Captain Underpants
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- This article is about the children's book series, for the character see Captain Underpants (character).
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The Captain Underpants series, by Dav Pilkey, is a series of American children's books about two 4th graders, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, and the aptly-named superhero they accidentally created, who is their principal, Mr. Benny Krupp.
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[edit] Overview
In their spare time, George and Harold write comic books about a superhero they made up which they called Captain Underpants, hence the title of the book. This character is named after his choice of clothing including only a red cape with black polka-dots and a pair of white underwear. Their cartoon character is unexpectedly brought to life when George and Harold jokingly hypnotize Mr. Krupp, their principal, to act like Captain Underpants. To their consternation, from then on whenever somebody snaps their fingers Mr. Krupp transforms into Captain Underpants, and then turns back if water is poured over his head.
Although the books take place in the real town of Piqua, Ohio, all areas that are mentioned in the town are purely fictional. The only real fact about Piqua mentioned in the series is its location in Miami County, Ohio.
Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, where most of the stories take place, is a school that condemns any comedy and pranking, yet is ironically named after Curly of the Three Stooges.
The book often makes references to things from the 1970s.
The Captain Underpants books were reported by the American Library Association to be among the ten most frequently challenged books. Certain things have been included in the books as a response, including posters that advertise mindless conformity, school rules against using one's imagination, and an evil librarian who bans all but one book from the school library.
Pilkey also wrote and illustrated a book called The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, which takes the form of a comic book drawn and written by George Beard and Harold Hutchins.
In 2008 there will be a Captain Underpants movie by Warner Brothers.
Every book in the series has many similarities
[edit] Breaking the Fourth Wall
George and Harold often break the fourth wall in the books.
- The last phrase of a chapter has the answer as the title of the next chapter. (Example: Mr. Krupp says "Where, oh where?"; the title of the next chapter is "Here, oh here")
- Every book has a chapter with just a few words and one page, titled "To Make a Long Story Short". "It did" is the usual phrase in the chapter. The eight book bent this a little, making two chapters on it, the first being the usual, and the second being entitled "To Make A Longer Story Even Shorter"
- Every book begins with "George and Harold" as the first chapter, with George and Harold switching a sign around to make a funny phrase. The only one that bent this pattern was Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy (part 2), which also introduces Melvin Sneedly, Mr. Krupp, Sulu, Carl, Trixie, and Frankenbooger, due to the chase. George and Harold still switch a sign around. Oddly enough, the eighth book did not include introductions of Sulu and Crackers.
- Every book has two comics, one in the plot, and one at the beginning, explaining what happened. (For the latter, it explains how Mr. Krupp turned into Captain Underpants and, for the fourth book and on, how Captain Underpants got super powers. For book 7, it also explains what happened in book 6, being a two-parter. Book 8 highly enshortened the introductions for 6 and 7, just saying that Melvin invented the Purple Potty). Books 5 and 8 were the only ones that included three comics, one being created by the evil versions of George and Harold in an alternate reality.
- Every single book ends with Mr. Krupp turning back into Captain Underpants (due to someone snapping their fingers), or something going wrong, either way having George and Harold crying "Oh no! Here we go again!". The two shout the phrase in book 6 being chased by the Robo-Boogers, for book 7 having the Purple Potty go terribly wrong, and book 8 for being chased by Tippy Tinkletrousers (earlier called Professor Pippy P. Poopypants).
- On the cover, it says the number of the series' number, epic novel. (Example: For the first book in the series; The first epic novel)
- In George and Harold's Captain Underpants comics, the (fictional) principal is told that the current menace has done something nasty to a certain object as well as the gym teacher, but the principal isn't concerned with the latter. In book 7, he's told that someone got attacked. When he asks who it was, he is told that it's the gym teacher. He is then relieved that it was nobody important. Book 8 did not include such a thing, having no comic being solely Captain Underpants.
- There is a little boy who, after seeing a fight between Captain Underpants and the book's villain, says something like, "Mommy, I just saw a guy in his underwear fighting someone!", to which the mother denies it by saying something like, "Don't be silly." She is often seen reading something even more unbelievable, such as a book about how to lose 20 pounds in 3 days. In fact, in book 4, the boy notices Professor Poopypants climbing into the then-giant Gerbil Jogger 2000. His mother then sarcastically asks if the next event will be the giant robot fighting a giant in his underpants in the middle of the city. Later on in the book, the boy sees Poopypants and Captain Underpants fighting each other, just as his mother predicted: "Mommy?" "Yes?" "Um, never mind."
- Every book has a chapter known as "The Incredibly Graphic Violence Chapter", which has an animation mode known as Flip-o-Rama or "The Cheesy Animation Technique". It begins with a silly warning about how the "violence" might be offending, instructions on how to work Flip-o-Rama by flipping one page back and forth, and then one to three groups of pages that you flip back and forth. Instead of a violence chapter, book 7 includes instructions on how to do the Underpants Dance. However, book 8 did not include a silly warning on the first page of a flip-o-rama chapter.
- At the end of Chapter 1 in every book the last line is "But before I can tell you that story I have to tell you THIS story", reverting to another sub-plot story that often ties into the main-plot.
- There is occasional meta-humor, the most common joke being a character declaring something only happening in poorly written children's stories, usually right before the actual event happening.
- There is often a mention of things that happened in previous books (usually in the background). Like in the fourth book when Professor Poopypants was at the cafe, the newspaper he was reading said that NASA discovered robots living on Uranus (at the end of the second book the heroes told Robo-Plunger to take the evil toilets to that planet). In the fifth book they make numerous references to the previous books, like when Harold says that the stuff that fell on Ms. Ribble was the alien juice from the third book George asks "you mean the one with the annoyingly long title?"
[edit] Characters
[edit] Major Characters
George and Harold - George R. Beard and Harold M. Hutchins are two pranksters who are best friends and nextdoor neighbors. George is identified with his tie and flat top. Likewise, Harold is recognizable with his T-shirt and bad haircut. They have saved the world eight times now. George is 9¾ years old while Harold is 10 years old. They are currently 4th graders at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School, a school where the teachers are mean and some of the kids are their friends.
Mr. Benny Krupp - The title character of the series. He is the sourest, meanest and rudest principal of Jermone Horwitz Elementary School and he despises children, especially George and Harold. Mr. Krupp hates their pranks, silly attitudes, tricks, laughing and giggling and vows to expell George and Harold for being bad students in Jerome Horwitz for four long years. He expects the two boys to clean up, wash up, not to make any messes, not to make tricks and not to make fun in the whole school. He hasn't been the same when he is hypnotized by George and Harold that turns him into the silliest yet courageous hero of all time: the Amazing Captain Underpants.
Captain Underpants - The main hero of the series. He happens to be Mr. Krupp who is hypnotized by George and Harold by using a 3D Hypno-Ring which turns him into the greatest super-hero of all time. In book 1, Captain Underpants gets poured by water in the head which turns him back into Mr. Krupp and whenever Mr. Krupp hears the sound of fingers snapping, he turns back to Captain Underpants which caused George and Harold to follow him. In book 3, Captain Underpants drank a juice carton that caused him to have strength and gets the ability to fly into the air. Captain Underpants always wears underwear and wears a red cape to make him look all fantastic.
Melvin Sneedly - George and Harold's brainiac nemesis. Also an annoying tattle-tale and a smart genius. He is introduced in book 2. Melvin is described as "the kid on the right with the bowtie and glasses". He was the main villain as the monstrous Bionic Booger Boy.
Ms. Tara Ribble - George and Harold's mean 4th grade teacher, introduced in book 1. She once turned meaner after George and Harold turned her into Wedgie Woman, a comic book creation of George and Harold's. But when she was defeated when her hair gets bald, the two best friends made her nicer with a 3D Hypno-Ring. She also ended up serving freshly-baked cookies to the class every day of school. Her name is a pun on the word 'terrible'.
Miss Edith Anthrope - Mr. Krupp's ruthless secretary. Melvin Sneedly once attempted to eat her as the Bionic Booger Boy in book 6. Her name is a pun on the word 'misanthrope'.
Mr. Reginald Meaner - Mr. Reginald Meaner, the school's gym teacher (and possibly Mr. Krupp's brother), is a big and fat cruel man. He yells at kids a lot. His name is probably a pun on the word 'misdemeanor'
Sulu and Crackers - Sulu is Melvin's kicked-out pet hamster. Now owned by George and Harold. Crackers is their pet Quetzalcoatlus. Both appeared in the Big, Bad, Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy. Sulu was briefly a villain after being hypnotized by Evil George and Evil Harold in The Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People. Crackers was hypnotized as well, but didn't turn evil, due to the fact that the Hypno-Ring only works on males like Mr. Krupp.
Super Diaper Baby - Main and title character of the Super Diaper Baby sub-series. Super Diaper Baby is a baby named Billy Hoskins who gained superpowers shortly after he was born. He makes a cameo alongside Diaper Dog in book six in the Captain Underpants series, during a Captain Underpants comic that Melvin Sneedly reads.
Diaper Dog - Super Diaper Baby's pet dog, formerly known as Danger Dog, who worked with Deputy Dangerous for Kibbles.
[edit] Minor Characters
[edit] Teachers and Staff
Mr. Jacob Rected - The guidance counselor
Miss Jenifer Labler - The school psychologist
Miss Jayne Singerbrains - The cranky librarian; got fired in book 7
Miss Dorothea Creant, Mrs. Josefine DePoint, and Miss/Mrs.________ - The lunch ladies, who quit their jobs in the third book when Mr. Krupp does not punish George and Harold after they made a prank on them. (But he does punish them afterwards)
Mr. Alfred Rustworthy - The music teacher.
Miss Jean Dayken - The kindergarden teacher.
Mr. Morty Fyde - The science teacher. He quit his job in the fourth book. His name is a pun on 'mortified'
Miss Betty Fitt
Miss Evelyn Guided
[edit] Family Members
- George's Family
- Oscar Beard - George's parents. Appeared in books 5 (Mr. Beard only), and 8.
- Great-Grandma Jane - George's Chinese great-grandmother. Jayne was once a beautiful lady from China who moved to Ohio and is Harold's grandfather's friend. She was never seen in the first book. She becomes Great Granny Girdle in book 8.
- Brendan Beard - George's cousin. He will become Super Brendan in book 10.
- Harold's Family
- Heidi Hutchins - Harold's younger sister. First seen in book 8.
- Sarah and Paul Hutchins - Harold and Heidi's divorced parents. Mr. Hutchins lives in Nevada. Harold and Heidi live with their mother.
- Grandpa Henry - Harold's adorable grandfather who became Boxer Boy in book 8.
- Chase Hutchins - Harold's cousin. He will become X-ray Chase in book 10.
- Melvin's Family
- Amy and Tanquerder Sneedly - Melvin's parents. Appearing in books 6 and 7.
- Danderella is the family cat. Melvin is allergic to her.
[edit] Superheroes
Boxer Boy and Great Granny Girdle - Appearing in the eighth book, Boxer Boy and Great Granny Girdle are (respectively) Harold's grandfather and George's great-grandmother. They battled (and beat) Captain Blunderpants to save their sons. George and Harold accidentally gave them Super Power Juice while showing them a new comic in a two-family dinner during grandparents' day.
The Incredible Robo-Plunger - A robot created by George and Harold in book 2.
Frankenfart - A new hero in a soon to come book.
Super Brendan And X-Ray Chase - George and Harold's cousins, who will appear in the 10th book.
[edit] Bad Guys
The Inedible Hunk - Villain seen in the comics. Appearing in chapter 3 of The Adventures of Captain Underpants. It later got flushed away. The name is a parody of The Incredible Hulk.
Dr. Diaper - A funny looking man with gray hair, and wears a diaper. He appeared and was arrested in book one, appeared in jail as a small cameo in book four, and appeared as his alternate-dimension self, a policeman, in book eight.
Talking Toilets - A group of evil toilets, turned fictional to non-fictional by PATSY, Melvin's creation, in book two. Can only say (and sing) the phrase "Yum Yum Eat 'Em Up, Yum Yum Eat 'Em Up!". They also appear in book 4 on the newspaper Professor Poopypants is reading.
Turbo-Toilet 2000 - The leader of the Talking Toilets. Created by the PATSY in book two. He had a cameo in book seven on Uranus, where he was sent near the end of book two. He also appeared in Professor Poopypants newspaper in book 4. His alternate-dimension self, a crossing guard, is seen in book eight.
Zorx, Klax, and Jennifer - Three aliens badly disguised as humans, however everyone falls for it anyway. Near the end of book three, it is unknown whether they died or got seriously injured. Their alternate-dimension selves, firemen/firewomen, are in book eight.
The Dandelion of Doom - A normal dandelion mutated by Super-Evil Rapid-Growth Juice, the dandelion appeared late in book three, and was killed by Captain Underpants near the end of book three.
Professor Pippy Pee Pee Poopypants/Tippy Tinkletrousers - George and Harold's new science teacher, later arrested for shrinking the school and threatening the whole town to change their names into funny names, like his. Changed his name to Tippy Tinkletrousers at the end of book four (the book he first appeared in), and later reappeared at the end of book eight to have revenge (in the same book, his good, alternate-dimension self is a fireman). He has another starring role for a book in the upcoming book nine, and is seen riding a T-Rex.
Hairy Potty - A villain that appeared in the Extra-Crunchy Books o' Fun. He was created when a scientist was trying to make a hair tonic. When it went wrong, the scientist dumped the formula into a toilet, but when he forgot to flush, the toilet was overcome by the effects of the hair tonic, becoming hairy, big, and evil. Hairy Potty's name is a parody of Harry Potter.
Wedgie Woman - Ms. Ribble with purple clothes and long blue arms that stretch for hair. She was turned evil by accidental effects of the 3D Hypno-Ring. She was turned completely to good at the end of book five.
Robo-George and the Harold 2000 - Evil robot versions of George and Harold. Creations of Wedgie Woman.
Deputy Dangerous/Deputy Doo-Doo - The first villain Super Diaper Baby went up against. He stole Captain Underpants' superpowers and managed to give Danger (now Diaper) Dog some before the police chased him away.
Dr. Frankenbeanies - A mad scientist who stole a piece of Hairy Potty after his first defeat. He attempted to create a female toilet monster, and sent his assistant, Jeff, to collect the appropriate DNA.
The Bionic Booger Boy - Melvin combined with a robot and boogers. Turned into Carl, Trixie, and Frankenbooger at the end of book six (while Melvin ended up in Mr. Krupp's body).
Carl, Trixie, and Frankenbooger - The three parts of the Bionic Booger Boy. Carl is formed from parts of the booger and the legs of the robot. Trixie is formed from parts of the booger and the tentacles of the robot. Frankenbooger is formed from the main arms of the robot, along with parts of the booger. They are vulnerable to the vitamin C in oranges, and they are killed by just that in book seven. In book 8, Carl is the mailman, and Trixie and Frankenbooger are street cleaners. Frankenbooger's name is a parody of Frankenstein.
Nice Mr. Benny Krupp/Captain Blunderpants - Captain Underpants's alternate-dimension evil twin brother. He is the exact opposite of Captain Underpants in many ways: Captain Underpants doesn't have hair, while Captain Blunderpants does. Also, Mr. Krupp is nice in the alternate dimension and really mean as Captain Blunderpants, while Mr. Krupp in the normal dimension is really mean and Captain Underpants is nice. Water and snapping also have the reverse effects. In simpler terms, snapping turns both captains from evil to good, and water turns both captains from good to evil. He is a parody of Ultraman (comics) an evil alternate dimension version of Superman.
.Evil George and Harold - Evil alternate dimension twin cousins of George and Harold whose clothes are mixed up: Evil George has Harold's T-shirt, and Evil Harold has George's tie.
Pee-Pee Longstocking - A new villain in the Super Diaper Baby sub-series. Her name is a parody of the book, Pippi Longstocking.
Ralph the Cat - Pee-Pee's pet cat.
Black Cheetah Man - An evil villan that is half man and half cheetah.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Ingrid Ashley and Larry Zarrow - Reporters from Eyewitness news. Appeared in books 4 to 7.
Porkbelly Funky-Skunk - Professor Poopypants's partner.
Chuckles Jingle-Berry McMonkey-Burger, Jr. - President of New Swissland. His wife's name is Stinky.
Jiggles T. Chunky-Skunks, Tipper Q. Zipper-Dripper, and Ivana Goda de' Baf-Room - Three citizens of New Swissland.
[edit] Series of titles
[edit] Captain Underpants
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- The Adventures of Captain Underpants (1997)
- Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets (1999)
- Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space (and the Subsequent Assault of the Equally Evil Lunchroom Zombie Nerds) (1999)
- Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants (2000)
- Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman (2001)
- Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 1: The Night of the Nasty Nostil Nuggets (2003)
- Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy Part 2: The Revenge of the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers (2003)
- Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People (2006)
- Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Re-Turn of Tippy Tinkletrousers (2007)
- Captain Underpants and the Brainy Bamboozle of the Black Cheetah Man (2008)
[edit] Super Diaper Baby and Others
- The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby
- Super Diaper Baby 2: The Invasion of the Potty Snatchers
- FrankenFart vs. the Bionic Barf Bunnies from Diarrhea Land
- The Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun
- The All-New Captain Underpants Extra-Crunchy Book o' Fun 2
- The Captain Underpants Cartoon-O-Rama, Book 1: Heroes, Villains, and Super Creeps
[edit] Comic Books seen in the books
- Book 1; The Adventures of Captain Underpants (6 pages)
- Book 2; Captain Underpants and the Talking Toliets (6 pages) and The Top-Secret Truth About Captain Underpants (3 pages)
- Book 3; Captain Underpants and the Night of the Living Lunch Ladies (6 pages) and Wedgie Wars (3 pages)
- Book 4: Captain Underpants and the Pied Pooper of Piqua (6 pages) and The Top-Secret About Captain Underpants (3 pages)
- Book 5: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman (8 pages), The Orgin of Captain Underpants (7 pages) and The Trouble With Captain Underpants (3 pages)
- Book 6: Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Tale of the Tattle-Tron 2000 (9 pages) and The Awful Truth About Captain Underpants (4 pages)
- Book 7: Captain Underpants and the War of the Wily Wonder Nerd (9 pages) and The sad, sad Truth About Captian Underpants (8 pages)
- Book 8: The Preposterous Plight of Captain Blunderpants (7 pages), The Adventures of Boxer Boy and Great-Granny Girdle (13 pages) and The Often Told Untold Story of Captain Underpants (6 pages)
- Super Diaper Baby Book 1: The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby (109 pages) and The Orgin of Super Diaper Baby (4 pages)
- Book of fun 1: George and Harold's College o' Art 1 and 2 (15 pages) and Hairy Potty and the Underwear of Justice (32 pages)
- Book of fun 2; The Night of the Terror of the Revenge of the Curse of the Bride of Hairy Potty (54 pages)
[edit] World Savers
Starting with Book 2, someone other than Captain Underpants saves the day. The following is a list of the world savers.
- Book 1: Captain Underpants/George & Harold
- Book 2: Robo-Plunger
- Book 3: Captain Underpants
- Book 4: Captain Underpants
- Book 5: George & Harold
- Book 6: Sulu the Bionic Hamster
- Book 7: Captain Underpants
- Book 8: Boxer Boy & Great Granny Girdle
- Super Diaper Baby Book 1: Super Diaper Baby & Diaper Dog
[edit] Distribution outside of the USA
- Japan: Tokuma Shoten
- Spain: Ediciones SM, Madrid
- Portugal: Gradiva
- Brazil: Cosac & Naify
- Finland: Tammi
- Indonesia: Gramedia
- Italy: Piemme (Captain Underpants), Salani (Super Diaper Baby)
- Sweden: Egmont Richters
- Poland: Egmont
- Chinese Traditional: Commonwealth
- Chinese Simplified: Thinkingdom/New Buds
- Czech: Egmont
- Danish: Forlaget Sesam, a division of Egmont
- France: Le Petit Musc, a division of Playbac, Paris
- Greek: Modern Times
- Iceland: JPV Forlag
- Norway: A.W. Damm
- Romania: Editura National
- Russia: Machinyi Tvorenyia Publishing
- Thai: Pearl Publishing
- Catalan: Editorial Cruilla, a division of Ediciones SM, Barcelona
- German: Ueberreuter, Vienna
- Slovene: Zalozba Mladinska Knjiga
- Turkish: A.I. Iletisim/Altin Kitaplar
- Canada, Argentina, Mexico, UK, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand: Scholastic
[edit] Influence in popular culture
On October 25, 2006, three 17-year-old Long Beach High school students in Long Beach, New York, Ashley Imhof, Eliana Levin and Chelsea Horowitz, were sent home for dressing like Captain Underpants during Superhero Day at their school. To simulate the look of the character, they wore beige leotards and nude stockings under white briefs, with red capes. School principal Nicholas Restivo described the costumes as "tight-fitting, flesh-colored leotards and leggings", and argued, "Yes, I know they weren't naked, but the appearance was that they were naked." Restivo, who indicated that he was not familiar with the character, added that it didn't matter who the character was, saying that the outfits looked so much like nude skin that they caused a "commotion" among the other students, but Horowitz disputed this, asserting, "They're not see-through or anything. All the teachers thought it was cute." Restivo ordered the girls to change into other clothes or go home. Lacking any other clothes to change into, the girls went home. [1] Photos
[edit] Trivia
- At the 75th page of Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People, the illustration depicts a sign saying: "'Schools is educationy' ; A message from our president." This might be a reference to American president George W. Bush's frequent grammar mistakes, known by some as Bushisms.
- It seems that every kind of tech in the series had 2000 at the end. (Except Robo-George, Freezy-Beam-4000 and the Goosy-Grow 4000)
