Domino #9 : Dark unlucky visions

Gail Simone continues to develop Domino, Outlaw, and Diamondback in the best way possible in this series while balancing it with a great action component. It’s really the interpersonal dialogue between characters and the ongoing development of the bond between the three lead characters that make this series a joy to read.

Leaving the main plot point alone for a minute, the fleshing out of Shoon’kwa and her backstory of the Atlas Bear (an animal which was in fact real before going extinct round 1870 ) is deftly handled as Simone brings us a new strong young female character who we know from upcoming solicits will also be in the Domino: HOTSHOTS mini-series starting March next year. Having a tough and capable young female warrior character of color is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe.

It’s an interesting idea having two mutants square off against each other that are capable of probability manipulation and it’s great to see Longshot back in a comic even as a guest and in combat against Domino. We learn that longshot is in fact not well and under some sort of mind influence which makes him perceive Domino and her companions as some of his former enemies as more and more Domino begins to believe the apocalyptic vision around Longshot shared by Shoon’kwa earlier in the issue.

The art in this issue is balanced between work by David Baldeon and Michael Shelfer and they are stylistically similar enough to make that transition fairly seamless. I enjoy both these artists and the action scenes and paneling in both the beginning and later half of the issue are well crafted and the coloring by Guru-Fx is well done. Cover artist Gang Hyuk Lim delivers another stunning cover this latest issue