The book follows the escapades of two fourth-grade students known as George and Harold, who one day find a way to hypnotize their principal Mr. Krupp into becoming a superhero known as Captain Underpants.
Captain Underpants is the creation of American author and illustrator Dave Pilky.
After struggling with dyslexia as a child, Pilky found himself often drawing comic strips as a way to tell stories.
In his adult life, he became an author after publishing his first book “World War Won,” in 1986.
It wasn’t until the release of Captain Underpants in 1997, however, that he began to see mainstream, publishing success.
Captain Underpants is beloved for its snappy humor, fast pacing, and hilarious characters. Some of the main themes of the series revolve around the power of imagination.
Harold and George—the two central characters of the book—use the power of their imaginations to create what was once just a character into a reality.
The books remind children of the importance of imagination.
Harold and George are quite troubled kids, who often face off against their principal due to their behavior.
However, much of their bad behavior is rooted in humor, and the novels explore how this mischievous nature can be a positive thing when prevailing against difficult authority figures.
Captain Underpants is one of the most popular children’s book series in the world, and the success of Pilky’s next series—Dog Man—has only added to this acclaim.
If you were hoping Captain Underpants would have a space-invasion story, then The Invasion Of The Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies From Outer Space is the next one for you to read.
This is the next part of the story that introduces important side characters like Bionic Booger Boy and Incredible Wedgie Woman.
Pros
Introduces new characters that come up later in the series.
Cons
Lots of new introductions take away from some of the simplicity of the first two entries.
Next up, we have Captain Underpants fighting off the Wicked Wedgie Woman in the fifth entry to the series. Expect robots and a lot of wedgies in this one!
2003 saw Dave Pilky release a double bill. This is the first part of that story, featuring the villain Bionic Booger Boy.
Expect a lot of crazy action and a much longer story than the one before. You have to read this one before reading part two, or else it won’t make sense!
Pros
Full color and the biggest story yet!
Cons
Requires you to read part two to get the full story!
For the second part of this story, and the seventh overall title in the series, we have the conclusion to the most expansive story yet. Expect an explosive finish to the most exciting Captain Underpants story yet.
Make sure you read this one after part one—you might want to buy both books together.
After the big double feature, you may be wondering where to go next. Well next up, we see Captain Underpants facing off against the Purple Potty People.
This story sees Harold and George going up against evil-twin versions of themselves, which is a great twist to the series!
Pros
Features evil-twin versions of Harold and George.
Cons
Isn’t as explosive as the last two entries of the series.
This story begins with George and Harold being framed for a crime they did not commit. This is a similar theme to a later novel in the Dog Man series.
If you’re looking for a story that will look at justice and time travel, then this is the most important next part of the series that has some of the most important lessons of the series to teach!
Pros
Considers how George and Harold can defeat bullies without the help of Captain Underpants.
Cons
Has much fewer Captain Underpants in the story than in other books.
The Revolting Revenge Of The Radioactive Robo-Boxers takes Harold and George to a post-apocalyptic planet.
This is the first novel that really takes the series away from its original school setting, so it’s a great choice to read if you’re looking for something a little different.
It follows on from entry nine, so make sure you’ve read that one first!
This was the last entry in the series, as Dave Pilky shifted his focus to work on the Dog Man series.
You can see a distinct change in the art style with this one, but it’s a great story that contends with the idea of obedience and creativity.
This is the final book in the series and a great finale for the characters.
Pros
Some deep themes about creativity and individuality.
Cons
Different art style from the older books.
Final Thoughts
In short, you can easily read the Captain Underpants novels in publication order.
If you do this, you’ll get a good understanding of the series and the characters, as well as the underlying themes that build with each book.
However, I hope that I have illustrated how almost all of the novels can be read as standalone, and you won’t be too out of the loop!
I’d only recommend reading Captain Underpants 6 and 7 together, and 9 and 10. I’d also recommend reading the final entry last of all, as it wraps up the series.
I hope that this guide has given you a good idea of the reading order of this series, and you’re not all set to get started delving into the whimsical world of Captain Underpants. Happy reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dog Man Set In The Same World As Captain Underpants?
Dog Man is an older comic strip character created by George and Harold, so you should read that series to learn more about the characters!
Will There Be More Captain Underpants Books?
As it stands, Captain Underpants has concluded as a series, but you never know if there will be more in the future!
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
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