Introduction
The Dog Man series, written and illustrated by Dav Pilkey, has taken the world by storm since the first book was published in 2016. Dog Man chronicles the adventures of the eponymous canine superhero, who is part dog and part police officer. The books combine Pilkey’s love of comics and humor into an engaging, illustrated chapter book series for young readers.
Dav Pilkey is the award-winning author and illustrator behind beloved children’s book series like Captain Underpants, Super Diaper Baby, and Dog Man. Pilkey struggled with ADHD and dyslexia as a child, so he often expressed himself through art and drawing. After self-publishing his first Captain Underpants book in 1997, Pilkey’s imaginative stories and irreverent humor catapulted him into massive success. The Captain Underpants series has sold over 80 million copies worldwide.
Popularity of Dog Man Books
The Dog Man book series by Dav Pilkey has seen phenomenal success, with over 60 million copies sold worldwide as of March 2023 according to a press release by the publisher Scholastic (source). The latest book in the series, Dog Man #11: For Whom the Ball Rolls, sold 152,650 copies in its second week to take the #1 spot on the bestseller list, after debuting at #1 with sales of 225,612 copies the previous week according to industry sales data (source). Clearly the Dog Man books continue to be enormously popular, regularly topping the charts and selling hundreds of thousands of copies within just the first couple of weeks of release.
Previous Dog Man Release Timeline
The Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey first launched in 2016 and has since released new books on a regular schedule. Here are the release dates for previous Dog Man books:
Dog Man (August 30, 2016)
Dog Man: Unleashed (December 27, 2016)
Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties (August 29, 2017)
Dog Man and Cat Kid (December 26, 2017)
Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas (August 28, 2018)
Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild (December 24, 2018)
Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls (August 13, 2019)
Dog Man: Fetch-22 (December 10, 2019)
Dog Man: Grime and Punishment (September 1, 2020)
Dog Man: Mothering Heights (March 2, 2021)
Dog Man: The Epic Collection (October 5, 2021)
Dog Man: The Supa Epic Collection (October 4, 2022)
Hints About a New Dog Man Book
Although the last Dog Man book was published in 2021, fans have been eagerly awaiting news of the next book in Dav Pilkey’s hugely popular series. In August 2022, Pilkey and publisher Scholastic finally announced that a new Dog Man book is coming in 2023 (Source). Titled Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder, this 12th book in the franchise will be released on March 19, 2024 and is already poised to become a massive bestseller.
In the announcement, Pilkey teased that Dog Man will face his newest nemesis The Scarlet Shedder. Little is known about this new villain, but the ominous name suggests an exciting adventure awaits our favorite canine cop. Fans are thrilled that after a two year wait, a new hilarious Dog Man caper is on the horizon.
Pilkey promised this book will be well worth the wait, saying “I worked really hard trying to come up with a story as fun and surprising as the first 11 Dog Man books” (Source). With Pilkey’s trademark humor and inventive storytelling, Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder is sure to delight fans new and old.
Potential Plot of New Book
While there has been no official confirmation of a new Dog Man book, fans can speculate what the plot might be based on the previous books. Given that the last book, Dog Man: Mothering Heights, ended with Dog Man defeating Petey and saving the city from destruction, a new book could see Dog Man facing a new threat or villain. Some possibilities include:
A new mutated animal villain arising to get revenge on Dog Man and the city. This could lead to epic battles between Dog Man and his new nemesis.
The return of Petey or another previous villain, who once again hatches a plan to take over the city. Dog Man would have to join forces with friends like Li’l Petey to take down the threat.
An exploration into Dog Man’s origins, with flashbacks showing how he became the dog/man superhero that readers know and love today.
A threat endangering Dog Man’s dog and human friends, forcing Dog Man to rescue them using his strength, humor, and courage.
Whatever the plot may be, fans can expect lots of action, laughs, and heart as Dog Man embarks on another thrilling adventure in the city he calls home.
Impact and Reception
The Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey has received widespread popularity and acclaim since the first book was published in 2016. As of 2022, the series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, appealing to both children and adult readers (Dog Man Book Review). Dog Man was a #1 New York Times bestseller and won the 2017 Children’s Choice Book of the Year award.
Reviews for the Dog Man books have been very positive. On Goodreads, Dog Man has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on over 68,000 ratings (Dog Man #1). Common Sense Media gave Dog Man 3 out of 5 stars, with parent reviewers highlighting the humor, fun stories, and engaging illustrations as positives while noting some potty humor and violence as negatives (Parent reviews for Dog Man: Dog Man, Book 1). Clearly the combination of humor, adventure, and visual storytelling has resonated strongly with young readers.
The awards, stellar sales figures, and positive reviews affirm the popularity and impact of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man series. While not without some controversy, the books have proven to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Other Dav Pilkey Works
In addition to the hugely popular Dog Man series, Dav Pilkey is the author and illustrator behind several other bestselling children’s book series.
Pilkey first gained recognition in the 1990s for his Captain Underpants series about two fourth graders who hypnotize their principal into becoming a superhero wearing only underwear. The series has sold over 80 million copies worldwide.
He is also the creator of the Dumb Bunnies series about a family of clueless rabbits who get into humorous mishaps. Published since 1994, the Dumb Bunnies books have been translated into multiple languages.
In 2002, Pilkey debuted the Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot series about a lonely mouse who saves his city from evil villains with the help of a powerful robot. The series now includes over 10 books.
His graphic novel style and quirky sense of humor have made Pilkey’s books beloved by children around the world. The Dog Man series represents his most recent and wildly popular creation, solidifying his reputation as a leading author of children’s comics.
Future of the Series
Given Dog Man’s immense popularity and commercial success, it seems very likely that Dav Pilkey will continue the series with more books. The most recent book, Dog Man: The Scarlet Shredder, is slated for release in March 2024. This will be the twelfth book in the Dog Man series. With each new release, the books continue to top the bestseller charts. Considering the positive reception from fans and Pilkey’s clear passion for the character and stories, there is a strong chance Dog Man books will keep coming for years to come.
In an interview with Publishers Weekly, Pilkey said, “I still feel like I’m just getting warmed up with Dog Man.” This enthusiasm bodes well for the series having longevity. As long as the books remain popular and Pilkey feels inspired to continue, it seems Dog Man will have many more adventures.
Tie-ins and Adaptations
The popularity of the Dog Man series has led to various tie-ins and adaptations beyond the books. Dav Pilkey and Scholastic have partnered to create a wide range of Dog Man merchandise, including t-shirts, action figures, plush toys, card games, puzzles, and more. Fans can immerse themselves in the Dog Man world through this fun and imaginative Dog Man merchandise.
There have been discussions of adapting the Dog Man series into movies or a TV show, but no official plans have been announced yet. With the success of book-to-film adaptations like Captain Underpants and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, many fans are hopeful Dog Man could receive the same treatment. The action-packed storylines and quirky humor of Dog Man seem well-suited for an animated adaptation that could bring George, Harold, Dog Man and the other characters to life on screen.
While Dog Man has not yet expanded beyond books and merchandise, the popularity and media franchise potential of the series make future adaptations seem likely. Given Dav Pilkey’s creativity and passion for the characters, any movies, shows or other media would surely capture the spirit and fun of the Dog Man world.
Conclusion
Although there has been no official confirmation yet of a new Dog Man book from Dav Pilkey, based on the immense popularity of the series and Pilkey’s hints about working on new material, the chances seem high that fans will be treated to another installment. With so many beloved characters and story possibilities yet to explore in this zany world, readers have lots to look forward to.
Pilkey has demonstrated a remarkable ability to continuously create new adventures for Dog Man that capture children’s imaginations. The momentum of the series shows no signs of slowing down. Each book leaves fans eager to dive back into the funny and action-packed world Pilkey has crafted. There’s still plenty of room for Dog Man’s saga to continue evolving in new directions.
While the timing and details remain a mystery for now, Pilkey has established a pattern of delivering a satisfying new Dog Man roughly every year. He seems unlikely to break that streak. Readers can reasonably hope that another thrilling tale of everyone’s favorite crime-biting canine will arrive sooner rather than later. For now, the endless creativity Pilkey brings to these books leaves fans confident that any new Dog Man adventure will be worth the wait.