“My name is Oliver Queen.”

Arrow Season 3 premieres on the CW on October 8th at 8pm ET, with the Arrow (Stephen Amell) no longer a feared vigilante, but Starling’s darling. The show presents a reimagined tale of playboy millionaire Oliver Queen, presumed dead after his yacht disappears in a storm. He returns a different man, determined to rid Starling of all those who have “failed this city,” by donning a hood and bow as vigilante with a mission.

Arrow has brought on multiple new characters each season that have been interwoven into the tapestry with ease and this upcoming season we can expect no different. So, here is what we know so far about who’s coming from the DC universe (and a few not found there) for Season 3.

Cupid/Carrie Cutter: The most recent acquisition, Amy Gumenick, has been tapped to play this stalkery love villain. In the comics, she was in special ops and volunteered for a program that would increase her fearlessness, but would also heighten her emotions, especially in the love category. She becomes obsessed with the Arrow, but who wouldn’t? We last saw Amy playing a young Mary Winchester in Supernatural, eventual mom of Sam and Dean and a hunter in her own right.

[Source: EW]

The Atom/Ray Palmer: DC alum Brandon Routh snagged a big role as the new owner of Queen Enterprises (see trailer below). Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said to EW, “[Brandon] actually did a chemistry test with Emily [Bett Rickards] and we didn’t have any doubt [before], but when everyone saw that, the two of them just jumped off the screen together.” I guess Olicity is not headed for smooth sailing.

[Source: Variety]

Cooper Seldon: We last saw Nolan Funk as Hunter Clarington from the Warblers on Glee. This season, in at least one episode, he’s an ex from Felicity’s past. Oliver is going to be fighting the men off Felicity with a stick (or an arrow).

[Source: TV Line]

Komodo/Simon Lacroix: Entertainment Weekly reports that Matt Ward will appear as mercenary Komodo, in the second episode of Season 3. Although not currently scheduled for more episodes, his appearance will have far-reaching after-effects the rest of the season. Ward had previously been seen in small roles for TRON: Legacy and Charlie St. CLoud.

[Source: EW]

Count Vertigo: 22 Jump Street‘s Peter Stormware will be the new Count Vertigo. Seth Gabel’s Count from Seasons 1 and 2 was killed by the Arrow in Season 2 Episode 7 “State vs Queen” when he puts Vertigo syringes against Felicity’s neck, supposedly. The Count says to Arrow in the trailer, “Some things never die. You, for example.” It seems like Stormare is picking up where Gabel left off, instead of being the new Count in the drug business, but we will have to tune in to be sure.

[Source: TV Guide]

Wildcat/Ted Grant: According to Deadline, J.R. Ramirez will play a gym-running ex-boxer helping underprivileged kids. We do know his appearance is not a one-hit wonder and he will be connected to Laurel (Katie Cassidy) in some way. My hope is that Laurel will finally have some luck in the romance department, but in Starling City, that is highly unlikely.

[Source: Deadline]

Manhunter/Mark Shaw: David Cubitt of Medium fame, will play Mark Shaw in an early episode, as a connection to Diggle (David Ramsey) and the A.R.G.U.S. squad. In the comics, many people wear the Manhunter name, but no news yet on how the character will (if at all) be further used this season or others.

[Source: THR]

Maseo Yamshiro: Real Steel star Karl Yune will be a flashback character, as one of the handlers (with wife Katana) that trains Oliver in Hong Kong after he leaves the island. This exclusive from TV Line states that a friendship will evolve between mentor and mentee, and shapes the future Arrow.

[Source: TV Line]

Katana/Tatsu Yamshiro: Rila Fukushima replaces Devon Aoki as Katana, half of the duo that trains Oliver in flashback episodes, reports Deadline. So far there are no reports of past coming to the present as Canary (Caity Lotz) did.

[Source: Deadline]

Donna Smoak: Charlotte Ross, of NYPD Blue and Nashville fame, will play Felicity’s mom on an episode (hopefully more!) this season, and it is not yet known whether it will be in flashback or present-day. But who cares? Anything that brings more focus to Felicity is ok in our book!

[Source: TV Guide]

MTV reported on August 29th, 2014, in an interview with Liam Neeson, that Neeson would be very interested in reprising his movie role Ra’s al Ghul from Batman Begins on Arrow, but that he has not been approached. C’mon DC! It’s time to start mixing!

[Source: MTV]

After that epic battle where the Arrow team joins forces with the League of Assassins to defeat Slade (Manu Bennett) and his juiced up minions, AND after the extreme fake-out of a possible Olicity love connection (finally!), we found out it was all part of the plan. Mean twist Arrow! However, the teasers are showing Oliver asking Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) to dinner. They wouldn’t do that twice to us, would they? Hoping some of my faves like Thea (Willa Holland) and Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman), last seen leaving town together, are returning for Season 3.

Here is the Season 3 trailer: