Domino is a powerful mutant who can change the laws of probability in her favor. She’s a weapons expert, an adept athlete, and a martial arts master. She can also fire projectiles from her staff, making her a dangerous adversary to any foe. Her precognitive powers allow her to anticipate what opponents will do next, giving her an advantage in combat.
Domino was born Neena Thurman, one of many children born to the U.S. government’s Project Armageddon experiments. The experiments were designed to genetically engineer the perfect weapon using a precognitive mutant surrogate as the model. Neena was able to escape from the experiment and find sanctuary with a Chicago priest, where she remained until her mutant powers manifested at age 13. The priest gave her the name Domino as a play on her luck abilities, and Domino has been referred to as such ever since.
When the Six Pack disbanded following a mission in the Yucatan, Domino became a member of Cable’s new mercenary team, and she was recruited to join X-Force soon after. She has proven herself to be a valuable asset to the group, and she helped to oppose Malcolm Colcord’s clandestine Weapon X program when it was revealed that they were executing mutants in concentration camps. Domino also assisted Cable in tracking down the ancient being called Skornn and helped him to overcome it, and she rejoined X-Force after being lobotomized by the traitorous Weapon X agent Brent Jackson.
Despite her good fortune, Domino is not without her share of hardships and setbacks. For example, she was forced to abandon her relationship with the mercenary known as Grazer because of his refusal to accept her mystical powers. Nevertheless, she was able to recover her strength by absorbing the alien technology of the Undying creature Aentaeros.
The word domino comes from the Latin nobilis, meaning ‘the mighty’ or ‘the great’. It has a number of other meanings as well, including ‘famous,’ ‘prominent,’ and ‘powerful.’ The earliest sense of the word may be a reference to the ebony blacks and ivory whites of a Dominican priest’s cape, worn over his surplice.
As a writing tool, the domino can help writers develop their characters and create tension. This is especially true for authors who are pantsers, or those who write by the seat of their pants, instead of creating outlines beforehand. If a scene in a story doesn’t add any momentum to the plot, it should be weeded out, just like a domino that isn’t stacked properly.
In addition to being a powerful writing tool, the domino can also be a great tool for managers of businesses that are experiencing high turnover rates. When the former CEO of Domino’s, David Brandon, realized that his company was losing many of its best employees, he decided to address the issue directly by encouraging employees to voice their concerns and offer suggestions for improvement. When Doyle took over as CEO, he kept up this line of communication with workers, and Domino’s has regained its reputation for being one of the best places to work in the Detroit area.