The air at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on November 21, 2025, was a thick cocktail of anticipation and nostalgia, typical for the opening day of Monster-Mania Con. Among the horror icons and pop-culture legends, Jackie Earle Haley was a featured guest, scheduled for a panel that evening. He was signing headshots of Rorschach and Freddy Krueger when a commotion started near the main entrance.
A man, broad-shouldered and beaming, was carefully navigating the side door, pushing an object shrouded in a dark tarp on a dolly. The man was Eric Nyenhuis, and the object beneath the tarp was the stuff of 70s cinema legend: a vintage, bright Blue Harley-Davidson Z90 Aeromacchi.
During a brief lull in autographs, Connie and Rachel approached Jackie Earle Haley. "Mr. Haley," she started, "there's a gentleman here, Eric Nyenhuis. He says he has something for you. Something... Blue.”
Jackie's eyes widened. He immediately understood. He remembered a comment on a social media post, a playful back-and-forth about the famous film prop, a piece of memorabilia he hadn't seen since the wrap party decades ago. He stood up, stepping around his table, and followed Sarah to the main hall. A murmur followed him.
Eric waited patiently, his hands resting on the tarp. When Jackie appeared, the crew and even Robert Patrick “The Terminator” hushed. Jackie Earle Haley grinned and pulled the tarp away with a flourish. The Blue Z90, with its distinctive 'AMF Harley-Davidson' logo and multi-color stripes, shone under the convention center lights.
"You got a light, mister?" Eric asked, quoting an iconic line from the movie, his voice thick with emotion.
Jackie Earle Haley gazed over to the small motorcycle with a rush of excitement over his face, running a hand over the cool metal of the gas tank. "First I'm hearing about this," he said playfully, referencing his own social media reply to the original post, then added with a smile, "but it looks like it's mine". He placed a hand on Eric's shoulder, and the two men, one a celebrity and the other a dedicated fan, shared a moment of connection that transcended the typical convention experience.
The flash from the press photographer erupted. It was a perfect Monster-Mania moment, capturing a slice of cinematic history being reunited with its reluctant, iconic rider.
Eric Nyenhuis
November 22, 2025
New York Toyfair is still going on until tomorrow, March 4, 2025. I had a mission to get to New York City and find out what’s going on with Toys, and being a marketing whiz kid, I wanted to pick the brains of those that represent some of the biggest names in toys.
Im going to say this as a fan and what I feel is an honest review of what I see and what I think. I arrived at 9:45 am on opening day and was awestruck that I was even able to see 70% of the show in eight hours, and out of that 60% of the companies are basing their toy lines on hopes that children put down their cell phones, and embrace the imagination once again with games, and interactive toys and even two or three companies trying to recapture the animi and scupltures of things that have already passed such as an over abundunce of Deadpool and Wolverine scupltures, and Beelejuice 2, and with the end of Family Guy there were nothing in sight to remember the series that pushed the envelope for 25 years.
DUCKS. Yes, little rubber ducks like the ones you see in Jeeps were everywhere as even Jeep-branded Ducks were now a thing. I just did not feel that enough attention was paid to the development of children (2-4 years of age) and finding out that they make Toy Cell Phones (5 Different) and tablets that are non-functional, but is this what new technology is for our children’s Children?
MEGO CORP. My beloved Megos.
Leading the charge is Paul “Dr Mego” Clarke and the legendary Marty Abrams whose booth felt like a very welcoming 1970s living room with the classic figures redesigned with original 1970s packaging. From there, the 50th anniversary line on display I could have spent the day talking to them as they do care about the consumer, as they are launching new waves of Mego from a New Batman in two different models, the Michael Keaton Batman and the Classic to the Alex Ross Superman.
Mego recently struck a deal with Disney to make and distribute Retro 4 Packs, with the latest being Spider-Man, The Green Goblin, The Lizard, and a new Electro which was only available through pre orders on the Disney website on 12/11/2024 at 11 am EST and sold out at a record breaking three minutes, as the other option was to physically go to the one of the two parks Disneyland and Disney World and when you are based in the Midwest or even N.J Texas and South Dakota most of us were left with overpaying on Ebay.
This was addressed to Mego and to the representative from Disney and Marvel at the show, and I can say in all sincerity, Mego Corp does care about its fan base. I was asked my opinion, and with the iHeart interview on the reschedule list, I was asked about what I feel were the priorities and preference, and I asked that they please keep the Retro Box look, as I am not the “Blister Pack (or Bubble) but the original 70s style packaging.
Disney Shipping: I believe that the result of the sold out Spider-Man 4 Packs in the parks and online proved my point that Mego 8” action figures are still highly collectable and a NEW Four Pack will be announced more sooner then later with what we hope will be more attention due to pre orders and consumer availability.
As the 50th anniversary gold stickers were not attached to the Disney pack, is was Disney’s choice not to include them as they are not Mego but Disney as the next Four Pack is dropping in the next two months (fingers crossed) I suggest that you get yourself a personal Disney Shopper as I found Tammy Vasquez to deliver my Disney exclusives intact with so much care put into shipping and repacking at a level you will never see from Disney nor a third party on Ebay.
The Next Wave(19) of Mego singles will be available through AbsolutelyRetro.com, which will include Classic Batman, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg Lex Luther, Sinestro Demon Etrigan, Spectre, Creepshow 8” figures, all of which will be made available to pre-order through Frank Wojo, and I suggest that you visit www.AbsolutleyRetro.com or be left behind.
The air at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on November 21, 2025, was a thick cocktail of anticipation and nostalgia, typical for the opening day of Monster-Mania Con. Among the horror icons and pop-culture legends, Jackie Earle Haley was a featured guest, scheduled for a panel that evening. He was signing headshots of Rorschach and Freddy Krueger when a commotion started near the main entrance.
A man, broad-shouldered and beaming, was carefully navigating the side door, pushing an object shrouded in a dark tarp on a dolly. The man was Eric Nyenhuis, and the object beneath the tarp was the stuff of 70s cinema legend: a vintage, bright Blue Harley-Davidson Z90 Aeromacchi.
Security, momentarily confused by the absence of a proper badge for a vehicle, let Eric through as staff as they began to recognize the motorcycle from The Bad News Bears. The bike, produced by Aermacchi for Harley-Davidson between 1973 and 1975, had a small, but dedicated, following.
Eric wheeled the Z90 to the area just outside the celebrity autograph section. He caught the eye of one of the event staff, a young woman named Sarah, and explained, "I need to give this back to Mr. Haley. I've had it for thirty years, waiting for the right moment". Connie sensing a memorable photo opportunity for the event, agreed to help.
During a brief lull in autographs, Connie and Rachel approached Jackie Earle Haley. "Mr. Haley," she started, "there's a gentleman here, Eric Nyenhuis. He says he has something for you. Something... Blue.”
Jackie's eyes widened. He immediately understood. He remembered a comment on a social media post, a playful back-and-forth about the famous film prop, a piece of memorabilia he hadn't seen since the wrap party decades ago. He stood up, stepping around his table, and followed Sarah to the main hall. A murmur followed him.
Eric waited patiently, his hands resting on the tarp. When Jackie appeared, the crew and even Robert Patrick “The Terminator” hushed. Jackie Earle Haley grinned and pulled the tarp away with a flourish. The Blue Z90, with its distinctive 'AMF Harley-Davidson' logo and multi-color stripes, shone under the convention center lights.
"You got a light, mister?" Eric asked, quoting an iconic line from the movie, his voice thick with emotion.
Jackie Earle Haley gazed over to the small motorcycle with a rush of excitement over his face, running a hand over the cool metal of the gas tank. "First I'm hearing about this," he said playfully, referencing his own social media reply to the original post, then added with a smile, "but it looks like it's mine". He placed a hand on Eric's shoulder, and the two men, one a celebrity and the other a dedicated fan, shared a moment of connection that transcended the typical convention experience.
The flash from the press photographer erupted. It was a perfect Monster-Mania moment, capturing a slice of cinematic history being reunited with its reluctant, iconic rider.
Eric Nyenhuis
November 22, 2025