MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Gail Simone
ART: David Baldéon
COLORS: Jesus Aburtov
LETTERS: Clayton Cowles
EDITOR: Chris Robinson
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida
COVER: Greg Land with Frank D'Armata
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Elsa Charretier with Matthew Wilson; David Baldéon with Jesus Aburtov; Pretend comic book artist-J. Scott Campbell with Sabine Rich; Rob Liefeld
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2018)
“Killer Instinct” Part One
Neena Thurman a.k.a. Domino is a Marvel Comics character. The character was created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza. A version of Domino first appeared in New Mutants #98 (cover dated: February 1991); then, the “real” version of the character first appeared in X-Force #8 (cover dated: March 1992). Domino is a mutant best known for her association with the team, X-Force.
Although Domino has been the title character in two miniseries, the character is finally the star of her own ongoing comic book series. Entitled Domino, it is written by Gail Simone; drawn by David Baldéon; colored by Jesus Aburtov; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.
Domino #1 finds Domino and “Crazy” Inez Temple a.k.a. “Outlaw” in the Pacific Northwest. They are supposedly here because they have been hired to take care of some mobsters, but this is really a setup for an attack on them. And it's Neena Thurman's birthday...
I am a fan of Gail Simone, and I am currently enjoying her Image Comics series, Crosswind, and her current miniseries for Dynamite Entertainment, Red Sonja / Tarzan, both of which had excellent first issues. Domino #1 is a mediocre first issue.
Simone has publicly stated that many comic books suffer from poor character development. The problem with Domino #1 is that its title character is not much of a character. Domino is at best a supporting character, but Marvel Comics has spent much of the last four decades publishing miniseries and regular series starring just about any character that shows any measurable popularity with fans. So Domino #1 stars a character who, after more than a quarter century, is not much more than the sketch that first appeared in Rob Liefeld's sketchbook. And Gail Simone, who is excellent at giving comic book characters character, may not be able to change that.
As for the graphics team, David Baldéon has been a rising star; Domino #1 is air turbulence for him, a step back from his excellent, hot wire art on the recent Spirits of Vengeance miniseries. For colorist Jesus Aburtov and letterer Clayton Cowles, Domino #1 is an average output. “Serviceable” is the word to describe Domino #1. I do not hold out hope that the series will get better.
5 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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