The word domino is most often used to describe a set of small, rectangular blocks that are stacked on end in long lines. When the first domino is tipped over, it causes the rest of the line to tip over, creating an effect known as the Domino Effect. The chain reaction can continue until all the pieces are knocked over, either in a simple straight or curved line or more elaborate designs. This is the kind of thing that people who build domino sculptures or compete in domino shows spend all day doing. The resulting displays are spectacular, but a more interesting way to use the domino is to consider it as an analogy for how the action of one person can have profound consequences for the entire group.
Lily Hevesh has loved dominoes since she was a kid and inherited her grandparents’ classic 28-piece set. She started making videos about her domino art online, and now she’s a professional domino artist who creates setups for movies, TV shows, events, and even a Katy Perry album launch. Hevesh plans out her domino arrangements before she starts building. Her designs might include a grid of dominoes that form pictures when they fall, stacked domino walls, or 3-D structures like towers and pyramids. She also calculates how many dominoes she’ll need before starting to ensure that she has enough of each color.
The word domino has a number of other meanings in English, including “cloak worn at masquerades” and the name of a game in which players lay down pieces with values matched to those of pieces already laid down. It is probably ultimately derived from the Latin dominus, meaning lord.
As a character in the Marvel comic book series X-Force, mutant Domino (Josh Brolin) is a mercenary who fights for mutant rights and often finds herself at odds with her omniscient employer, Cable. Able to shift the laws of probability and adept at using weapons, she is a formidable fighter. Domino is also the founder of the Wild Pack mercenary team, which has included fellow mutants such as Grizzly, Hammer, and Anaconda.
Domino was once an operative for the National Security Administration, where she worked under codename Neena. She and her partner Thurman were captured by the rogue NSA agent Ekatarina Gryaznova during a mission in El Salvador. The agents planted a neural inhibitor at the base of Domino’s skull that caused her reflexes and reactions to become erratic. The device was later removed and she rejoined X-Force.
Domino’s mutant powers are used for good as well as evil, but her real strength is her ability to inspire others. She leads by example and sets high standards for her teammates. She is an excellent tactician and leader who can predict the behavior of opponents before they strike. She is able to influence the odds in her favor and is a superb martial artist, athlete, and linguist. She’s been in the fight for mutant rights all her life, and she is a natural leader.