lantern," you'll get a teaser scene for a possible sequel involving a betrayal from someone you might have thought was a friend. Make sure you don't leave! And if you want to hear more (with some spoilers), check this out.

4.  What is this Oath thing?: Hear that poem that Ryan Reynolds speaks during the extended trailers? That isn't just because he enjoys rhyming couplets. "The Oath" is spoken to recharge the power ring...the user must hold the ring up to the lantern (yes, it actually comes with a green lantern) and recite the rhyming oath. It's also a great way to get geeks who love the Green Lantern to get goosebumps while watching movie trailers (guilty).

5.  Ryan Reynolds won't be too goofy: "There's gotta be some moments of levity," said Ryan Reynolds about humor in the movie. The actor is known for his comedic abilities, and sure enough the trailer shows him joking about not knowing the Oath. But Reynolds assures us that they didn't "push too far" with the comedy in here. After all, he's the Green Lantern, not the Comedian.

6.  Green Lantern is getting a reboot: A reboot is in store for Green Lantern, but not in the movies. DC Comics is planning on rebooting all of their comics and starting over at issue #1 for most of their main characters. That means that Green Lantern will be appearing in a brand-new version of his own comic book title, plus he'll be making appearances in the new Justice League comic. You'll also be able to get digital copies as these issues release, so if you enjoy the movie you'll be able to read up on GL on your mobile device.

7.  This is not an actual "Green Lantern" trailer: It's for "The Muppets." But they had you going, didn't they? If you want a real sneak peek at the movie, start by watching these great clips from the movie now.

Feel educated? Good! Have fun showing off your DC Comics knowledge at the movies this weekend!