It’s that time of year again, friends. That time when we start looking for something to get for those in our lives that make us laugh, cry, and give us more grey hairs. Yes, the holidays are here and The Fandads have put together a small list of things to get for the people in your lives. Some of the links will be affiliate links, so that means you will be putting some change in the Fandads’ pockets. Let’s start the guide!
Books to Read Together
Holiday books are always great because they can be read yearly and become a family tradition. Our friends at Curiosity Ink Media have some great books for the little ones in your family. Check out our Instagram post below and click this link if you want to buy any of these books.
For the Video Game Fan
There are a few titles that are on everyone’s gift list. Sometimes these titles are hard to find or your gamer already has them. These two games might go under the radar but they are a lot of fun!
Wild Card Football
Yes, a certain company owns the football market these days but there are always alternatives to play. Wild Card Football is a couch co-op game that is easy to pick up and play. The style is a little chunky from the other series but the animation on some moves is pretty cool. There are a few modes to play in the game and not only is there a two-player option but there is also an online mode. Like most games nowadays you can purchase and earn upgrades for your teams. Now the teams in the game are something else.
There are no official teams in the game but they are all named after the quarterbacks of the teams. The playbooks are easy to understand and are only limited to about 5 plays per formation. This makes it a lot easier for those unfamiliar with football games and makes the decision process a little faster. The gameplay is fast and a lot of fun! If you are a fan of football games, give Wild Card Football a try!
Wild Card Football is arcade-style football featuring over-the-top power-ups and rule-breaking abilities that can change the course of the game in an instant. Create your ultimate dream squad with an authentic roster of hundreds of pro football superstars, including Colin Kaepernick, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, Travis Kelce, Ja’Marr Chase, Aaron Donald and more. The game is available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Avatar: The Last Airbender: Quest for Balance
As a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I enjoyed this game. While I have not completed it, I do like the familiarity of the game. The gameplay is very easy to understand and does not get that difficult as your character levels up and more characters are unlocked. As a dad, I do not have that much time to play video games, but I did like the fact that I could play this for a while, save my spot, and continue again when I had time to play. The animation of the game is nice and crisp and with it being couch-co-op my kids and i can play together. This would make a fun addition to your video game library!
Relive unforgettable moments from the Avatar series while navigating fun and challenging puzzles based on the four elements. Explore key locations across the four nations as you interact with iconic characters, complete side quests, upgrade your abilities, and defeat the adversaries from the Fire Nation. Made with family play in mind, journey solo or together in exciting two-player local and online co-op as nine different characters. The game is available on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Shop Local
While these shops may not be local to you, it is always great to support small businesses that might make some items you can not find anywhere else. Another reason I am highlighting these shops is because these are people I know and it is always great to support your friends and family in their business endeavors.
Arterial Roots
Arterial Roots is a brand by our friend, Christina. She is a talented artist who is putting her art on household items and clothing that would make great gifts for your family. As someone who drinks coffee every day, I am highlighting this mug because everyone can use a good mug of coffee to start their day. Check out her site here to see everything that is available!
Girly Thingz
As a teacher, I always want my students to succeed in anything that they do and it fills me with pride that one of my former students has started their own business. Check out her shop here and if you are Hispanic you might appreciate the mug below.
Definitive Selection
Definitive Selection is run by two of my good friends whom I have known for a long time. This is the place to go if you are in the Pilsen area of Chicago to find fresh gear or to express yourself. Not only does the store have some fantastic clothes for you to buy but they also have some collectibles and at times become a place for artists to show off their work. You can shop their merchandise online or visit their store.
FOR THE COMIC BOOK FAN
Recently I went to my local comic book store and picked up my pullbox and realized I need to start catching up on my books and sharing what I have been reading with you all. As much as I love reading books from certain publishers, I am always attracted to the comics put out by independent publishers.
Avina Comics
I met John Avina at FanExpo this past year and was taken by his story on why he created his comics and the stories behind them. I picked up a few of them and became an instant fan! (That reminds me, I need to order some more comics from him.) Avina Comics are great because they represent a demographic that we hardly see and stories that Hispanics can relate to. I am a fan of The Last Paletero On the Block and Lucha Forever. Buy his comics here!
Dren Productions
Dren Productions is a publishing company, specializing in everything fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. We were lucky to have some of their titles sent to us earlier this year to review and sadly it fell by the wayside when we moved and I changed jobs. On the other hand, their titles are great and will have something for those who love sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. A few of my favorites were Teddy Scares and Plan 59 From Outer Space! Check out their shop and maybe you will find your new favorite series.
FOR THE ACTION MOVIE FAN
Our friends over at Shout! Factory has a lot of great movies and box sets available for the fan of action movies in your household. We will highlight a few that are sure to get your adrenaline running and may be a good history lesson for your children who are into martial arts movies.
The Jackie Chan Collections has some incredible movies on them and will be a great way for you to introduce Jackie Chan to your children. I remember watching some of these when I was younger and now I am excited to share them with my kids. Both collections have some incredible movies and you will want to seek out his other movies after watching these.
An international superstar, Chan has thrilled fans around the globe for decades. As the standard bearer for martial arts action, Chan has forged a legacy that never has nor will be matched. In a presentation of classic films that showcase the unique mixture of martial arts, action, and comedy that has made Jackie Chan a cultural icon, The Jackie Chan Collection Volume 1 (1976-1982) includes The Killer Meteors, Shaolin Wooden Men, To Kill With Intrigue, Snake & Crane Arts of Shaolin, Dragon Fist, Battle Creek Brawl, and Dragon Lord, and The Jackie Chan Collection Volume 2 contains Winners and Sinners, Wheels on Meals, The Protector, Twinkle, Twinkly Lucky Stars, Armour of God, Armour of God II: Operation Candor, Crime Story, and City Hunter.
Laika always puts out amazing movies and we love watching them in our household. The Boxtrolls and Kubo and the Two Strings are fantastic movies and a great addition to any home collection. If you have not seen these movies you have to check them out.
Kubo and the Two Strings and The Boxtrolls are available in 4K for the first time ever, allowing fans to experience these cherished films in the highest possible fidelity. Supervised by LAIKA’s visionary filmmaking team, these dazzling 4K remasters feature HDR and Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate entertainment experience. The scrupulous remastering process for both titles was overseen by the team at LAIKA, led by LAIKA CEO (and Kubo and the Two Strings Director) Travis Knight, and Visual Effects Supervisor Steve Emerson, who pored over each film shot-by-shot, paying close attention to every last detail and color to present these groundbreaking films in the most dynamic format.
The SteelBook™ releases feature new hand drawn art from acclaimed illustrators: The Boxtrolls was created by Cancun-based illustrator and Art Director Cesar Moreno, known for creating bold and vibrant illustrations; and the Kubo and the Two Strings cover art was drawn by Kevin Tong, an artist living and working out of Austin, TX.
The Tiger Cage series is one that i remember hearing about and never got the chance to see them. I am glad that this collection is now available on Blu-ray and these will get constant rotation in my house.
Available on Blu-Ray™ for the first time in North America, the collection includes the police thrillers Tiger Cage (1988), Tiger Cage II (1990) and Tiger Cage III (1991) along with a wealth of bonus features. These action-packed films filled with shoot-outs, hand-to-hand combat and high body counts choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping (Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2, Kung Fu Hustle, The Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) features an all-star cast including Donnie Yen (Ip Man, John Wick 4), Simon Yam (Election, PTU), Jacky Cheung (Bullet in the Head), Cynthia Khan (Yes Madam), Robin Shou (Mortal Kombat) and Michael Wong (Transformers: Age of Extinction, City Hunter).
FANDADS GEAR
Don’t forget, we have Fandads shirts on sale at TeePublic. Get one for the t-shirt lover in your family!
This is a topic that’s close to my heart… Cheers!
Exactly where are your contact details though?