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Captain Underpants
The Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey has 12 books and is best read in publication order, starting with The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997).
- Books
- 12 books
- First published
- 1997
- Status
- completed
- Last checked
Start here: The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The order the books were released — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Adventures of Captain Underpants - Book 2:
Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets - Book 3:
Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space - Book 4:
Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants - Book 5:
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman - Book 6:
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostril Nuggets - Book 7:
Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers - Book 8:
Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People - Book 9:
Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Re-Turn of Tippy Tinkletrousers
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Re-Turn of Tippy Tinkletrousers - Book 10:
Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers - Book 11:
Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Tyrannical Retaliation of the Turbo Toilet 2000 - Book 12:
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot
About the Captain Underpants series
Fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins are the class prankster duo and comic-book creators of their own hero, Captain Underpants -- so when they hypnotize their tyrannical principal, Mr. Krupp, into actually believing he is Captain Underpants, chaos (and a very literal superhero in tighty-whities) is unleashed on their school. Each book pits the accidentally-real Captain Underpants against an increasingly absurd villain -- alien cafeteria ladies, a mutant plant-fertilizer monster, a time-traveling toilet army -- with George and Harold's comics-within-the-book (drawn in their own kid-scrawl "Flip-O-Rama" style) acting out the wildest fight scenes.
Dav Pilkey wrote the series in part from his own experience as a kid labeled disruptive and learning-disabled, and it shows: the humor is proudly, unapologetically juvenile (bathroom jokes are a design feature, not a bug), the reading level is forgiving, and the message underneath the mayhem is that funny, restless kids are not the problem the adults around them think they are. It became one of the most challenged book series in American libraries for its irreverence toward authority -- and one of the most beloved for exactly the same reason.
Captain Underpants was Pilkey's breakout hit before he moved on to Dog Man, and it remains a reliable favorite for turning reluctant young readers into eager ones.
Frequently asked questions
How many Captain Underpants books are there?
There are 12 books in the main series, published between 1997 and 2015. The Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy counts as one story told across two parts.
What order should I read Captain Underpants in?
Publication order, starting with The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997). Keep the two Bionic Booger Boy parts together and in sequence.
Is Captain Underpants finished?
Yes. The main series concluded with Sir Stinks-A-Lot in 2015; Dav Pilkey has since focused on Dog Man, which features the same two boy creators.
Do I need to read the Super Diaper Baby or Ook and Gluk spin-offs?
No, they're optional side comics credited to George and Harold, not required for the main story.
Is Captain Underpants connected to Dog Man?
Yes, both are presented as comics created by the same characters, George and Harold, though each series can be read independently.
If you like the Captain Underpants series
Reading order last verified .