Attack of the Killer Tomatoes

Forgotten Toys · 1991

Published 15 August 2026

Mattel's 1991 Attack of the Killer Tomatoes range used soft vinyl tomato monsters with mouths that opened when their bodies were squeezed. The larger figures could hold smaller human characters, turning the television property into a capture-and-bite play feature.

Why It Mattered

The figures translated a deliberately absurd screen premise into a physical mechanism children could operate. Reconstructing the range from carded examples also shows how packaging can preserve a short-lived toy line after formal catalogues disappear.

Squeeze-to-Bite Play

- 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 1991 Range

- Nine principal tomato-and-human pair sets were made.
- Five additional releases included Zipamato and Squirtamato products.
- The reconstructed assortment totals 14 distinct retail products.

Card Design

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

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

Primary Records

- **Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (Mattel) Checklist — Figure Realm**
- **Tomato Overview / Attack of the Ultimato! — Mike’s Toybox**
- **1991 Mattel Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Carded Figure — Zoltan Zipamato**
- **Attack of the Killer Tomatoes — Dr. Gangreen & Ketchuck**

Image Sources

- **Image 1**
- **Image 2**
- **Image 3**
- **Image 4**

Rights Notice

Images are included for historical and archival reference.

Rights holders may contact Forgotten Archive through the publishing account to request a credit correction or removal.

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 and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. 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 and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. 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 and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. 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 and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.

Caption

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