Also called Blank Cereal Guy · Cereal Spit Take · Cereal Guy Reaction
A cereal eater makes a casual observation, then spits out his breakfast. Use the two empty boxes for an assumption and the fact that immediately overturns it.
The upper reaction is relaxed and skeptical; the lower one is startled. The second caption needs to give him a reason to lose his composure.
A number, reply, or unexpected result can provide the reveal. Keep it connected to the first statement so the surprise is easy to follow.
Graphic designer Bob Averill, also known as Lego_Robot, posted the original character in a 2007 comic on Something Awful. The comic showed an argument over the phone and parodied advertisements for Reese’s Puffs cereal. [1]
The character resurfaced on 4chan in late 2009 under the name Cereal Guy. Other users made new versions and expressions. This blank comparison uses a calm pose above a spit take, making room for a setup and reveal. [1]
The cereal-eating character appears in a Something Awful comic; Averill’s series later becomes Plastic Brick Automaton. [1]
The name and multiple redrawn versions circulate on 4chan. [1]
“He Will Never Be Ballin” grows from a Cereal Guy format in which an initial doubt is immediately disproved. [1]
Put the assumption in the upper-left box and the surprise in the lower-left box. Both drawings on the right should remain unobstructed.
The second line should change what the first one means. A large file size after a casual prediction or a flood of replies after one email gives the reaction a clear trigger.
Original captions to try with this template.
Original artwork by Bob Averill / Plastic Brick Automaton
The number overturns the casual estimate.
Original artwork by Bob Averill / Plastic Brick Automaton
A tiny correction is evidence that the assumption was wrong.
Original artwork by Bob Averill / Plastic Brick Automaton
A small task turns into a conversation much larger than expected.
References for this template. Example captions are original.
Identifies Averill’s source comic, the later reaction-face versions, and the related disbelief format.
