Domino Pushes Her Luck And Works Through Her Trauma in X-Force #7

In a perfect world, X-Force wouldn’t be necessary. Unfortunately, we aren’t so lucky. In X-Force #7, we see the lengths people will go to disrupt the Krakoan status quo, this time using mutant abilities against them. Will Domino, Sage, and Colossus be enough? Is Forge’s Fanfiction getting out of control? What would Kenneth and I do with Domino’s luck? Two of these questions and more answered on this edition of ‘X-Forced into it!’

Ari Bard: X-Forced into it?! Psh… More like, X-Jump right into it am I right?

Kenneth Laster: You can say that again! We finally get that good good Domino content that many X-Force fans have been craving and boy oh boy is it weighty. Have you ever lost something that you thought made you… “you”? What would you do to get it back? Chase a Reverse-Flash-esque version of yourself down a ski slope? X-Force # 7 tries to get at these big existential questions.

AB: You got that right Kenneth. I’d like to think Percy made this issue into a lovely existential sandwich. This issue is filled with a touching and powerful heart to heart between Domino and Colossus bookended by some kickass action on both sides. Now I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to eat!

Loss

AB: Oh boy, despite our earlier enthusiasm, this one is a bit heavier. Domino’s narration is a bit more pointed than Beast’s, but it’s for good reason. She’s on a mission to reclaim what was taken, and nothing’s going to get in her way. Percy seems to be doing character spotlights over the next few issues, and if Beast’s painted him as the conductor of a dark orchestra, what do you think about Domino’s Kenneth?

KL: I really enjoyed getting Domino’s POV. I felt like her perspective was way more grounded than Beast’s and that’s a really welcome change of pace. I feel like most of the X-Force team is incredibly intertwined with Krakoa’s development as a nation-state but Domino gives us a chance to see Krakoa in a different perspective as well as get into the central theme of this issue: In this post-Krakoa world what happens when you lose your sense of self? Which Domino starts dealing with in her investigation with Sage throughout this issue. Someone’s been pulling off hits on mutant sympathizing figures with Domino’s luck. Domino hasn’t lost her luck, but someone’s stolen it. Thoughts on this personal vendetta?

AB: I definitely think it sets up something interesting! Everyone on the team is going to have their struggle. Whether it’s Beast and his struggle not to be an a-word who make unilateral decisions, Black Tom Cassidy and his struggle to find himself and his new role on Krakoa, and now Domino and her struggle to combat a mysterious shadow organization who is using her to go after the people she loves, each member of X-Force is going up against something. It also makes me excited to see what else is in store. Domino definitely carries a James Bond-esque feel for most of the issue, and Sage makes a kickass M. Any other thoughts about the mission?

KL: None for me but I can’t shake a certain something…I wonder what is–

That Lingering Feeling

KL: Once again a major theme in this issue is life after loss and dealing with Krakoa that has the opportunity for a new beginning without the scars of the past. I think we get that really verbalized in Domino’s conversation with Colossus with Domino losing her luck and Colossus losing his life, but having a full memory of his death. What were your thoughts on this Ari?

AB: In terms of nailing moments with a lot of emotional weight, I think this is Percy’s most successful attempt yet. Often times when mutants lose something, it’s their lives or their mutant powers. For the most part, Hickman has taken the former off the table, and for good reason. Now each time that does happen, it has a specific meaning. When mutants completely lose their powers, that’s an entire identity. For Colossus and Domino, this feels like something different. Domino didn’t seem to completely lose their powers, but rather a part of them through losing a piece of herself.

Meanwhile, Russia has felt like a second home for Colossus ever since the Claremont run, and that idea that he’s not able to go back and he can’t do anything about the fighting makes it seem like he’s lost that home. A piece of both of them lies somewhere out in the world, but they can’t reach it. Nevertheless, it is there and it lingers. Percy does a great job having both characters describe their struggles as though they are physical limbs detached from their bodies that Colossus and Domino can still feel. Definitely the most powerful scene in this series so far.

KL: That was a really great way of summarizing the thematic ties between the two in the scene. I personally focused on Colossus’s trauma of dying and didn’t really think that in a literal sense that when mutants die, physically there is still a part of them out there. One thing that also stuck with me was who exactly Colossus was painting in this scene. My first thought was Mikhail Rasputin, Colossus’s older brother who admittedly is a big blind spot in my knowledge of X-Lore. But the other read was that Colossus was painting himself from Age of X-Man, which could be significant for a number of reasons. Primarily in the questioning of whether sacrifices were worth it for Krakoa and echoing a story that looks at the costs of a mutant Utopia is very interesting…Also it was said all the characters in Age of X-Man still have their memories and I want to see the consequences dang it!

Looking For Lady Luck

AB: I’ve never really understood everything centered around these luck-based powers, and the whole “I’m your snake eyes” thing is a tad ridiculous, but I don’t care because this issue’s search mission contained some of the best action sequences we’ve seen so far. Percy’s got quite the imagination to come up with these badass assassinations though, and Bazaldua and Guru-eFX lay them out beautifully. We have yet another new line artist on the issue Kenneth, so how do you think he faired?

KL: I think Bazaldua and Guru-eFX skewed more to the style I’ve gotten used to for this book with so many figures having similar textures and features that Cassara and White have set as visual standard. I will say Colossus is an ABSOLUTE UNIT which I am both horrified and in awe of. I agree with you on the difficulty of luck based action but I think the assasaination sequence was fun enough but I do love love love Domino stealing someone’s snowboard to chase Reverse Domino down a mountain! Gun fights in comics are hard to make really compelling, so I love adding something ridiculous on top, if only to give the Bazaldua something fun to draw and to give us that X-Force action we have so grown to love. Speaking of Reverse-Domino, what did you think of that twist Ari?

AB: I liked it! I’m a big fan of the choice and the character design, but I think Percy could have stuck the landing a bit better. Domino losing her counterpart in the casino right away feels a bit tropey and I found the transition from the woman with the cloak to the woman on the slot machine to be an awkward one. Also wouldn’t that slot machine make a lot of noise? What I love the most about this though is that it makes Domino’s luck powers feel more targeted and understandable. I feel like they are convenient for most writers far too often, but Percy is narrowing in on a very cool, specified aspect. The idea of being someone’s snake eyes is a very interesting one and presents the idea that Domino’s luck can be narrowed or widened depending on the situation, can influence the luck of others, or can be changed depending on who is around. Whatever the case, I’m interested in learning more!

KL: It was very lucky for Onimod (Reverse Domino) to walk into a convention of people wearing hooded capes! But perhaps we’ll find out why this ski resort casino had such a lax dress code and much much more next time in X-Force #8!

X-Traneous Thoughts

I’ve resisted calling the Domino’s pizza down the street from my house for this whole article and you all should be proud of me. [Ed. note: I could not resist.]
Sage’s costume is so much more interesting without the yellow jacket! I’ll say it!
Beast is at the helm of this week’s data pages which is weird because we have it on good authority that they were all Forge’s fanfic.
The russian in the second data page reads: chronicler
When can I enroll in Math 777: The Calculus of Luck? Also it better not be just one of those garbage classes that pretend to be cool when their really just boring like probability.
Krakoan teaser reads: Inversed

Ari Bard is a huge comic fan studying Mechanical Engineering so he can finally figure out how the Batmobile works.

Kenneth Laster writes, draws, and studies Film and Gender Studies so he really hopes you’re hiring!