Domino (character)
| Domino | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Impersonated by Copycat in The New Mutants #98 In a flashback in X-Force #8 Fully in X-Force vol. 1 #11 |
| Created by | Fabian Nicieza Rob Liefeld |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Neena Thurman |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | The 198 X-Force X-Corporation Underground Six-Pack |
| Partnerships | Cable |
| Notable aliases | Neena Beatrice Thurman, Beatrice Thurman, Samantha Wu, Tamara Winter, Elena Vladescu, Jessica Marie Costello, Luisa Mendoza, Christina Elizabeth Alioso, Priscilla Sutherland, Hope Eldridge |
| Abilities | Probability manipulation Superb marksman with various firearms Skilled hand-to-hand combatant |
Domino (Neena Thurman) is a Marvel Comics character, best known as a member of the X-Men offshoot X-Force. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/co-writer Rob Liefeld, she first fully appeared in X-Force #11 (June 1992).
In addition to her exceptional marksmanship and hand-to-hand skills, Domino possesses mutant probability-altering powers, similar to those of the X-Man Longshot. She often uses her skills as a mercenary, but has also been the partner, confidante, and lover of the superhero Cable, lieutenant in his militant group X-Force and an ally of the X-Men.
Publication history
Apart from being a mainstay character in the first series of X-Force, Domino has had two limited self-titled series, one of which had her teaming with Puck against Lady Deathstrike. The second revealed her childhood.
Domino did not properly appear in Marvel Comics until after several false starts. A Domino imposter, a mutant shapeshifter named Copycat, first appeared in New Mutants #98 (1992), although the real Domino did not appear in that issue. Domino made a brief appearance in a flashback in X-Force volume 1 #8, and made her first actual present-day appearance on the last page of issue #11.
Fictional character biography
The woman who would become known as Domino is actually the result of a top-secret government breeding program intended to develop the perfect weapon. Domino was the only test subject to survive, but her "luck" power was deemed a failure at meeting the project's goals. Her biological mother broke her out of the project and left her with Father Rudolpho Boschelli in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. Domino eventually left the Church and became a mercenary. One of her first jobs was to stop "Operation: Jericho," which was a remote-controlled warbot project. Domino wrecked the robot, but in the process fried the mind of the soldier controlling it. She was then assigned to guard the genius Dr. Milo Thurman, whose analytical ability made him too dangerous for the government to let roam free. Somehow, Domino and Thurman fell in love and were married, apparently officially. Thurman had a thing for Dante's "Inferno" and called Domino "Beatrice." However, they eventually divorced when Domino had to change postings.
She then began work as a mercenary and helped found the mercenary band the Six-Pack, which introduced her to the mutant time traveler Cable. Domino worked with the Six-Pack for some time, taking on many missions for the pure cash value. The Six-Pack was very brutal in their adventures, often shooting down entire crowds of people who got in their way. The team, also known as the Wild Pack, went on missions in Iran,[1] and participated in a raid on a HYDRA base,[2] which Domino participated in. During her time with the Wild Pack, she had her first confrontations with Stryfe, Cable's evil twin, in Afghanistan and Uruguay.[3]
When Cable became the leader of the New Mutants following their break from the X-Men, "Domino" (actually Copycat)[4] joined him as his field leader, and stayed with the team as they changed from the New Mutants to X-Force. When it was revealed that the real Domino was actually a prisoner of the supervillain Tolliver for over a year,[5] X-Force rejected the Domino imposter and, with Cable's reassurances, planned to rescue the real Domino and welcome her onto the team.
Meanwhile, the real Domino learned of Tolliver's destruction of X-Force's Adirondack base, and planned her escape.[6] Cable found her at Tolliver's Italian home, along with her apparently murdered double.[7] Domino was accidentally freed by Deadpool, who she shot. Cable sent her to find X-Force. She escaped on Tolliver's helicopter, and survived a fall from Tolliver's helicopter into the sea.[8] She found X-Force and joined the team.
Domino stayed with the team for most of its existence, becoming its de facto leader when Cable left the team on several occasions. For a while, she was a prisoner of the forces of Bastion, which severely affected her mentally and physically. During X-Force's existence, Domino had several solo adventures. During one, she was forced to kill her mentally ill, ex-Six-Pack partner Grizzly.
When X-Force briefly disbanded, Domino joined the X-Corporation. There, another partner, ex-adversary Risque, was murdered, part of a series of incidents which summoned the core group of the X-Men. While helping them with their investigations, Domino had a one-night stand with Wolverine. She was also part of Cable's Underground. Around this time, she was also affected by outside forces and sent to kill Cable. This, obviously, failed. She rejoined X-Force when the team was reformed to battle Skornn.
Later, she was employed by S.H.I.E.L.D. as a member of the new Six-Pack. Alongside G. W. Bridge, Hammer, Solo, Anaconda and Constrictor, she attacked Cable at his community Providence, though she quickly defected to his side after the Six Pack was defeated by Cable and Deadpool. Domino followed Deadpool to Rumekistan, where she assassinated the country's dictator, Flag-Smasher, only to find out it was part of a plan to install Cable as leader of that nation. After a conversation with Citizen V, she then attempted to kill Cable, believing that he would lead them to ruin.
Civil War
During the Civil War, she, Shatterstar, and Caliban (X-Force), led an attack on the Xavier Institute and broke out more than half of the 198, bringing the tension which had been building between the 198 and O*N*E to a head. Most recently, she left the Six Pack, which disbanded again. She then joined Cable on Providence for a time, until a battle with the Hecatomb caused the island stronghold to sink into the ocean[9].
Powers and abilities
Domino is a mutant with the ability to subconsciously and psionically initiate random telekinetic acts that affect probability in her favor by making improbable (but not impossible) things to occur within her line of sight, thus causing her to have "good luck" and her opponents to have "bad luck." This "probability field" phenomenon can be anything from an enemy's equipment failure to hitting just the right switch with a stray shot to shut down an overloading nuclear reactor. The full extent of her powers is still unknown.
This subconsciously controlled talent is triggered when she is in a stressful situation (such as fighting or escaping). This effect constantly emanates from her body at all times and is completely subconscious. However, it is also largely participatory - in order for the luck to take effect, Domino herself must engage in an action whose chance she can affect.
For example, if debris falling from the sky was about to hit her in the head, she would still be hurt if she stood still. However, if she tried to avoid it, she would move perfectly to avoid each and every piece about to hit her. In addition, if Domino were to stand before a hail of bullets she would be a bullet-ridden corpse. Instead, she must take action, attempting to avoid the gunfire, and would miraculously bob-and-weave just perfectly to avoid every single shot.
As a byproduct of her probability abilities, Domino's cerebral cortex emits a current of bioelectric pulses down her spine to instinctively guide her movements during such situations, which has the added effect of augmenting her natural reflexes and agility to near-superhuman levels.
Domino is also a superb marksman with various firearms, highly skilled athlete, excellent swimmer, and adept in use of explosives. She has extensive training in various armed combat techniques and the martial arts. She also seems to be fluent in multiple languages.
Domino wears body armor unknown composition, and carries conventional firearms. She has also used a staff that fires unspecified ammunition, which can be used for balance when jumping and is equipped with sensors.
Other versions
Age of Apocalypse
- In the Age of Apocalypse, Domino was a sadistic bounty hunter working for Apocalypse, alongside her two henchmen, Caliban and Grizzly. Domino was summoned by the Dark Lord to hunt down Nate Grey. Even though Domino's powers gave her the advantage, she was killed by Nate, who destroyed her mind by exposing her to all the suffering she had caused.
Ultimate Domino
- Ultimate Domino was introduced in the second part of the "Cable" storyline, that can be found in Ultimate X-Men #76. Once again, Domino appears to be part of Cable's team and looks just like her original counterpart.
X-Men: The End
- In this alternate future of X-Men: The End, Domino, Rictor and Feral are the only three survivors of a brutal attack directed against X-Force. They are ambushed by shapeshifting enemies and Domino's luck runs out when 'Wolverine' drives blades through her chest.
Earth X
- In the Earth X storyline, Domino, still a member of X-Force, was one of the many people who was a pawn of the Skull[10]
Skornn
- In an alternate future, Domino took on the identity of Stryfe. Coming to Earth-616, she rebuilt the Mutant Liberation Front and assisted Cable against Skornn. Her Earth designate is Earth-5014[11]