6 ridiculously awesome depictions of Space Marines, ranked

In science fiction, when adventurous humans travel beyond our big blue marble, they'll often run into swarms of aliens that need to be fought. And, for some reason, these futuristic warfighters are almost always called the same thing: "Space Marines."

It's not some one-off trope. The list of fictional works that include their own version of a Space Marine seems to span every major sci-fi classic, from comics to movies to video games. This list is just a small sampling of the most badass Space Marines that have made their mark on pop culture.

Honorable Mention. ' Amazing Stories: Captain Brink of the Space Marines'

The very first use of "Space Marine" was in the pulp novelette written by Bob Olsen in November 1932, called "Captain Brink of the Space Marines."

The story itself is fairly straightforward and is meant for kids, but it began a trend in writing and pop culture that has since stuck.

Seriously, why haven't we gotten a "Colonial Marine" film yet?

(20th Century Fox)

'Aliens'

If it weren't for the fact that these guys are technically called "Colonial Marines" instead of "Space Marines," they'd be much higher on the list. But if there's anyone who could stand their own against (most) aliens hordes, it'd be them.

It's too bad they're nothing more than glorified cannon fodder when put up against the stupid-powerful aliens.

(Bungie Entertainment)

'Halo'

The series' protagonist, Master Chief, isn't in the United Nation Space Command Marine Corps, but rather the UNSC Special Forces — because he's a genetically modified super soldier and all that. However, every other human that fights alongside him is a Marine.

A bunch of muscle-headed, chain-smoking brutes in space? Yep, they're Marines alright.

(Blizzard Entertainment)

'StarCraft'

There are several human factions fighting each other in the StarCraft universe. But whether you're talking about the Confederate Marine Corps, Dominion Marine Corps, or the Alliance Marine Corps, they're all Marines... In space.

Heinlein might not have been the first to describe Space Marines, but it's his description that stuck.

(Robert A. Heinlein)

'Starship Troopers'

The badassery of the Mobile Infantry is well-beloved among sci-fi fans, but they're seldom called "Space Marines" in Robert A. Heinlein's novel — and the term never appears in the various movies. If you look into his other short stories, however, he directly refers to the Mobile Infantry as "Space Marines."

Okay, he's also called "Doom Slayer" in the 2016 reboot... but no fan calls him that.

(id Software)

'Doom'

The main character throughout the Doom series is just called "Doomguy" by fans. He's a Space Marine who kills God-knows-how-many waves of demons using countless weapons (including the aptly named "Big F*cking Gun") and magic until he eventually kills Satan himself.

But it's the Adeptus Astartes (the non-heretic Space Marines) that top this list.

(Games Workshop)

'Warhammer 40K'

It if wasn't obvious by now, we love our Warhammer 40k Space Marines. They're the embodiment of the saltiest Marine values pumped full of steroids and shot into space. Hell, even their primary enemy, the Chaos Space Marines, are insanely badass.