Day 23: Count Chocula, Frankenberry and Boo Berry cereals

Each features a sugary rice puff, vaguely in the shape of its branding motif, as well as tiny marshmallows, also vaguely in the shape of something "spooky." They are relatively devoid of nutritional content--approximately 130 calories per 1 cup, high in sugar and nearly devoid of fiber, protein and nutrients.

Count Chocula is clearly the "big ticket" item among these cereals, being the only one reliably found on supermarket shelves year-round. In most markets, Frankenberry and Boo Berry are unavailable until around Halloween. (I am unaware of whether they are produced during the remainder of the year and available to order.) There is nothing particularly distinguishing among the three except the artificial flavor. Chocula, obviously, gets chocolate. The others receive something akin to berries, or at least the closest thing to it that can be developed along the "Chemical Corridor" in northern New Jersey; Frankenberry leans towards strawberry but not anything immediately recognizable as such.

On that account, Frankenberry gets the closest to the themes of its source. While the term "Frankenfood" traditionally is applied only to genetically-modified produce or livestock, it would be difficult to argue that the cereal is anything less than an act in definance of God and all that is holy. On the other hand, only very special people would recognize the erotic subtext of Count Chocula.

OVERALL: ***/5 compared against the sugary breakfast cereal genre. They lack the nutritional value of Cheerios, for example, but also do not go as far into decadence as Cookie Crisps.