It’s that time of year when the Monster Cereals come out. They’ve really been out since September, but I like to hold off until a little closer to Halloween. Maybe I should start earlier too, though—I’m getting older and, since my wife doesn’t like them, finishing off five or six boxes of family-sized sugary cereal by myself isn’t as easy as it used to be, and is a reminder of the passing of time.
I’d really like to say a sincere word of gratitude to the people behind making the Monster Cereals—not just the cereals themselves but also the packaging. I’ve worked in enough businesses to know that nothing happens quickly, especially with established brands. The Monster Cereals are seasonal, not really promoted, and, I suspect, not even that profitable anymore. Their target demographic is a dwindling subset of Gen Xers who grew up eating them—or, in my case, not eating them but wishing I could—and yet there’s care and thought put into making each year’s release just a little bit different.
Carmella Creeper, introduced in 2023, and the first new Monster Cereal in thirty-six years, has made a welcome comeback for this year, and I’m glad. It was about time they brought a woman into the mix and while the “caramel apple” flavored cereal doesn’t taste like either caramel or apples it does have a distinctive tangy flavor that I like. She’s also gotten her own retro-style box, confirming her place as one of the gang.
The other big change is the return of the Monster Mash, introduced in 2021 for the 50th anniversary of the first Monster Cereals. It’s not, as the box would suggest, a mix of all four flavors but rather a combination of green Carmella pieces and gray pieces—gray being such an appetizing color for food. The box is also missing my personal favorite Frute Brute (I like werewolves) and Yummy Mummy. The latter’s name has taken on a meaning of its own, and I’m sure Tony The Tiger can sympathize, but that’s another story.
The biggest change has been that the this year’s Monster Cereals have gotten “pets” with their own back-of-the-box stories and a new batch of marshmallows. Not even monsters live forever. There will be a year when it’s just not worth it to bring them out. In the meantime it’s nice that they’ve got friends.
I’ve been searching everywhere for Count Chocula cereal! I haven’t had it in many years.
I have been searching for Count Chocula cereal for quite awhile now. Lucky for me, I found some. 🙂
That is lucky! There was a long period when I couldn’t find the Monster Cereals anywhere. When I finally found them in one of the big box stores I, well, made up for lost time. Now I take them in moderation but it’s hard to resist Count Chocula.
I remember these from when I was a kid, but we were never allowed to have them because they were too sugary. Now I’m an adult but I still can’t eat them because I can’t eat gluten! Dang!
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That’s really annoying. There should be a gluten-free version of the Monster Cereals, especially Carmella Creeper. There are some new cereals that promise a similar taste to the sugary ones while also supposedly being more healthy. I’ve been tempted to try them but they’re ridiculously expensive. Healthy cereals shouldn’t cost more than regular ones.
I’ve never eaten these monstrously sugary cereals, Chris, but this sweet post is part of a healthy morning blog breakfast.
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I limit myself to enjoying sugary cereals just once a year and, as I limit the amount I enjoy a little more with each passing year, but I’ll always overindulge on your comments.