Captain Underpants- a Closer Look

First of all, yes, I'm an adult, and yes, I'm writing a review on a book series for children about a grown man in his underpants.

Back in 1997, there was a distinct lack of books featuring super heroes fighting crime in their underwear. Author Dav Pilkey planned on changing that. Captain Underpants tells the story of a grouchy, angry elementary school principal named Mr. Krupp who wants nothing more than to outlaw any form of fun. George and Harold, two good-hearted yet mischievous boys, want things to be different. With the help of a 3D Hypno-Ring, they transform their stick-in-the-mud principal into their wacky superhero creation Captain Underpants! Unfortunately, things don't quite go as planned, and their new creation heads off to fight crime and get the boys in some really sticky situations.

I'll start by warning parents right-out: this series is juvenile. Very juvenile. Poop jokes, fart jokes, pee jokes, booger jokes, the works. If you don't want your children reading that sort of thing, it's highly suggested that you steer clear of this series. However, while there is plenty of potty humor, it balances out with very clever jokes; quite often you'll find characters breaking the fourth wall, realizing they're actually in a children's book series. Nothing is safe from Pilkey's parodies, from Harry Potter to Trix cereal commercials (my favorite line in the entire series is "Silly Rabbi! Tricks are for kids!"). The books make fun of books in general, having some chapters that are only 2 words long, or chapter titles that take up a quarter of the page. Really, the fun never stops from the moment you crack open the book to the moment the book ends. You really have to read it to yourself to see the various types of jokes the books contain.

The characters are all generally very well-written. Each character has their own distinct personality, and it shows. George and Harold are mischievous troublemakers, sure, but whenever something goes wrong, they're (almost) always ready and willing to take responsibility and try to save the day. Mr. Krupp is your typical anti-hero, wanting to squelch out any form of fun George and Harold have, but as the story goes on, you come to see Krupp as more than a simple crabapple principal. His emotions vary wildly, making him quite an interesting character to keep track of. Every time someone snaps their fingers he turns back into Captain Underpants, possibly the cheesiest super hero of all time. His CP persona shows a completely different side of the character: fun, happy-go-lucky, and always wanting to help people in need. Perhaps Captain Underpants could symbolize the type of person Krupp would be if he loosened up a little bit...but I'm probably thinking a little too much for a book series aimed at young boys. The series has developed quite a series of supervillains, from the nefarious Professor Poopypants (I kid you not) to the Wicked Wedgie Woman. Juvenile villains, to be sure, but ones that prove quite entertaining. Some even have--*gasp*--tragic backstories! For a second you may think you're reading Spider-Man! ...well, maybe not, but they're amusing, all the same.

Dav Pilkey's drawing style goes perfectly with this type of series. Drawings are rather simple, but show the action well. The highlight of each book is easily the comic book inserts drawn in a really crude style by George and Harold with handwritten (and often misspelled) text. Older readers (as few as they may be) may find themselves busting a gut at how amateurishly written and drawn they are. If you do, it's obvious Dav Pilkey did his job well.

Another area where the series shines is, believe it or not, the storyline. The series doesn't really have a tight-knit continuity, at least not at first. As the series goes on, Captain Underpants develops new powers, new characters are brought in, and as of right now, each adventure leads directly into the next. The only flaw in having such continuity is you'll constantly be wondering what's going to happen in the next book, and considering one book generally comes out every couple years or so, you'll be in for a long wait.

The ninth book in the series--Captain Underpants and the Terrible Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers--has yet to be scheduled for release. But you can bet that when it does, I'll be the first one at my bookstore to pick up a copy. If you aren't easily offended by juvenile humor and want some cheap laughs, Captain Underpants delivers in spades. TRA LA LAAAAA!