What is Domino?
Domino is a term used to describe a chain reaction where one thing knocks over another until the whole group has fallen down. The word domino is also used to describe something that has a large effect, such as a person’s words or actions.
Historically, the word domino is used to refer to an ebony-faced playing piece that contrasts with a white surplice, a garment worn by priests. In addition, the early sense of the word may be linked to a long, hooded cloak that is worn together with a mask for carnival season or at a masquerade.
A career mercenary, Domino first appeared in the pages of X-Men as a bodyguard to mutant genius Milo Thurman (Dominic Stone). Later, she joined the mercenary unit Six Pack and fought alongside fellow mutant Cable during an assault by the Prime Sentinels. Domino eventually joined the X-Force team and worked for a time at the Hong Kong branch of X-Corporation. She has since sabotaged Rumekistan and the island paradise Providence for X-Corp, fought the super-powered android Hecatomb, and was impersonated by Copycat for a time.
There are many different types of domino games and some of them can be very elaborate, involving intricate designs that are built up on the floor or table before being set in motion by the nudge of one domino. In such shows, builders compete for the best set of domino reactions before an audience. Dominoes can be made to line up straight or curved lines, to form grids that make pictures, to stack on top of each other, and even to create 3D structures like towers and pyramids.
For those who are not interested in competing for the best domino arrangement, there is the fun of simply creating a track to set up the pieces on. This can be as simple or complicated as the builder wishes. There are various software programs available to help plan out the ultimate domino design, and to calculate how many pieces are needed to complete a particular layout.
Whether a domino is used for a game or as a statement, the underlying message is to influence others. Domino is a great word to use in a story because it can be used to illustrate how one action naturally influences the next. Depending on the story, the domino could represent a scene, a theme or argument, or even an entire narrative.