Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga (From the Creator of Dog Man)
by Dav Pilkey
At a glance
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Young readers aged 7 and up — particularly reluctant readers or manga fans already hooked on Dog Man — who want a fresh visual entry point into the Captain Underpants world rather than a traditional illustrated chapter book.
Worth it if
The child is drawn to manga as a format and hasn't already read the original 1997 chapter book, making Motojiro's all-new artwork the genuine draw rather than a redundant retelling.
Skip if
Skip it if the child already owns and loves The Adventures of Captain Underpants — the plot is identical, and the sole value proposition is the new manga format, not any new story.
What readers & critics say
Publishers Weekly reports that the book adapts the storyline of the first Captain Underpants novel with all-new manga artwork by Japanese artist Motojiro, and notably retains Pilkey's signature Flip-o-Ramas in full colour, reading left-to-right rather than in the traditional Japanese manga direction. Screenwiseapp.com characterises it as "the ultimate reluctant reader bait," crediting it with building visual literacy through high-engagement comedy and describing it as the perfect bridge for kids moving from Dog Man into Japanese-style manga.
“The manga follows the storyline of the first book and will incorporate new Flip-o-Ramas — Pilkey's signature flip animations — in full colour.”
— Publishers WeeklyLook inside the book
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- Is it worth reading?
- For the right reader, absolutely. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga offers a genuinely distinct visual experience thanks to Motojiro's all-new artwork and the shift to manga format — it is not a reprint but a reimagining of a story that has proven exceptionally durable across nearly three decades and 90 million copies sold. The book works best as an entry point for children ages 7 and up who are already drawn to manga as a format, or for readers who have come to the Captain Underpants world through Dog Man and want a visually familiar way in. However, buyers should note that the value proposition rests squarely on that format shift: the plot of The Adventures of Captain Underpants is unchanged, so anyone who already knows the source material will find no narrative surprises here.
- Similar books
- Readers who enjoy Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga will likely find familiar pleasures in several books featured below. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney shares the same irreverent, kid-powered humor aimed at reluctant readers, blending text with visual storytelling. Matilda by Roald Dahl is another classic children's story built around a clever child outmaneuvering a tyrannical adult authority figure — here a villainous headmistress rather than a principal. For something closer in spirit to the franchise's own gleeful gross-out humor, Magoo and His Magic Poo by HD Ronay offers similar bathroom-humor energy for young readers. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss is a foundational children's classic that shares the same chaos-and-comedy DNA, while the Kid Classics adaptation of Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles shows how beloved stories can be reimagined for new young audiences — much as this manga does for Captain Underpants.
- Who should read this?
- Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga is designed for early readers ages 7 and up (grades 2–3) who enjoy visual, humor-driven storytelling. It is particularly well-suited for children already drawn to manga formats — whether through Dog Man or other series — who want a familiar entry point into the Captain Underpants world. New fans of the franchise will get the origin story of George Beard, Harold Hutchins, and Mr. Krupp in an accessible, visually engaging package. Readers who already own the original 1997 chapter book and are not specifically seeking the manga experience will find the plot entirely familiar, making it a stronger pick for newcomers than for existing fans.
- What age is it for?
- Best for ages 7 and up (grades 2–3). The book is structured for early readers at that comprehension level, with visual manga storytelling that keeps the reading experience accessible and engaging. The franchise's humor — centered on bumbling villainy, kid-powered problem-solving, and a hero who fights crime in his underwear — is aimed squarely at this early-grade audience.
- Tell me about the adaptation
- The Captain Underpants franchise has a robust multimedia presence beyond the books. A DreamWorks animated feature film arrived in 2017, and the Netflix series The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants ran from 2018 to 2020. As for this volume itself, it represents a different kind of adaptation — Pilkey.com notes that a manga version was originally released in 2025, with this Graphix edition dated April 7, 2026, representing its wider publication to English-language audiences.
- Where should I start with Dav Pilkey?
- For readers brand new to Dav Pilkey's work, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga serves as an accessible entry point into the Captain Underpants franchise — it adapts the very first novel in the series. Those who have already migrated to manga through the Dog Man series, which Pilkey launched in 2016 as a spin-off and which became its own global phenomenon, may find this manga adaptation a natural bridge back to the original franchise. The Captain Underpants main series ran to twelve novels before concluding in 2015, giving devoted readers ample material to explore beyond this volume.
- About Dav Pilkey
- The author's full name is David Murray "Dav" Pilkey Jr.
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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 8–12
Reading level
Middle grade
Content to know about
Best for: Ages 7+ (grades 2–3) — reading level and panel-based manga format suit early independent readers at that grade range.
Skip if you want a new Captain Underpants story rather than a manga-format retelling of the original 1997 novel.
Editorial Review
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga is a manga adaptation of the original novel, written and adapted by Dav Pilkey and illustrated by manga artist Motojiro, published by Graphix on April 7, 2026. It retells the story of mischievous fourth-graders George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who accidentally transform their tyrannical principal Mr. Krupp into the superhero Captain Underpants — and then must stop the villainous Dr. Diaper from destroying the Moon. Part of a franchise that has sold more than 90 million books worldwide, this new volume is designed to bring the beloved story to a fresh generation of readers through an all-new manga format and entirely new artwork by Motojiro.
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