In This Article
- What the Book Is and How It Works
- Who Is Involved
- Context: A Franchise With Deep Roots, and a Publisher Expanding Into Manga
- What to Watch
Scholastic's Graphix imprint released Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga on April 7, 2026, simultaneously across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, according to Publishers Weekly. The book is written and adapted by series creator Dav Pilkey and illustrated by Japanese manga artist Motojiro. The collaboration was first announced on July 31, 2025 via People Magazine, as noted by Wikipedia's Captain Underpants entry.
What the Book Is and How It Works
The manga follows the storyline of The Adventures of Captain Underpants, the first book in the original series, retold in a new visual format. According to Publishers Weekly, the book retains Pilkey's signature Flip-o-Ramas — the interactive flip animations that have long been a feature of the franchise — while adding full-color artwork. Notably, the book reads left to right, departing from the traditional right-to-left format of most manga published in Japan. Pilkey said in a statement that Motojiro's artwork prompted him to expand the story: "His vibrant art inspired me to dig deeper, write new dialogue, and flesh out the story even further." For the book's verdict, see our review.
Who Is Involved
Motojiro brings substantial credentials to the collaboration. Publishers Weekly describes him as a veteran artist with a 30-year career in children's manga, including work on Asahi Shimbun's Time Warp and Battle Brave series — neither of which has been published in English. Pilkey, meanwhile, is the creator of the Dog Man and Cat Kid graphic novel series, which Publishers Weekly identifies as the bestselling graphic novels in the children's category. Ken Geist, VP and publisher of Pilkey Publishing at Scholastic, told Publishers Weekly that the book "has it all — action, adventure, humor, heart, heroes — and a whole lot of fun," adding that it is designed to "captivate existing fans and inspire a new generation of kids to love reading."
Context: A Franchise With Deep Roots, and a Publisher Expanding Into Manga
The Captain Underpants series has been a cornerstone of children's publishing since Scholastic launched it in 1997. According to Wikipedia, the series — centered on two fourth-graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who accidentally hypnotize their school principal into becoming a cape-wearing superhero — has sold more than 90 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 37 languages. A DreamWorks Animation film followed in 2017, along with a Netflix television series that ran from 2018 to 2020. The manga release is also part of a broader strategic move for Scholastic: according to Publishers Weekly, Graphix launched its dedicated manga program in 2024, and this title represents its latest entry in that line. The New York Times has noted Pilkey's stated creative motivation — "I'm writing for the kid I used to be" — as a through-line across his three blockbuster graphic-novel franchises.
What to Watch
The simultaneous five-country release points to Scholastic's ambitions for the title's international reach. Waterstones has incorporated the manga into a live fan event as part of a ticket package, signalling early retail engagement in the U.K. Whether Graphix will extend the manga treatment to further books in the Captain Underpants series has not been announced. Pilkey's broader publishing slate continues in parallel: according to Wikipedia's Dog Man entry, a fifteenth Dog Man book, A Sprinkle in Time, is currently in development with a release date of November 3, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga worth buying in 2026?
It depends on your child's reading interests. If they enjoy manga or are curious about the format, it's a fun and accessible purchase. Longtime Captain Underpants fans may find the visual style jarring, but new readers and manga enthusiasts will likely get a kick out of it. LuvemBooks rates it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
What is Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga about?
It is a manga-style reimagining of the original Captain Underpants story by Dav Pilkey, featuring new illustrations by Japanese manga artist Motojiro. The book retells the classic tale of George, Harold, and their hypnotized principal through the visual language of manga, blending Western comic humor with Eastern illustration techniques.
Who should read Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga?
This book is best suited for children aged 6 to 10 who are either fans of the Captain Underpants series or are curious about manga as a format. It also works well as a bridge book for young manga readers who haven't yet discovered Dav Pilkey's work. Parents looking for a visually engaging, age-appropriate read will find it a solid option.
How is Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga different from the original book?
The core story follows the same plot as the original 1997 Captain Underpants book, but the illustrations are entirely new, created by manga artist Motojiro in a Japanese comics style. The visual pacing, panel layouts, and character expressions have all been reimagined to suit the manga format, giving familiar scenes a noticeably different feel.
When was Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga released?
The book was officially released on April 7, 2026. The collaboration between Dav Pilkey and manga artist Motojiro was first publicly announced on July 31, 2025 through People Magazine.
Who illustrated Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga?
The manga adaptation was illustrated by Motojiro, a manga artist brought in to reimagine Dav Pilkey's original characters and story through the visual conventions of Japanese comics. Pilkey himself remains credited as the creator of the series.
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