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Domino by Gail Simone
Domino: Hotshots
Bully, brawler, mercenary, spies! The Marvel Universe's hottest new team is on the scene! When Domino and her pals Outlaw and Diamondback find themselves caught between warring nations, they'll have to call on a whole new crew of international women of mystery to sort it out! But can the newlyminted Hotshots survive the arrival of the Merc with the Mouth? Picture it: Six undercover, highly trained, armed-to-the-teeth women hunting a device from space that will change life as we know it - but when Deadpool crashes the party, more than just the mission might be blown sky high! Witness the birth of the Hotshots in intriguing international espionage adventures that'll have you on the edge of your seat! COLLECTING: DOMINO: HOTSHOTS 1-5
112 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2019
10 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Gail Simone
1,081 books1,240 followersGail Simone is a comic book writer well-known for her work on Birds of Prey (DC), Wonder Woman (DC), and Deadpool (Marvel), among others, and has also written humorous and critical commentary on comics and the comics industry such as the original "Women in Refrigerators" website and a regular column called "You'll All Be Sorry".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 5, 2020
Gail Simone's on a paycheck series, because this book shows very little of some of her previous great work. Too many characters, so everyone's underused - Domino, Black Widow, Outlaw, Diamondback, Atlas Bear and White Fox. There's a pointless four(!) issue Deadpool appearance... I thought this book was about female heroes? And the main story is a tad bit trite! Domino's series started of so bad-ass, but by this volume we're talking One Star read!
June 3, 2020
This picks up right where the previous Domino series left off. Joining Domino, Outlaw, Diamondback, and Atlas Bear on the team are Black Widow, White Fox and Deadpool. They are on the hunt for a Celestial artifact that infects you with the powers of the Celestials. The banter and action all click together for a fun story. David Baldeon's art is full of kinetic energy that leaps off the page.
January 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this (reasonably) straightforward slice of superheroics. It was a heck of a lot of fun and a nice love letter to Jack Kirby (you didn’t think ‘The Creator’ they were talking about was one of the Celestials, didya? For shame, True Believer)!
I’d’ve given this five stars if it hadn’t been for the disappointing use of fill-in artists (I mean, how hard can it possibly be to get the same artist to draw all of a five issue mini-series?) and the fact that the ending felt a smidge rushed.
I’d’ve given this five stars if it hadn’t been for the disappointing use of fill-in artists (I mean, how hard can it possibly be to get the same artist to draw all of a five issue mini-series?) and the fact that the ending felt a smidge rushed.
July 19, 2019
Was sadly disappointed in this one! So the story pretty much continues on from Domino, Vol. 2: Soldier Of Fortune, as Domino and her gang of mercs get ready for another mission but now they Black Widow on the team!
In terms of the good, the artwork was still really nice with that cartoony but well-drawn art style that suits Gail Simone's Domino so well! I also enjoyed how the characters bounced off one another very well.
In terms of the bad, the story here really just isn't as good as how Gail Simone's run started in Vol 1. I didn't really care for the story at all as they try to hunt down Celestials and save the world. The writing also gets repetitive, wherein an earlier issue, Domino gives this speech to her teammates, which was fine, but then literally in the next issue she gives basically the same speech again. It just felt repetitive and pointless and I feel like the editors should have spotted that and removed it.
In the end, I do love a lot of Gail Simone's books and this Domino series started strong but this last book kind of ends on a whimper for me.
In terms of the good, the artwork was still really nice with that cartoony but well-drawn art style that suits Gail Simone's Domino so well! I also enjoyed how the characters bounced off one another very well.
In terms of the bad, the story here really just isn't as good as how Gail Simone's run started in Vol 1. I didn't really care for the story at all as they try to hunt down Celestials and save the world. The writing also gets repetitive, wherein an earlier issue, Domino gives this speech to her teammates, which was fine, but then literally in the next issue she gives basically the same speech again. It just felt repetitive and pointless and I feel like the editors should have spotted that and removed it.
In the end, I do love a lot of Gail Simone's books and this Domino series started strong but this last book kind of ends on a whimper for me.
December 22, 2019
This was fun, but nothing special. Domino is one of those characters who came along after I stopped buying comics regularly, so I don't know much about her. My local library recently placed several of her graphic novels on the New Arrivals shelf, so I decided to investigate. My only previous knowledge of the character comes from the second Deadpool movie.
I like the characters. Domino and her team (Inez and Diamondback) have some good chemistry together. They banter with the ease of long familiarity, and are justifiably a little suspicious of the new blood (Black Widow, Atlas Bear, White Fox) joining them for this mission.
Unfortunately, the story is kind of meh. A gizmo of great cosmic power is discovered. Every nation wants it. No One Human Should Possess Such Power. Yadda yadda yadda. It's your basic excuse for the protagonists to travel the globe and get into fights. It works, but it's not particularly memorable.
So what this GN is, is basically a bunch of characters in search of a story. It's not awful. I’ve certainly read worse. It's definitely not impressive though. Read at your own risk.
I like the characters. Domino and her team (Inez and Diamondback) have some good chemistry together. They banter with the ease of long familiarity, and are justifiably a little suspicious of the new blood (Black Widow, Atlas Bear, White Fox) joining them for this mission.
Unfortunately, the story is kind of meh. A gizmo of great cosmic power is discovered. Every nation wants it. No One Human Should Possess Such Power. Yadda yadda yadda. It's your basic excuse for the protagonists to travel the globe and get into fights. It works, but it's not particularly memorable.
So what this GN is, is basically a bunch of characters in search of a story. It's not awful. I’ve certainly read worse. It's definitely not impressive though. Read at your own risk.
April 13, 2023
Hotshots is my 100th book of 2019, and I wish it wasn’t such a big stinking mess. No amount of mutant luck powers could have saved it. There are kernels of Simone’s brilliance and lively banter, but it all gets lost in a clunky story and a cluttered cast.
Our original trio of mercenaries, Domino, Outlaw, and Diamondback, are now joined by Shoon’kwa, an exiled Wakandan; White Fox (a South Korean superhero, who I realized halfway through has a tail and super long hair); and Black Widow. The first two are mostly filler, potential double agents who only serve to make Domino struggle as team leader (and at worst, forced diversity). Natasha’s necessity to the plot is a stretch as well, mostly supporting Domino and using her Avengers credentials to move the plot forward. Deadpool pops up too, and while Simone is one of the best DP writers out there, he’s more of a distraction, selling point and unnecessary fight scene than anything else. (And love interest too, in a move that’s unnecessary and forced.)
Most of the secondary teammates have half or full page origin recaps, but that doesn’t replace actual character development, or emotional investment. Expanding group to this size, this quickly means it never gels, and feels rushed and fractured, burying the witty banter (and core friendship) of the original trio.
Just like the last volume, these issues are compounded by a bonkers storyline. A cosmic Celestial artifact or “creation constellation” finds its way to Earth, inhabiting anyone who comes into contact with it. Domino and co have to deal with the dangerous artifact, and those who would love to possess it. Sometimes a wacky story can be charming with an emotional anchor, but that isn't here this time.
Simone is usually a very strong writer, but there are some slip ups that really surprised me for a writer of her caliber. Domino asks Deadpool what a “creation constellation” is, but it's never mentioned once beforehand. It's unclear how Domino becomes aware of its presence in the first place. Minor but still glaring for those reading the series, Outlaw has no reaction to her ex Deadpool being in a relationship with her best friend. And a “surprise” villain at the end is cringey, low-hanging-fruit villainy that I never thought I’d see from Simone.
Baldeón's fluid, expressive work continues to impress here. Unfortunately, as has happened in all three volumes, the art quality takes a noticeable dip when Shelfer joins in, and not just by issue - sometimes they switch off every panel, which is disorienting and frustrating. Also, the last issue started to give me early Birds of Prey nostalgia and not in a good way, and for a comic in 2019, it sucks to be continually reminded that the comic industry cannot invest in women teams without investing in the male gaze.
The first volume of Domino was so strong, and the series ends on a whimper. I hope Domino gets better justice in future stories, because there is so much promise in her character as an antihero and mutant. And I hope Simone returns to better form.
Our original trio of mercenaries, Domino, Outlaw, and Diamondback, are now joined by Shoon’kwa, an exiled Wakandan; White Fox (a South Korean superhero, who I realized halfway through has a tail and super long hair); and Black Widow. The first two are mostly filler, potential double agents who only serve to make Domino struggle as team leader (and at worst, forced diversity). Natasha’s necessity to the plot is a stretch as well, mostly supporting Domino and using her Avengers credentials to move the plot forward. Deadpool pops up too, and while Simone is one of the best DP writers out there, he’s more of a distraction, selling point and unnecessary fight scene than anything else. (And love interest too, in a move that’s unnecessary and forced.)
Most of the secondary teammates have half or full page origin recaps, but that doesn’t replace actual character development, or emotional investment. Expanding group to this size, this quickly means it never gels, and feels rushed and fractured, burying the witty banter (and core friendship) of the original trio.
Just like the last volume, these issues are compounded by a bonkers storyline. A cosmic Celestial artifact or “creation constellation” finds its way to Earth, inhabiting anyone who comes into contact with it. Domino and co have to deal with the dangerous artifact, and those who would love to possess it. Sometimes a wacky story can be charming with an emotional anchor, but that isn't here this time.
Simone is usually a very strong writer, but there are some slip ups that really surprised me for a writer of her caliber. Domino asks Deadpool what a “creation constellation” is, but it's never mentioned once beforehand. It's unclear how Domino becomes aware of its presence in the first place. Minor but still glaring for those reading the series, Outlaw has no reaction to her ex Deadpool being in a relationship with her best friend. And a “surprise” villain at the end is cringey, low-hanging-fruit villainy that I never thought I’d see from Simone.
Baldeón's fluid, expressive work continues to impress here. Unfortunately, as has happened in all three volumes, the art quality takes a noticeable dip when Shelfer joins in, and not just by issue - sometimes they switch off every panel, which is disorienting and frustrating. Also, the last issue started to give me early Birds of Prey nostalgia and not in a good way, and for a comic in 2019, it sucks to be continually reminded that the comic industry cannot invest in women teams without investing in the male gaze.
The first volume of Domino was so strong, and the series ends on a whimper. I hope Domino gets better justice in future stories, because there is so much promise in her character as an antihero and mutant. And I hope Simone returns to better form.
July 17, 2023
the girls!!! and deadpool too.
January 19, 2022
So this one wasn’t as good as the first 2 volumes. There the bad guys were some mutants. So we got mutant on mutant. It works. But here we get a team with no real big super powers going up against a space god. Needless to say it got a little wonky. Kinda of the same problem with the first Suicide Squad movie. Luckily, the book wasn’t terrible, just now that great either.
February 27, 2021
I normally like Gail Simone as a writer and I like Domino as a character, but this series certainly obeys the law of diminishing returns. I think there's just too many characters crammed in that I just don't care about any of it. Also I've never been a fan of the Celestials.
The first Domino book was great; Domino and her 2 best buds take on a bad guy whilst Domino's luck is on the blink. In this book there are 6 female Hotshots+ Deadpool (who feels like a token inclusion that doesn't quite fit in an otherwise all female team). The action is all over the place and there's very little character progression other than Domino learning to trust other women and lead a bigger team.
The first Domino book was great; Domino and her 2 best buds take on a bad guy whilst Domino's luck is on the blink. In this book there are 6 female Hotshots+ Deadpool (who feels like a token inclusion that doesn't quite fit in an otherwise all female team). The action is all over the place and there's very little character progression other than Domino learning to trust other women and lead a bigger team.
June 13, 2023
I don't read a ton of superhero comics, but Simone's Batgirl was one of my favorites of the genre. This is not nearly as entertaining. The story is corny and convoluted, and the characters aren't given enough space for me to care.
November 24, 2019
Before: Nina's problems became everyone else's problems.
Now: Everyone else's problems have become Nina's problems.
Such is the plight of a hero for hire who skirts the law. In DOMINO: HOTSHOTS, Domino knows she's in for a ride when her not-so-secret meeting with Black Widow quirks sideways into a jaunt to Buenos Aires to see some scientist folks about a mysterious power or other. A scientific artifact of some kind crash landed in Antarctica and Nina has been tasked with figuring out what power the artifact holds. Domino's crew (Outlaw, Diamondback) takes up with Atlas Bear, Black Widow, and a silver-haired South Korean hero, White Fox, in an effort to see what all this commotion is about.
The problem? Nobody on this mission is pursuing the truth for altruistic purposes.
Also a problem? Nina is neither the strongest, fastest, or even smartest among the ladies on this team, and yet she's the designated point person. To her credit, it's easy to pretend one knows what one is doing when one doesn't know what needs to be done.
DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is a classic super hero comic book that ratchets up the power-scaling to absurd levels but ardently depends on readers holding tight to characters' integrity as means of grounding the story up to and including the final scene. It's a trademark of super hero comics from generations long gone, really, because the story observes characters with remarkable talents who are suddenly in the position of having taken their talents for granted: What happens when Inez meets a foe she can't punch into submission? What happens when Rachel stops using her prim and icy disposition as a cover for her decidedly combustive interior dialogue? What happens when Nina's chaos-fortune butts heads with the will of the gods?
It sounds weird and ridiculous, nowadays, to toss in a bit of cosmic world-killing into the mix. But it's an escalation best met with the odd pragmatism and indignant truth-telling native to chaos agents such as these. And also, Deadpool.
The art for DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is delightful, with occasional blips not uncommon to titles from the major publishers. There is, however, quality emphasis on building out the book's action sequences with greater fluidity and purpose. From the terrestrial (e.g., White Fox has an awesome character design; her hair and tail make for good volumetrics) to the otherworldly (e.g., cosmic being + gun = cosmic gun), the book sequences its action with style.
There are, however, a few glaring narrative holes. The largest of which is how the name of the cosmic device of note — the creation constellation — is mentioned offhandedly in a middle chapter as if the audience was already informed of its origin (hint: nope). The story also, problematically, bundles too many characters into individual scenes. Some characters disappear because the real estate is too packed, while others quite literally sit on the ground for the duration of a fight scene because there's nowhere else for them to go and nothing for them to do.
DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is classic super hero fun but also stretches itself rather thin in an effort to do so.
Now: Everyone else's problems have become Nina's problems.
Such is the plight of a hero for hire who skirts the law. In DOMINO: HOTSHOTS, Domino knows she's in for a ride when her not-so-secret meeting with Black Widow quirks sideways into a jaunt to Buenos Aires to see some scientist folks about a mysterious power or other. A scientific artifact of some kind crash landed in Antarctica and Nina has been tasked with figuring out what power the artifact holds. Domino's crew (Outlaw, Diamondback) takes up with Atlas Bear, Black Widow, and a silver-haired South Korean hero, White Fox, in an effort to see what all this commotion is about.
The problem? Nobody on this mission is pursuing the truth for altruistic purposes.
Also a problem? Nina is neither the strongest, fastest, or even smartest among the ladies on this team, and yet she's the designated point person. To her credit, it's easy to pretend one knows what one is doing when one doesn't know what needs to be done.
DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is a classic super hero comic book that ratchets up the power-scaling to absurd levels but ardently depends on readers holding tight to characters' integrity as means of grounding the story up to and including the final scene. It's a trademark of super hero comics from generations long gone, really, because the story observes characters with remarkable talents who are suddenly in the position of having taken their talents for granted: What happens when Inez meets a foe she can't punch into submission? What happens when Rachel stops using her prim and icy disposition as a cover for her decidedly combustive interior dialogue? What happens when Nina's chaos-fortune butts heads with the will of the gods?
It sounds weird and ridiculous, nowadays, to toss in a bit of cosmic world-killing into the mix. But it's an escalation best met with the odd pragmatism and indignant truth-telling native to chaos agents such as these. And also, Deadpool.
The art for DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is delightful, with occasional blips not uncommon to titles from the major publishers. There is, however, quality emphasis on building out the book's action sequences with greater fluidity and purpose. From the terrestrial (e.g., White Fox has an awesome character design; her hair and tail make for good volumetrics) to the otherworldly (e.g., cosmic being + gun = cosmic gun), the book sequences its action with style.
There are, however, a few glaring narrative holes. The largest of which is how the name of the cosmic device of note — the creation constellation — is mentioned offhandedly in a middle chapter as if the audience was already informed of its origin (hint: nope). The story also, problematically, bundles too many characters into individual scenes. Some characters disappear because the real estate is too packed, while others quite literally sit on the ground for the duration of a fight scene because there's nowhere else for them to go and nothing for them to do.
DOMINO: HOTSHOTS is classic super hero fun but also stretches itself rather thin in an effort to do so.
November 6, 2020
3.5 Stars.
Continuing with the lineup we left her with in "Soldier of Fortune", Domino (with Outlaw and Diamondback) finds herself seeking out a scientist who interacted with a cosmic artifact called the Creation Constellation. Thought to be directly connected to the Celestials (and it is), many nations of the world seek to claim its power. So... Domino brings a team together to help track it down and destroy it. Adding Atlas Bear (a Wakandan warrior woman), White Fox ("The Last Kumiho" a nine-tailed fox like lady from South Korea), and Black Widow (primarily of the Avengers, but also with old ties to Russia), the new team called "Hotshots" (with some hilarious help from Deadpool) takes on the job.
Lots of fighting, teamwork, and some self-reflection and self-sacrifice lead to a good ending. It will be interesting to see if this title continues, or maybe the characters from it will get added into larger MU things.
Recommend, but only if you like Domino.
Continuing with the lineup we left her with in "Soldier of Fortune", Domino (with Outlaw and Diamondback) finds herself seeking out a scientist who interacted with a cosmic artifact called the Creation Constellation. Thought to be directly connected to the Celestials (and it is), many nations of the world seek to claim its power. So... Domino brings a team together to help track it down and destroy it. Adding Atlas Bear (a Wakandan warrior woman), White Fox ("The Last Kumiho" a nine-tailed fox like lady from South Korea), and Black Widow (primarily of the Avengers, but also with old ties to Russia), the new team called "Hotshots" (with some hilarious help from Deadpool) takes on the job.
Lots of fighting, teamwork, and some self-reflection and self-sacrifice lead to a good ending. It will be interesting to see if this title continues, or maybe the characters from it will get added into larger MU things.
Recommend, but only if you like Domino.
November 11, 2023
Wanted to enjoy this one but didn't really. This looks like a really cool group of characters, and one I'd love to see in a more grounded story. But using guns, explosives and high kicks against an individual with Celestial-imbued powers? I don't see it. The interactions between the characters were pretty nice, but the constant inner monologues quickly became tiring. Deadpool makes an appearance and surprisingly for me, it was one of the highlights - he's well written and his humour blends well with the team's.
The art is ok for the action sequences. However, not sure if due to the excessive use of low angles, or if it's just the way the artist draws, but the characters look like they're frowning most of the time.
I realize this is technically the third volume of Simone's run on Domino, but not sure if I'll be picking up the previous volumes based on this.
The art is ok for the action sequences. However, not sure if due to the excessive use of low angles, or if it's just the way the artist draws, but the characters look like they're frowning most of the time.
I realize this is technically the third volume of Simone's run on Domino, but not sure if I'll be picking up the previous volumes based on this.
Read
February 27, 2024We open in the Antarctic, the script noting, quite correctly, that so little precipitation falls here that it's technically a desert - while the art depicts a swirling snowstorm. Which sums this one up, alas. Domino is a cool character, and there's an appeal to seeing her thrust into a more cosmic story than usual, showing how her luck powers can prove decisive even there. But while inconsistency may be her thing, this slips past that into never quite letting her cohere as a character, so starstruck by teaming up with the Black Widow (maybe) and the White Fox (no) that she completely loses her head and keeps making no decision, or obviously terrible ones. Meanwhile, the visuals are fine with the cartoony interpersonal stuff or the full Kirby bits, but struggle with some of the scenes in between. There's fun stuff here, but it's a messy end to an often enjoyable run.
March 18, 2020
I really enjoy these characters and Simone writes them really well. This whole creative team fits well together, and Hotshots brings a satisfying conclusion to Domino's current storyline. With some fun new characters and a story that feels personal (despite it's unexpectedly cosmic implications), it's not a perfect volume, but it's an enjoyable read and a touching ending to this team's present adventures.
July 30, 2021
Maybe I should've read Gail Simone's Domino series before I read this but I don't know how much it would have benefitted the experience. This book was fine but nothing mind-blowing. The scope seemed way too big for a five issue mini-series. When I picked this from the library shelf (which I often do with reckless abandon) I don't think I was hoping for Celestial involvement. I thought, given the characters on the team, that this would be more rooted in Earth-troubles. Ah well. No ragerts.
September 19, 2021
Just what I wanted :-) I picked up the first issue of this and enjoyed it thoroughly, so sought the collection. I'm not that familiar with Domino, but the cover drew me in and I wasn't sad I went. I enjoyed getting to meet some new female heroes and seeing Domino claim her own power (in the less literal, more self-actualizing sense). I will definitely seek out more stories featuring these characters.
December 14, 2022
Over-powered Celestials, an odd collection of Fems, Tony Stark stepping down from protecting the word because Widow is his fall back? But I have been partial to Diamondback from her days in Capitan America with the Serpent Society. Gail Simone couldn't make power pack compelling when she started, decades later not sure this is an improvement. The stakes are supposed to be species threatening so over the top, but doesn't seem like the characters and story really stand up to support it.
October 3, 2019
Still really enjoying Simone's take on Domino but I feel that this was a weaker volume in some ways. The team additions didn't really add a lot (maybe some of the interactions with Black Widow, but otherwise they felt a bit empty...) and the plot wasn't as bombastic as some of the Domino stories have been.
Still really good and worth a read in my opinion but was not my favorite Domino story.
Still really good and worth a read in my opinion but was not my favorite Domino story.
February 19, 2020
There were still things I liked about this single-book, but it didn't seem nearly as awesome as the other Simone "Domino" titles before it. There were some other female heroes added, that was cool. I like the Fox and Black Widow is always appreciated.
I don't know much about the rest of the MU at this time, I guess. I don't know what's going on with Tony Stark.
I don't know much about the rest of the MU at this time, I guess. I don't know what's going on with Tony Stark.
October 8, 2020
I really, really like Domino, Outlaw, and Diamondback together as written by Gail Simone. Throw in Atlas Bear, White Fox, and Black Widow (and a little Deadpool) and you’ve got a really great time. While the cosmic angle of the story was a bit jarring at first, it grew on me by the end.
But maybe stop calling White Fox “anime” and “manga”? She’s Korean, not Japanese.
But maybe stop calling White Fox “anime” and “manga”? She’s Korean, not Japanese.
April 12, 2024
I'm not sure why someone thought Domino and friends versus an extension of the Celestials was a good idea. Certainly, it didn't work for me. Surprisingly, Deadpool was one of my favorite parts of this. Probably because he was a minor, secondary player in the plot, so was easily palatable in small doses.
August 11, 2019
Much like the Domino series before Gail Simone knocks this series out of the park!! This time around Domino officially (unofficially) has a team! Marvel Cosmic-y goodness ensues and Domino and company make for a fun, awesome read!!
March 18, 2021
Domino expands her team and brings on Black Widow, Atlas Bear, and White Fox, which adds all sorts of mayhem. They take on Celestial-sized problems in this all-out action-fest.
Another fun read with great teamwork, as Domino finds out who she really is. Well drawn, and a fun story.
Another fun read with great teamwork, as Domino finds out who she really is. Well drawn, and a fun story.
April 4, 2023
A continuation of Simone’s Domino series, this just doesn’t have the juice, I’m afraid. The cast is too big and unwieldy, so nobody gets much of a chance to shine, and the villain of the piece just isn’t especially interesting to me.
October 11, 2023
Art was good. Story had as many holes and leaps as before, but it didn't bother me as much. I think partly because the previous stories were a bit more "gritty and grounded" whereas this was more "comic book-y and fantastical" so it was easier to forgive. Overall an enjoyable series.
October 28, 2019
Take some C level superheroines (plus Black Widow) and give them a fun reason to get together. Cool miniseries, lots of shooting, and the fabulous writing of Gail Simone.
October 31, 2019
A fine enough story, but maybe a mismatch with street level heroes in my mind in a cosmic story on earth.
November 20, 2019
Pretty enjoyable despite a tendency toward juvenile double-entendres.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews