Dog Man

Dav Pilkey

34 pages 1-hour read

Dav Pilkey

Dog Man

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2016

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

George is an outgoing and talkative fourth-grader at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. He serves as the primary writer for the comic books he creates with his best friend. His spelling abilities noticeably improve as he grows from first to fourth grade. He struggles with impulsive behavior during class hours.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Harold Hutchins

Student of Ms. Construde

Student of Principal Krupp

Harold is an artistic fourth-grader attending Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. He acts as the sole illustrator for the comic series, developing his drawing skills significantly over the years. He prefers inventing monsters and superheroes over completing traditional schoolwork assignments.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of George Beard

Student of Ms. Construde

Dog Man is a chimeric superhero who protects his city using heightened canine senses and human physical strength. He possesses high intelligence and an eagerness to please his superiors at the police station. Because he cannot speak, he communicates through licks and struggles to control hyperactive dog behaviors.

Key Relationships

Subordinate of The Chief

Formed from Officer Knight

Formed from Greg the Dog

The Chief is a gruff police commander managing the local law enforcement station. He demands strict adherence to the rules and regularly loses his temper when his personal property gets ruined. Despite his loud yelling and harsh discipline, he genuinely worries about the officers under his command.

Key Relationships

Commander of Dog Man

Subordinate of The Mayor

Petey is a bipedal orange tabby cat who builds illegal gadgets in a secret laboratory. He frequently breaks out of a specialized feline prison to execute malicious schemes across the city. His inventions range from giant machines to chemical sprays that animate food.

Key Relationships

Enemy of Dog Man

Rival of The Mayor

Creator of Hot Dog

The Mayor is a corrupt political leader aiming to seize total control over the city. She establishes illegal businesses and replaces human law enforcement with mechanical alternatives to enforce her agenda.

Key Relationships

Boss of The Chief

Employer of Dr. Scum

Controller of Robo-Chief

Supporting Characters

Officer Knight is a physically capable human police officer who lacks basic intelligence. He desperately wishes to perform heroic acts to impress his superiors before a severe explosive injury alters his physical form permanently.

Key Relationships

Partner of Greg the Dog

Body Donor for Dog Man

Greg is an intelligent police dog trapped in a fragile physical frame. His intellect and sharp sensory capabilities form the mental foundation of the city's greatest superhero after a devastating accident.

Key Relationships

Partner of Officer Knight

Head Donor for Dog Man

Dr. Scum is an unethical scientist working out of a large industrial factory. He builds malicious inventions and establishes criminal enterprises to support local political corruption.

Key Relationships

Employee of The Mayor

Ms. Construde is a strict first-grade teacher at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. She actively suppresses artistic expression in her classroom, viewing comic book creation as a severe behavioral issue requiring medical intervention.

Key Relationships

Teacher of George Beard

Teacher of Harold Hutchins

Principal Krupp oversees the daily operations at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. He frequently clashes with the student body and inadvertently becomes a chaotic costumed hero due to a hypnotic plastic ring.

Key Relationships

Principal of George Beard

Principal of Harold Hutchins

Robo-Chief is a giant, spiked robot wearing an oversized police cap. Built to enforce a corrupt political agenda, it causes massive property damage and follows direct commands until a cunning trick causes it to malfunction.

Key Relationships

Controlled by The Mayor

Replacement for The Chief

The Hot Dog is an animated food item that initially seeks friendly companionship upon gaining life. After facing cruel rejection from its creator, it forms a miniature army of other sausages to wage war against the human population.

Key Relationships

Commander of Philly

Philly is an anthropomorphic, giant cheesesteak statue serving as a local restaurant mascot. Once brought to life with an experimental chemical spray, it provides physical muscle for a miniature army lacking brute strength.

Key Relationships

Recruit of Hot Dog

Opponent of Dog Man