Dog Man Reading Order

If you’re here it probably means you or your child have recently fallen head over heels into the Dog Man Universe, and as a Dad fully immersed in that universe, let me extend you a Supa Welcome! While the continuity and narrative crossover of Dog Man stories is not especially complex, the books don’t prioritize telling you where each graphic novel and various spinoffs fall in order. Since Dav Pilkey’s comics are the surest gateway to reading since bribing children with candy, it’s well worth making the series list chronology easier for everybody.

Do you have to read Dog Man in order? Absolutely not. I’m yet to meet a kid who wasn’t perfectly content mostly reading the graphic novels out of order (then again, I’m yet to meet myself as a child via time travel, so never say never!). Nonetheless, there are a variety of characters who appear and develop over the course of these works, particularly Petey the Cat and Lil’ Petey. It will make more sense to read through the books in order the first time – and then like an absolute maniac the next 10,000 or so times.

As I type this in 2025, there are 14 Dog Man graphic novels by Dav Pilkey, and 5 Cat Kid Comic Club spinoffs (Also by Pilkey – to date, no other comics creators have entered the Dog Man Universe). While new Dog Man graphic novels have released pretty consistently since 2016, it’s been a full two years since the last (fifth) Cat Kid comic. Cat Kid Comic Club #6 has been rumored for a while now, and is currently estimated to see print in 2026.

The other biggest question parents often have is what reading level should a kid be before trying Dog Man? Speaking only from the unimpeachable authority that comes with the self-appointed title Big Daddy, both my oldest kids gravitated to reading Dog Man pretty soon after learning to read. Officially, I’d say Dog Man is perfect for kids 6 to 9, so first, second or third grade. That said, kids come to reading at different speeds and with varying enthusiasm – if you’ve got a kid who never wants to read and suddenly they’re giving Dog Man a go, heck yeah! In terms of whether or not Dog Man is appropriate for your young reader, there’s no cursing, no excessive violence, and extraordinarily minimal tackling of mature themes. These are books for kids to love, and Dav Pilkey knows what kids love. Unfortunately, that does also mean there’s plenty of potty humor. We are talking here about the author of Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir-Stinks-A-Lot. Your kids will love it, and if you’re like me, you’ll probably grimace but enjoy their joy. Mileage may vary!

Now, inevitably after your child reads Dog Man, you are both going to be looking for more comics like Dog Man. There are two good options here, and coincidentally, they’re both written by me! First off, try out Comic Book Herald’s best comics for kids! Then, try the article I wrote for Popverse specifically about good comics for kids who just saw the Dog Man movie! Otherwise, find a complete Dog Man reading order below, and enjoy the comics!

Dog Man Reading List:

Dog Man: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #1

Prequels:

Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers (Captain Underpants #9)
Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot (Captain Underpants #12)

Ok, so technically, Dog Man is a creation of George and Harold, the star child genius comic book makers from Dav Pilkey’s earliest claim to fame, Captain Underpants. George and Harold reveal “The Adventures of Dog Man” as one of their earliest collaborations in Captain Underpants #9. While you don’t need to read all of Captain Underpants to understand Dog Man, it does kind of help to know who George and Harold are, since they also introduce the Dog Man graphic novels! My kids had read all the Dog Man books backwards and forwards a billion times before they went back for Captain Underpants, though, so this is more “interesting” than necessary (a good tagline for Comic Book Herald!).

Dog Man Unleashed: A Graphic Novel

Marvel Amazing Spider-Man GIT digital comics collection

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #2

Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #3

Better than Dickens. It needed to be said.

“A Tale of Two Kitties” is the Dog Man story that really sends the series into the sales stratosphere, introducing the infinitely affable Lil’ Petey. This is the book most thoroughly inspiring the movie and the (superior) musical!

Dog Man and Cat Kid: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #4

Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #5

Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #6

Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #7

Dog Man: Fetch-22: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #8

This marks the point in time when you are now officially ready for the best musical of the 2000s: Dog Man the Musical. You may be chuckling at my apparent humor – that happens to a lot of readers! – but I promise you, I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. The absence of a single Tony for Jamie Laverdiere’s performance as Petey the Cat is the greatest crime in awards history. If Dog Man The Musical doesn’t instantly make it into your family’s kid-friendly playlists, I’ll give you your money for reading this free article back!

Cat Kid Comic Club: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Cat Kid Comic Club Graphic Novel #1

Most guides looking at when to read Cat Kid alongside Dog Man will base their placement on mere release date, like common court jesters. But you and I, we’ve read Dog Man for bedtime reading too many times to be made into fools! While Cat Kid’s first graphic novel is published right after Dog Man #9, it actually fits neatly after Dog Man #8, particularly regarding the developments for Flippy and the Tadpoles, who make up most of the Comic Club.

I’ve written as much elsewhere on my lists for best comics for kids, but Cat Kid Comics Club is my favorite work from Dav Pilkey, experimenting with different styles and tones as he encourages creativity with glorious passion and humor. If as a parent, you’re a little tired of the Dog Man Universe, just wait until you get to bounce to Cat Kid and learn about the history of Frederic Wertham from the perspective of manic tadpoles!

Dog Man: Grime and Punishment: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #9

Dog Man: Mothering Heights: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #10

Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Cat Kid Comic Club Graphic Novel #2

Cat Kid Comic Club: On Purpose: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Cat Kid Comic Club Graphic Novel #3

Cat Kid Comic Club: Collaborations: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Cat Kid Comic Club Graphic Novel #4

Following the first graphic novel, the Cat Kid series primarily keeps to itself and doesn’t overcomplicate connections to the Dog Man stories surrounding it. This is just fine by me considering how many kids are simply grabbing one of these books off a school library cart, reading order be gosh-darned!

Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #11

The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Now With a Dog Man Comic!): 25 1/2 Anniversary Edition

Darn tootin’ we’re including the Dog Man minicomic Dog Man and the League of Misfits included the anniversary edition of Captain Underpants.

Cat Kid Comic Club: Influencers: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Cat Kid Comic Club Graphic Novel #5

You have now formally entered the point where you can (and should) find Cat Kid Comic Club The Musical!

Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #12

This marks the right moment to roll out the Dog Man: Mission Impawsible video game, which is a deceptively fun Mario-esque side-scroller with a darn catchy soundtrack. Did I play this for fun after the kids went to bed? I’m not on trial here your honor!

Dog Man: Big Jim Begins: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #13

Dog Man: Big Jim Believes: A Graphic Novel

Collects: Dog Man Graphic Novel #14

The latest and greatest in the Dog Man saga, as of this article’s publication in 2025. Again, if you’re starved for more graphic novels from here (understandable), check out the rest of Dav Pilkey’s works or a personal favorite in our house: Investigators!

Dog Man Epic Collections

Dog Man: The Supa Epic Collection

Collects: Dog Man #1-6 Box Set

Dog Man: The Supa Buddies Mega Collection

Collects: Dog Man #1-10 Box Set

Cat Kid Comics In Order:

Obviously I’ve listed them above in the Dog Man reading order, but if you just want all things Cat Kid – and frankly, I get it – you can check out each graphic novel in order below, alongside the Box Sets.