Get the popcorn ready. On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. — a new show that takes place in the world of last year’s box-office smash The Avengers — will join ABC’s fall lineup. Continuing the story arc last visited in the Avengers movie, Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) — yes, you read correctly — leads a small team of special agents who will investigate big cases and occasionally work with some of the world’s newest superheroes. All on a weekly basis.

Before you tune in, however, we insist upon a pre-ops briefing. The expansive world of Marvel Comics is as fun as it is confusing with new characters on every page and twice as many villains waiting to pounce in the next inked cel. Series creator Joss Whedon is wont to capitalize on this exhaustive mythology, so here are five things you need to know to start off sharp.

1. What is S.H.I.E.L.D.?

From Iron Man (2008):

Agent Phil Coulson: I’m Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts: That’s quite a mouthful.

Agent Phil Coulson: I know. We’re working on it.

Led by Gen. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), S.H.I.E.L.D. is a covert agency of non-superheroes, affiliated with the United States government, who often deal with superhuman activity across the world. (In the comics, however, they’ve been linked with the Un.