Domino and her friends have never needed backup until now. But who can they call on for support? Your Major Spoilers review of Domino: Hotshots #1 awaits!

DOMINO: HOTSHOTS #1

Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: David Baldeón
Colorist: Jim Charalampidis
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Editor: Chris Robinson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 6, 2019

Previously in Domino: Hotshots: Domino and her pals Outlaw and Diamondback are caught between warring nations! And it’ll take a whole new crew of international women of mystery to sort it out!

GET READY FOR THE ENDLESS ‘BIRDS OF PREY’ COMPARISONS

We open in a remote section of the most empty portion of the world, a corner of Antarctica which no country has claimed, which no country even wants. A Russian/Korean scientific expedition encounters a strange meteor, and when a scientist approaches it, he begins to scream in terror. Some time later, Domino takes a meeting in a little French cafe, sitting across the table from a woman known to be dead. The Black Widow is quite alive, though she wants to keep that part under wraps, and she has a proposition for Neena/Domino and her pals Diamondback and Outlaw. Her offer isn’t the first they’ve received, however, as Domino is already in the company of Korea’s White Fox, and her ride arrives in the form of Atlas Bear, a former Wakandan national. Each swears that they’re not working in the interests of their countries, but when the six heroes/operatives/whatever Outlaw is arrive at the site of their meeting with the now-transformed scientist, each woman reveals her true motivations…

I’M PSYCHED ABOUT WHITE FOX

This issue does one thing that Gail Simone always does really well, establishing the bona fides of all the characters in believable and organic ways. Domino is openly in awe of the Black Widow, the Widow compliments Domino on her skills, White Fox keeps her cool in the face of The Black Widow hurling a should-be-fatal attack. It’s all quite well constructed, story-wise, and the reveal that the scientist is infected with Celestial technology is excellent. Moreover, Baldeón infuses pure Kirby into every frame of the Celestial tech, and it’s really amazing to see how well he contrasts it with his native art style, which features vivid expression and some truly creative combat choreography. The choice of characters is likewise brilliant, adding in the established big-time Widow, the wild card White Fox (who has only made a few appearances in the Marvel U, each making her seem pretty awesome) and Atlas Bear, who has been appearing in Domino’s book, for the unknown quantity. As the issue ends, one of our heroes may be infected with Celestial tech, and everyone seems to be back on the same page… “Seems” being the operative word.

BOTTOM LINE: A GREAT CAST IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION

Simone and Baldeón have created a whole new corner of the Marvel Universe that seems like it’s always been there, much as Gail did with ‘Birds Of Prey’ a few years ago, and this issue covers a LOT of ground in a really entertaining manner, leaving Domino: Hotshots #1 with a very impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. My biggest complaint comes in the blocking and the Domino face on the cover, but that’s a relatively minor complaint in the grand scheme of a fun comic book.

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