Captain Underpants

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Captain Underpants (book one) cover
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Captain Underpants (book one) cover

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.

Contents

[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, where most of the stories take place, is a school that condemns any comedy and pranking, yet is ironically named after Curly Howard of the Three Stooges.

These potty-mouthed books are considered very clever and funny by their target audience, and even some of their parents. 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:

  • 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 a snap), 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. 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.
  • 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.

[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 has two cats named Porky and Buckwheat, and is 9¾ years old. Harold has five goldfish named Moe, Curly, Larry, Dr, Howard, and "Superfang", and is 10 years old. They are currently 4th graders at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School.

Mr. Benny Krupp/Captain Underpants - The main and title character of the series. He's the rude principal of Jermone Horwitz Elementary School. Mr. Krupp despises children, especially George and Harold. Mr. Krupp's secret identity is actually Captain Underpants, unknowingly. Whenever he hears someone snap their fingers, he turns into Captain Underpants, and he changes back into Krupp when water splashes on his head. In book 5, it appears that he's a Jew. As Captain Underpants, he considers George and Harold to be his sidekicks and seems to believe anything they write about him in comics to be true (he believed that starch was his mortal weakness and that he had an amulet inside of himself that protected him from it in book 5). Underground rumor states that this character is modeled after the 44th Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle, although there is no sufficient evidence to support this claim.

Melvin Sneedly - George and Harold's nerdy, meaniecake nemesis. Also an annoying tattle-tale. Introduced in book 2. In book 7, he is described as "the kid on the right with the bowtie and glasses". In book 6 he was the main villain as the Bionic Booger Boy.

Ms. Tara Ribble - George and Harold's mean 4th grade teacher. She once turned meaner in book five turning into Wedgie Woman, a comic book creation of George and Harold's. But they made her nicer with the 3D Hypno-Ring. She also ended up serving freshly-baked cookies to the class every day of school, also shown in book six.

Miss Edith Anthrope - Mr. Krupp's ruthless secretary. Melvin Sneedly once attempted to eat her in book 6.

Mr. Meaner - Mr. Meaner, the gym teacher (and possibly Mr. Krupp's brother), is a big and fat cruel man. He yells at kids a lot.

Sulu and Crackers - Sulu is Melvin's kicked-out pet hamster. Now owned by George and Harold. Crackers is their pet pterodactyl. Both appeared in the Big, Bad, Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy duom. Sulu was briefly a villain after being hypnotized by Evil George and Evil Harold in The Proposterous 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.

Main article: Sulu (Captain Underpants)
Main article: Crackers (Captain Underpants)

Super Diaper Baby - Main character 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. Rected - The guidance counselor

Miss Labler - The school psychologist

Miss Singerbrains - The cranky librarian

Miss Creant, Mrs. 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. Rustworthy - The music teacher.

Miss Dayken - The kindergarden teacher.

Mr. Morty Fyde - The science teacher. He quit his job in the fourth book.

Miss Fitt

Miss Guided

[edit] Family Members

  • George's Family
    • Mrs. and Mr. Beard - George's parents. Appeared in book 5 (Mr. Beard only), and book 8.
    • Great-Grandma Jane - George's Chinese great-grandmother. Jane 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.
  • 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.
  • 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) gave them superpowers by giving them Super Power Juice while showing them their comics for a two-family dinner at 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.

[edit] Bad Guys

The Inedible Hunk - An unseen villain 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. 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 P. Poopypants - 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 strech 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 - 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.

Evil George and Harold - Evil 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.

[edit] Miscellaneous

Ingrid Ashley and Larry Zarrow - Reporters from Eyewitness news. Appeared in books 4 to 7.

Porkbelly Funky-Skunk - Professor Poopypants' 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

[edit] Super Diaper Baby and Others

[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] External links

Captain Underpants
Main series The Adventures of... | Talking Toilets | Cafeteria Ladies From Outer Space | Professor Poopypants | Wicked Wedgie Woman | Bionic Booger Boy | Purple Potty People | Tippy Tinkletrousers
Other Super Diaper Baby | 2 | FrankenFart | Book o' Fun | 2 | Cartoon-O-Rama 1
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