Democracy Dies in Darkness

Dav Pilkey credits his ADHD for his massive success. Now he wants kids to find their own ‘superpower’

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Best-selling author Dav Pilkey appears with cast members from “Dog Man: The Musical.” (Courtesy of Scholastic)

By any measure in publishing, cartoonist Dav Pilkey is a rock star.

The children’s author created his characters Captain Underpants (a superhero for grade-schoolers) and Dog Man (a hound-supercop) while an Ohio second-grader, sitting alone in the hall during class as a result of his ADHD.

Now Pilkey is 53, and “Dog Man” — a franchise that has sold millions — is perched atop the New York Times bestsellers list for children’s series, while “Captain Underpants” is at No. 8 (both books have sat on the list for years).

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