JLA: Classified # 33
DC Comics
WRITER: Dan Slott, Dan Jurgens
ARTISTS: Dan Jurgens, Trevor Scot
COVER: Doug Mahnke

This is the second part of a five-chapter story arc about the Red King, an ordinary guy who managed to swipe Dr. Destiny's gem which makes dreams come true. Naturally, he is aiming for world domination, even if it means beating the Justice League. But the Red King is doing things rather differently: using his gem, he is exploring alternate realities, trying out different strategies to find the one where he is most assured of victory. In this issue, Red King tries posing as both a hero and a humanitarian, to get into the JLA and maybe into Wonder Woman's pants. The story is told mostly from the Red King's viewpoint, allowing us to see the League through the eyes of an enemy. The creative team does a surprisingly good job with the Red King's characterization. He is memorable without going over the top. And yet he remains truly villainous and never tries to play on our sympathies. The Royal Flush Gang is also used to good effect here, with a gimmick that takes everyone by surprise. The art is adequate although there are times when Wonder Woman's face looks a little puffy. Maybe they were trying to make her look sexier with bee-stung lips, but instead, she looks rather childish. That said, this issue still gets four stars out of five.