Quick Jumps

• Year One--In which the main characters are introduced, and time is travelled.
• Year Two--In which a ghost is revealed, and much else besides.
• Year Three--In which our heroes deal with regular life, and the villains scheme.
• Year Four--In which havoc is cried, the dogs of war are unleashed, and everything changes.
• Year Five--In which things return to normal, but can anything be the same?

Story Guide

I'll admit it, things have gotten rather convoluted around here. Hopefully, this quick-and-dirty story guide can help you get your bearings.

The First Strips

Just what it says. Everything starts here, with the first appearances of Bob, Jack, Kendall, Steph, and Peter. I'll admit it, I could have started things off a bit smoother.

Kendall's Dilemma

Just what is the pecking order amongst management here at the toy store?

Hidden Treasure

While cleaning, Bob uncovers a long-lost, highly collectible, action figure. Jack wants it.

Perceptions

Darby teases Bob with the knowledge he was flirting with Steph. Did he really not realize he was doing it?

Jennifer

Bob's managed to offend a customer in pretty much the dumbest way posible. Kendall demands redress as only she can.

The Visit

Dale Johnson, president and CEO of the Toymania corporation, is coming to town for a visit. Can Shane whip the store into shape in time?

Opportunity Lost

Bob meet's the one guy he hoped didn't exist. Plus: Jack sees elves, Hector reveals his methods, and the gang reacts to the events of September 11, 2001.

Return to Normalcy

A nice long string of one-shots, the types of things people who work retail would easily come up with. Plus, the city the toy store's set in is called Shanafelt.

A Better Life Than This

Bob and Jack are sent out to comparison shop the 1000 Mark. Meanwhile, a couple of 1000 Mark employeed come to Toymania. It's a crossover with A Better Life Than This.

Season 2001: Halloween

A batch of Halloween strips, including a recipe for a Dead Osama Bin Laden costume.

Season 2001: New Faces

Among the new hires for the Christmas season are Dan, a guy with a passing similarity to Bob (and who happens to be Peter's nephew), and "Deranged" Drake, who worked at the toy store until certain unreveales unpleasantness.

Season 2001: Black Friday

The day after Thanksgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. Have you ever stopped to think about the poor souls who have to work retail that day? Also features a whole bunch of cameos to other strips.

History Lesson

Bob and Jack are thrown twenty-some-odd years into the past. What lengths will they go to in order to return to their own time?

One Shots

And the first year wraps up much the same way it began, with a handful of one-shot gags.

How Things Work

An almost in-depth look at the G-1000, that little handheld gizmo that Bob and Jack and others carry around.

Dale Johnson Returns

A small event from the Christmas season has blown up in the store's face, and Dale Johnson stops by to help coordinate the defense.

Zombies

Before that can happen, a certain movie has hit theaters. The closest I've come to watching a zombie movie is Star Trek: First Contact, but that's okay, because these are Marvel Zombies.

The Trial

Enough nonsense. The Courtroom Drama portion of the strip has begun. Different people react to things in different ways, but does Ms. Jenkins actually have a case?

Meet Sparky

Any time there's a trial, there are two trials, and Toymania is losing in the court of public opinion. Maybe the resident ghost can help out. Didn't know the store was haunted? Now you do.

Verdict

And the lawsuit saga finally wraps up.

One Bad Pun

A hot, popular show finally gets a line of collectible figures near the end of its run. Remember how Mork from Ork, Fonzie, and ALF had their own Saturday morning cartoons?

Politicals?

This is a big part of why I don't generally bother with political-type humor in the strip. Doonesbury-eyes are kinda fun to draw, though.

Sam's Offer

Steph's ex-boyfriend Sam stops by with an offer Bob probably shouldn't refuse.

Power Outage

The actress behind a popular Star*Squad character has passed away, setting off a feeding frenzy in those with a collector mentality. Then the lights go out.

Dark Alliance

Remember Gary? He's got a real beef with the store now, and he's enlisted Sam's help.

Assorted Stuff

Once again, just a batch of one-off gags, with little importance to the overall story. Or is there?

Halloween Storm

It's Halloween, and it's the biggest storm Shanafelt has seen in many years. Of course the store's still open. This story features the 200th TRU-Life Adventures strip, and a turning point for a couple of characters.

Random Flashbacks

Three little text pieces, looking at Bob, Steph, and Tony.

'Tis the Season 2002

A new Holiday season at the toy store means short-tempered customers, poorly motivated temporary help, harrassment from an unexpected source, and and a new, unfortunate nickname for Steph.

The Fourth Wall

Jack's latest delusion has them as cast members in a comic strip. How messed up is that?

Inside Job

A massive theft of videogame systems is shown to be the work of an employee. But who? And what is it about these systems that makes all the work to steal them not quite worth it?

Second Attempt

After a handful of one-shots, including names for the elves, Bob and Steph try that whole date thing again.

Riot

Of course, things go horribly wrong. But, hey, the crew gets to meet talk radio host Mike Michaels.

Hyperforce

Bob and Jack have been chosen to playtest a new superhero collectible card game.

Angst

Steph receives a dire message about her future.

"Good Buddy"

Bob tries to convince Jack that no, they really aren't friends.

Mental

Can Jack read minds? Does this sequence really contain one of my favorite TLA strips ever?

Chivalry

Darby needs some help getting out of a difficult spot. So it's Bob to the rescue.

More One-Shots

One strip in this batch will take on a slightly different meaning somewhere down the line.

Drake's Tale

Drake tells Bob what he knows about Sparky, including how the resident ghost got its name.

Summer Fun

While the store gets a new lighting system installed, the company pays for a day at the local water park for everyone. Plus, something unfortunate happens to Sam.

In the Dark

Remember how a new lighting system was supposed to get installed? Well, things didn't quite work out so well. But who's skulking around the emergency exit? And why's the one collector so grumpy?

Tony Quits

Tony's finally fed up with working retail. But what's the whole story, and will he wind up with Sam and Gary?

Finest-A Halloween Tale

An oddly decomposed body turns up in a park. The coroner identifies it as Trent Tyrell, Kendall's husband, but how can that be when he died several years ago? My tribute to several shows, just check the first panel to find out which ones.

Preparations

After a lackluster Holiday Season last year, Shane gets permission to run this year's season however he wants. But will an unfortunate local election result ruin his plans? And who's this new girl with her eye on Bob?

Summons

Shane is called before the Shanafelt city council to answer for how he handled Christmas.

Assault on Aisle 7C

It's a toy store worker's worst nightmare: an irate action figure collector with a gun.

Reactions

Steph makes a decision about her future. Bob angsts to Joanna. But who's really behind everything?

Repercussions

The City Council has banned the sale of violent toys within city limits. Kendall makes a dramatic announcement on the Mike Michaels Radio Show.

Two Men Went

The Cheapo-Mart, arch-nemesis of the Toymania corporation, moves in across the street.

To Spy on Cheapo

Bob and Jack are sent over to check things out. Nobody learned anything from the 1000 Mark fiasco, apparently. What--and more importantly, who--will they find over there.

-First Strike

Life returns to normal for the folks working at the toy store. Then Jack gets taken out of the picture, and Bob's the prime suspect.

-Takeover

Jennifer comes to work at the toy store. Sam and Gary have fumbled their way to a time machine! Which is just what Agent Rodgers wanted.

-Campaign

Kendall finds local politics far tougher than running a toy store. Especially since she really isn't supposed to be running it.

-Paranoia

Sam escapes. Bob figures out what's really going on. Drake suffers an attack of some sort. Agent Rodgers reveals herself. Bob was very, very wrong (as were a legion of readers when this first ran).

-Reboot

It's an all-different timeline. Bob's just about ready to propose to his girlfriend. Drake's locked in a mental institution. Bert's in jail. Darby's a barista. Trent Tyrell is still alive. Then things start going very wrong.

-Final Assault

Pop star Danielle Sinclair (mentioned once, in passing, back during Year One) brings together a group of strangers in this timeline to set things right. Why does Shane wear a mullet, anyway?

-Sacrifice

In order to fix the timeline, Trent Tyrell will pay the ultimate price. But which one?

-Winding Down

The proper timeline has been restored, but nobody knew what the real cost would be. Jack is still gone, Scarlett's gone but not gone, and Bob remembers everything that happened.

Extreme Makeover: Retail Edition

It's time for a little fun after all that gloom and doom. Fortunately, a certain reality show is willing to help out.

Gag Week

It's time for a little fun after all that gloom and doom. Fortunately, a week of silly gag strips is willing to help out.

A Week at Cheapo

How's Steph handling things over at the Cheapo-Mart? Let's find out.

Pressure

Joanna posts some stuff about Bob on a certain website. Bob doesn't take it too well, but there's a lot he hasn't taken well lately, what with two sets of memories to contend with. Kendall steps in and forces them to settle it, with Bert along for the ride. Road Trip!

The Tao of Geek

Bob tracks down his girlfriend from the other timeline, with Bert and Joanna still along for the ride. It's a crossover with The Tao of Geek. If Bob thought telling Naomi and the others his story was tough, just wait until he meets Onibuke.

She's Back

Steph really wasn't handling life at the Cheapo-Mart very well at all. Since Scarlett's gone, it must be safe to go back to Toymania, right? But can things ever be what they once were?

The Mike Michaels Show

Who is radio talk show host Mike Michaels, anyway? And why is Leonard Zachary so hot to find someone connected to the Blackridge family?

Magnets

You need patience to work retail. Kooks are attracted to you like flies or something.

Explosive

A couple guys from the Cheapo-Mart find their fun by playing target practice with fireworks and the Toymania.

Quickies

Bob gets new glasses, nobody notices. Joanna reveals what she really knows about time travel. Plus Michael Chiklis vs. Eric Bana.

Pointed

A harmless conversation in the breakroom leads to a major revelation about Darby's past that Bob already knew. Not everyone's happy about that.

Centi-Pete

An old, infamous Toymania mascot is poised for a big comeback. Who's getting stuck in the suit?

GameSphere Max

A revolutionary new game system's about to hit the market, and Bob gets to be among the first to give it a shot. Warning:Contains alleged videogame humor and pointed Star Trek commentary.