Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Mattel's Squeeze-to-Bite Figures

Forgotten Toys · 1991

Archived on 15/08/2026

Associated With

Mattel - creator or manufacturer

Defining Feature

Soft vinyl tomato monsters with squeeze-open mouths that hold smaller human figures

Status

Discontinued - 14-product reconstructed assortment

Overview

Mattel's Attack of the Killer Tomatoes figures opened their mouths when their soft vinyl bodies were squeezed.

The 1991 line paired its principal tomato monsters with smaller human characters. Each open mouth could hold the included person, turning the screen property into a capture-and-bite play feature.

The short-lived retail assortment appeared on cards covered with splats, bite marks and comic-news-clipping graphics. Carded examples support a reconstructed range of nine principal pairs and five additional releases.

Why It Mattered

The figures translated the property's absurd tomato attacks into a simple physical action that children could control. Squeezing the monster created both the bite and the capture mechanism.

Their packaging carried the same comic disorder into shops, using splat graphics, protruding blisters and mock news clippings to present the characters.

Squeeze-to-Bite Mechanism

Soft-vinyl tomato monsters opened their mouths when squeezed.
Each principal set paired a tomato monster with a smaller human character.
The open mouth was designed to hold the included human figure.

Reconstructed Assortment

Carded examples support nine principal tomato-and-human pair sets.
Five additional releases included Zipamato and Squirtamato products.
The reconstructed assortment totals 14 distinct retail products.

Card and Blister Design

Cards used red-and-green splat graphics, tomato splats and bite marks.
Card backs followed a comic-news-clipping-style presentation.
Larger tomato figures sat in double-sided protruding blisters.

Sources & Records

Mike’s Toybox — Killer Tomatoes collection overview — Describes the squeeze-to-bite mechanism, included human figures and the distinctive card packaging.
Collector Archive Services — Zoltan Zipamato carded figure — Documents a carded Zoltan Zipamato example attributed to Mattel in 1991.
Noble Knight — Dr. Gangreen and Ketchuck figure pair — Records the Mattel two-figure pairing and a 1991 release date.
Figure Realm — Mattel Killer Tomatoes checklist — Lists named 1991 Mattel releases; its 12-item checklist is not a complete confirmation of the reconstructed 14-product range.

Gallery

Front view of a sealed Attack of the Killer Tomatoes blister card in a clear protective case, with green-and-red splatter artwork, three snarling tomato illustrations, a large red tomato creature with green limbs, and a smaller blonde human figure labeled Tara Boumdeay; the lower card names Missing. — Source
Credit
Collector Archive Services
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
The Killer Tomatoes toy packaging turns the animated series’ unlikely monsters into a brightly branded action-figure range.

Photograph of the back of a red-and-white splattered Attack of the Killer Tomatoes card, with an illustrated skateboarder and tomato at the top, character descriptions, a pictured lineup of figures, a play-feature illustration, barcode, and consumer-information box. — Source
Credit
eBay UK
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
The card back displays the wider toy line and play features, encouraging buyers to collect more of the Killer Tomatoes cast.

Close front view of a carded Mattel Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Zoltan Zipamato toy in a clear protective case. The green card has red splatter graphics and tomato characters; the red tomato-shaped toy and green zip cord are visible in the blister. — Source
Credit
Collector Archive Services
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
Zoltan’s Zipamato package highlights a zip-cord action feature, giving the tomato-shaped character a mechanical play gimmick.

Source

Credit

Collector Archive Services

Licence

Historical Ephemera

Displayed for commentary, criticism, research and historical documentation where permitted by applicable law. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

Another Zipamato release shows the same action format applied to a different monster in the range.