Old West style Gunslingers seem to be a perfect fit in science fiction, and whenever they pop up they instantly make whatever they’re in better. From Star Wars to shows like Stargate; there’s no shortage of scoundrels ready to pull a gun at a moment’s notice and make you’re day go from bad to worse. Here are ten of the best gunslingers in science fiction.

Han Solo

Anyone who doesn’t recognize the Corellian Smuggler Han Solo as the definitive science fiction gunslinger needs to have their head examined. Han was the best part of the original trilogy as he added a more human face to the mythical mumbo jumbo the Jedi were spewing. And he’s quick on the draw too, at least in the non-special edition.

Roland of Gilead

As a young man, before becoming one of the most popular authors of the 20th Century, Steven King created Roland. A gunslinger drawn to the Dark Tower. It took him decades to complete Roland’s tale, but the result is one of the best stories you’ll ever experience and it’s being made into a movie trilogy and television show soon.

John Crichton

John Crichton shot through a wormhole to a distant part of the universe. At first Crichton was looked at as a “lower than most” species.  The writers often made a point to show the other aliens claiming the human brain and body were inferior on many levels.  However, despite all of his short comings, John always seemed to prevail. With the help of his powerful sidearm “Wynonna” John and his crew soon made a name for themselves in the uncharted territories.

Captain Reynolds

Joss Whedon’s science fiction Western Firefly (or Serenifly, whichever you prefer) is the perfect setting for gunslingers, and Captain Malcolm Reynolds fit the bill perfectly. There are people out there who don’t think Whedon is all what his fans preach, but Firefly and Captain Reynolds can be considered one of his best creations.

Cad Bane

The Clone Wars series is beginning to get pretty dark, and Season Two brought Bounty Hunters into the mix. While familiar faces such as young Boba popped up, the series introduced a new Bounty Hunter in Cad Bane. A dual-wielding Duros with a big western-style hat, he’s the most like the typical Old West Gunslinger that Star Wars has seen.

Dash Rendar

He may be a poor man’s Han Solo, but Dash Rendar saw the spotlight in Shadows of the Empire. Han was frozen in Carbonite, so the Star Wars universe needed a smuggler to take the spotlight for a while, so Dash filled in for fans in the short time period between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Ronon Dex

Stargate Atlantis had a lot of problems. One of them was the constant changes in the cast that happened nearly every season. But that turmoil did bring us Ronon Dex, who ended up being one of the best characters on the show and an easy second favorite among fans right behind Rodney McKay. Ronon was an expert with his pistol, and the buddy-cop style chemistry he and Sheppard had made the series entertaining.

The Fetts (Boba and Jango)

Both Fetts are here because, well, Boba is a clone of Jango. While Boba did really just use a sawed-off blaster rifle, he wielded it like a pistol, a trait he obviously got from his old man, the dual-wielding Jango Fett.

Duke Nukem

“I came here to kickass and chew bubble gum…and I’m all outta gum.” Duke Nukem was the asskicker who saved the world and all of its babes from annihilation. Using monumental catch phrases that were inspired by Evil Dead’s Ash Williams, Duke ran through alien bodies like they were butter. Duke Nukem was a muscle-bound, lady killing, alpha male, with a bad attitude and a bitchin’ cigar. His one liners alone, have put people into tears.

Teal’c

Teal’c a gunslinger? Indeed. While his gun was usually at the end of a giant stick, I doubt there is anyone you’d want to face off against in a quick draw contest.