Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers
Picking up where Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers (2012) left off, “this legendary tome” sends Tippy back in time again to counteract his earlier mistakes. So now there are two Tippys. Skip back to the now-redeemed present, in which Harold and George opt to save their pterodactyl pet by using the Purple Potty to jet back 65 million years. It’s complicated, but pretty soon there are three Tippys of varying size in pursuit of our two heroes—plus Cap’n U—who invent cave painting (cave comics, to be exact) to galvanize cavemen for an impromptu army. Pilkey is kind enough to reveal what truly killed the dinosaurs, what began the Ice Age, and, oh yeah, how the universe was created. Everything you would expect from an Underpants book is firmly (spastically may be a better word) in place: a giddy, senseless plot; an invigorating antiestablishment streak; and Flip-o-Rama megaviolence. The big surprise: finding out the grim fate that awaits Harold and George in the future. Not as big of a surprise: volume 11 is coming soon.      HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Really? This is Captain Underpants we’re talking about here. Try a one-million-copy first printing and print, online, and TV ads—the whole shebang. Grades 3-5. --Kraus, Daniel