Head-to-head
The Adventures of Captain Underpants vs The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh!
Both are ridiculous humor series for ages 6-9 with visual comedy, but Captain Underpants is chapter-based while Bad Guys is a full graphic novel.
The Adventures of Captain Underpants
by Dav Pilkey
The origin story — where the world's greatest underpants-wearing superhero was born
The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh!
by Aaron Blabey
Fast, funny space adventure where the Bad Guys learn that first impressions can be dangerously wrong
Score comparison
| Score | The Adventures of Captain Underpants | The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kid Score | 75 | 72 | The Adventures of Captain Underpants (+3) |
| Parent Score | 44 | 51 | The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (+7) |
| Teacher Score | 46 | 53 | The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! (+7) |
✓ The Adventures of Captain Underpants — perfect for
- •The child who says 'I hate reading' and has never willingly finished a book. Also ideal for the 7-8 year old who loves comics
- •pranks
- •and making people laugh — this is the book that defines their entire reading personality for years.
✓ The Bad Guys in Open Wide and Say Arrrgh! — perfect for
- •fans of the Bad Guys series
- •reluctant readers who need visual storytelling
- •kids who love absurdist humor and space adventures
- •readers aged 7-10 who enjoy fast-paced graphic novels
Our take
There's no universal winner here — the right pick depends on who's reading. The Adventures of Captain Underpants scores higher with kids (75 vs 72) — better if your goal is "my kid actually wants to read it."
Still not sure? Take the 2-minute SPARK quiz — we'll pick the one that fits your specific kid's reading personality.
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