Domino is a small oblong piece of wood or another material, normally twice as long as it is wide, marked on one side with an arrangement of dots, called pips, similar to those on a die, but blank or identically patterned on the other side. It is used in games, where players try to place it edge to edge with other dominoes so that the pips form a sequence whose value is equal to or greater than some specified total. Dominoes can be made from wood, clay, ivory, or any other suitable material. The name comes from the Latin dominus, meaning “lord,” or master.
The term is often used to refer to the ability of a person or thing to influence others in a way that causes them to follow suit, but it is also used to describe situations in which a chain reaction is set off by an event. It can be triggered by an action, such as someone pushing another person over a cliff, or it can occur spontaneously, such as a lightning strike knocking over a wooden statue. The phenomenon is known as the Domino effect, and it can be very powerful.
In fiction, dominoes are often used as metaphors to represent scenes that influence each other and lead to a conclusion. This is a useful device in novels because it allows the writer to develop the story without having to write a lot of dialog that could bog down the narrative and slow the pace of the plot. In nonfiction, the concept can be useful in creating an argument or to illustrate a point. The idea is that each scene domino is ineffective by itself, but when placed together they naturally advance the story and support a position.
In the Marvel Universe, Domino’s powers are derived from her ability to manipulate luck. This talent is triggered when she feels threatened or under stress and it is completely subconscious. The power is not consciously controllable, although Domino has demonstrated some level of ability to activate it when she wants to (such as when she triggered lightning strikes against two sentinels during Civil War: X-men #1).
This is the same Domino who assassinated Flagsmasher in Rumekistan and led Six Pack to break up with Cable’s team. She was recently recruited by G. W. Bridge to be, alongside Silver Sable and the Contessa, part of a new task force against the Punisher.
In the real world, Domino is a mercenary who is hired by people with very specific jobs. For example, she was recently called to a cemetery to deliver flowers to the relatives of deceased loved ones. While there she ran into Chimera, Spiral and Lady Deathstrike who had dug up Kwannon’s body. After a short fight she defeated them and replaced the body before they could teleport away with it. In the process she was possessed by the malevolent spirit Aentaros, one of the Undying. She was later immobilized by Cable and escaped custody to resume her work as a mercenary.