Since 1997, a fiery debate has rocked the world of pop culture unlike any other. This debate has had critics and fans alike foaming at the mouth. More than which came first between the chicken and the egg, more than how many licks it really takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop (it sure ain’t three), people want to know one thing: Who pulled the trigger first? Han Solo or Greedo?

For twenty years, we were led to believe that Solo fired the first (and only) shot in his legendary confrontation with the biggest flop in bounty hunter history. But then the Star Wars Special Edition hit the theatres. The original trilogy was back, with brand new special effects, and even some footage that had originally wound up on the cutting room floor. That was all well and good, but……..Han Solo getting beat to the draw?…….A bounty hunter missing a target at point blank range? If you look reeeeeeeaaaaaal close, it appears that Solo gives his head a subtle jerk to the side as one or two laser bolts annihilate the wall next to him, but Greedo would’ve missed anyway. There are rumors that upon seeing the outcome of this brief encounter, Darth Vader screamed, “NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”

Well, this is what’s got so many loyal fans ticked off. Greedo was (let’s face it) the least competent bounty hunter the galaxy has ever known, and therefore got what he deserved, so how is it he managed to pull the trigger first?

In the novel Han Solo and the Lost Legacy, our hero sustains an injury when he loses a showdown against Gallandro, a gun slinging ex-soldier. But in a book, we don’t actually see it happening, so this particular scene is widely accepted by the legions of Star Wars fans. If, however, the book were, say, updated twenty years later, and had Solo running away in terror, we’d probably get mad.

In Dark Horse’s Star Wars Tales, Issue #14, we read the story of The Emperor’s Court (a spoof of The People’s Court), in which the late Greedo’s mother accuses Han Solo of murdering her son. Han maintains that Greedo fired first, and he acted purely in self-defense. Emperor Palpatine ultimately finds Solo guilty of murder (commenting on Greedo’s aim being akin to that of a Stormtroopers, if indeed he had shot first), and sentences the smuggler to be carbon-frozen. I think they should probably reopen that particular case, what with recent advances in technology (some DVD collections of the movies allow you to view the original theatrical releases).

In 2015, Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) will be re-re-released in theatres, this time in 3-D (don’t forget your glasses) Already, you can place your bets as to what new details regarding that famous shootout will surface. My money’s on Han dodging the laser blast, then blocking an attempted pistol whip before sending his opponent into the Force.

It’s just too bad someone didn’t capture the battle at the O.K. Corral on video. We could keep tabs on which gunfight underwent more overhauls throughout the years.