The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Now With a Dog Man Comic!): 25 1/2 Anniversary Edition

by Dav Pilkey

Celebrate the 25th and a half anniversary of THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS with a special edition featuring a BRAND NEW 32-page DOG MAN comic! George and Harold are best friends who enjoy making their own comic books. Together they've created the greatest superhero in the history of their elementary school: Captain Underpants! His true identity is SO secret, even HE doesn't know who he is! Tra-la-laaaaa! It's can't-miss fun! After the Captain Underpants adventure, join George and Harold as they share their never-before-seen bonus comics: Captain Underpants Meets Dog Man and Dog Man and the League of Misfits . The Adventures of Captain Underpants is the first book in the worldwide bestselling Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. Dive into the newest graphic novel in the Dog Man series: Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea . For even more adventures, creativity, and humor, join Flippy and Li'l Petey in the Cat Kid Comic Club series. Reading gives you superpowers!

Genres: Childrens, Comic Book, Graphic Novels, Fiction

176 pages, Hardcover

Published March 7, 2023

About the author

David "Dav" Pilkey (b. March 4, 1966), is a popular children's author and artist. Pilkey is best known as the author and illustrator of the Captain Underpants book series. He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, Sayuri.

Reviews

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventures of Captain Underpants 25 1/2 Anniversary

It’s hard to believe Captain Underpants has been around this long! There is even a bonus Dog Man Comic included.

[aPriL does feral sometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This edition of ‘The Adventures of Captain Underpants’ by Dav Pilkey is the 25th and a half anniversary edition of the first published Captain Underpants comic. It includes another Pilkey comic or two which apparently were created and drawn with earlier versions of the characters that I guess everyone who had a boychik in the house a couple of decades ago are very familiar with today in 2025. There are ten books in the series, with three spinoffs.

Am I really the only one who has almost NEVER heard of Captain Underpants? I do believe I have heard occasional references to Captain Underpants here and there in comedies, but I didn’t know it was about a superhero popular in the elementary school set in the 1990’s/ott years.

Since I am an ancient female, I was given the kind of comics Disney used to produce in the 1950’s, like Mickey Mouse and his friends, as well as being restricted to watching tv shows for kids like ‘Leave it to Beaver’ (which, to be honest, was all adults could watch too until 10:00pm. This was the era of extreme censorship when the US government was attempting to turn the Greatest Generation from the PTSD of WWII into non-swearing martini-drinking green-lawn 4-kid-family suburban conformists).

These new(ish) graphic comics for children are a surprise! They really do seem like comics made by kids for kids! Clearly Dav Pilkey is a man who remembers very well what made him and his friends laugh when they were little boys. Since study after study shows the worst readers and the most dropouts of high school are boys, it is a good deal these books are out there! Or, I should say, WERE out there. ‘The Adventures of Captain Underpants’ is banned in all states MAGA Republicans are in charge. Librarians and teachers can be arrested and sentenced to terms in prison if they have this book on their shelves in two states, and can lose their jobs and certifications in many other Southern and Midwest states.

I have a brother. Words like underpants and poop and, of course, the world-wide funny jokes about farting (any kind of farting actually - it not being necessary to frame the act in a spoken joke) would have him rolling on the floor in hysterical laughter.

I have copied the book blurb:

”Celebrate the 25th and a half anniversary of THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS with a special edition featuring a BRAND NEW 32-page DOG MAN comic!

George and Harold are best friends who enjoy making their own comic books. Together they've created the greatest superhero in the history of their elementary Captain Underpants! His true identity is SO secret, even HE doesn't know who he is! Tra-la-laaaaa! It's can't-miss fun!

After the Captain Underpants adventure, join George and Harold as they share their never-before-seen bonus Captain Underpants Meets Dog Man and Dog Man and the League of Misfits.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants is the first book in the worldwide bestselling Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey. For even more adventures, creativity, and humor, be sure to check out Dav's Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club graphic novels. Reading gives you superpowers!”

I didn’t really get into toilet humor, or jokes that swirl around referencing it obliquely and naughtily, when I was really little. I enjoyed sending little boys into fits by using it, though. Sorry, bro. I didn’t really play with dolls that looked like babies or little girls or princesses either. I preferred farm animals, dinosaurs and Barbies. I was nerdish and a touch too serious. I think I skipped being a normal little girl a bit because I advanced so fast in reading once I got glasses in the third grade, going from ‘The Little Engine That Could’ and ‘Fun with Dick and Jane’ to being able to read two or more grades ahead of my peers in age. By the end of the third grade my teacher had moved me to the table where the advanced readers sat, three of us out of the class of thirty kids. I was more interested in Arthur Conan Doyle books, the Black Stallion series The Black Stallion and short stories by O. Henry (the closest I came to reading stories with ribald jokes at a young age, not that O. Henry wrote anything like toilet humor) The Gift of the Magi, and science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov and Frederik Pohl by the fourth grade. I even won a reading contest that was run between my elementary school and the local library branch, having read the most books of all of the fourth graders.

So.

Even if I was the age I would have most enjoyed these more slightly-naughty-but-fun books, I would probably not have laughed as hard as others my age. However, an unexpected fart, from others of course, will still make me laugh. A lot. This is my one complaint about Captain Underpants. Despite that he wears his underpants to be seen as do all of the superheroes, and nothing else like the WWE wrestlers do, there wasn’t a single fart joke! So, gentler reader, you can imagine my happiness when at least a poop joke popped out!

I heard today on news shows people are driving or flying to USA states which still sell all of the books now banned in Republican states explicitly for the purpose of buying books like this one to take back to their MAGA state. Hmmmm.

[Suhasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greatest crossover ever!

[Johnboy Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

brings back good childhood memories 😌

[Dusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never loved Captain Underpants as much as I loved Dog Man, but still I enjoyed revisiting the story with my 4-year-old, who is ravenous for all things Pilkey. I was surprisingly enamored by the color illustrations, which reveal details lacking in the black & white editions, such as the yellowy gray color of Principal Krupp’s teeth. Dr. Diaper’s reaction to the fake doo-doo — hilarious.

[Dixie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this due to a friend of mine who used to teach children. She talked of how the young boys in particular were crazy about Graphic Novels and this series in particular. It was very interesting to try and see it from a young boy's perspective. It's pretty creative w/ Flip-O-Rama, switching letters around on signs, etc.
This particular book in addition to the original story, had other sections: Bonus Comix and my favorite section: The Origin of Captain Underpants. I laughed at much of this part of the book & could see the author getting into trouble & doing the things that he then wrote & draw about in a series for young children.
For anyone like me, wanting to see what the fuss is about, I recommend this exact book because to me, The Origin was most interesting :-)

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this only because I heard it had the bonus comic. I Wasn’t entirely disappointed but I wasn’t impressed. I was hoping for a dog man, super diaper baby, and captain underpants all meeting but I did not get that. It also ended on a cliff hanger which is very odd considering it’s meant to just be a bonus comic. Will dav make a spin-off dog man comic that is a collection of George and Harold’s old comics? Will dav continue the super diaper baby series? Will captain underpants start making cameos in the other series?

Five stars since the whole book is good but the story didn’t impress me.

[Robert DiRe · Rating 4 out of 5]

First chapter book for my son. Was not offended by Harold and George’s treatment of their principal, who honestly deserved the treatment he got. However, the author’s biography was quite ungracious to his teacher, and he seems like he needs a swift kick in the face.

That being said, as my son can attest, his primary thesis is correct. Underwear is inherently funny.

[Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, I loved this book. I love how it gives us a background of Capton Underpants and how Dog Man, Capton Underpants, and Super Diper Baby meet. And for all the Dog Man fans, you get a secret comic and know that this fits in the Dog Man timeline order as the third book.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if I could.
I read Captain Underpants to my 7-year-old son, and it turned out to be a cute, funny experience we both enjoyed together. The book is full of silly humor and playful illustrations that kept him engaged from start to finish.

Some of the jokes and satire went over his head, but that didn’t stop him from laughing and enjoying the story. As an adult, I appreciated the layers of humor that made it entertaining for me as well. It’s the kind of book that works well for shared reading, giving kids something fun while offering parents a few chuckles too.

Overall, Captain Underpants was a lighthearted and enjoyable read. I would absolutely read another book in the series with him, and I can see why it’s such a favorite among early elementary readers.

[Qamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading "The Adventures of Captain Underpants 25 1/2 Anniversary Edition" taught you about the magic of creativity and friendship. Like George and Harold, use your imagination to dream big and solve problems.

Never forget, your ideas and friendships are your greatest adventures.

Love,
Mom and Dad

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can appreciate this book for the kiddos who love it, but for me, it was an “eh.” Also, read it with my 6 year old. He thoughts parts of it were funny but there was a it I had to explain to him, and also references he doesn’t get yet. Definitely geared told older kids. Will reintroduce it to him in a couple years :)

[Abigail Ingram · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nostalgic as I used to read these as a kid with my brother. Chapter 11 was my personal favourite 😛. Would read again but only if I was super bored with nothing else new to read or I wanted the nostalgia again.

[Brady Lutz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I loved the ending with the old comics and the fun facts. Was neat to learn where some of the names came from. My some who may have ADHD also was comforted to find out his favorite author was diagnosed with that and dyslexia as a kid.

[Bre-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends, phenomenal news: this book still slaps. The humour is ironic and easy to follow, the art is nostalgic, and I mean, come ON - the flip-o-rama?!

It’s absolutely a kids book, but I’d be thrilled to read it with my kid.

[Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked my nephew to pick out a book for me for a challenge prompt of “genre chosen for you by someone else.” He selected this gem with my promise I would return to him when done.
This book was so cute! It made me laugh out loud and I see why this series has been so popular for so long.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A throwback to the past with Dav Pilkey's first book reimagined. Also has a little dog man story at the end. Really liked it.

[Alan Castree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic. But I’m not sure the new Dog Man story is worth buying the book a second time.

[Lucy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book for Christmas and loved it 😍 it’s so awesome how Dav put together a book with caption underpants AND dogman.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly fun but too young for me really

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good now as it was when I first read it in elementary school :)

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun

[STRP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phin

[vik ^_^ ! ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

the origin story is so cute

[Jane Hotzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book I read on the “banned” list. Silly young boy humor…..

[Amez Baxtyar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a pretty good book I finished it in 51 mins there’s also a bonus over all 5.4/10

[Jaka Utrosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

hear me out; sometimes you have a best friend and you've never read their childhood nostalgia books so you want to connect with them and you have a rompin' good time

[Oliver Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book📚📖

[Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super funny love dav pilkey also love the dogman comix
love the drawings