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Archives Index
Storyline Index
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To fully understand current events in the if then else universe, one must look into the past. Each storyline below builds upon the previous, slowly weaving the overall plot for the comic. Continuous story arcs have a dark-denim colored background. The current storyline is highlighted in purple. |
Year 1: Allocating Memory
August 26, 2002 - October 18, 2002 "Every today is worth two tomorrows." - Benjamin Franklin College - the dream of every high school graduate. This dream is quickly twisted into a whirlwind of activity for Todd Mallory, freshman newbie. It is through the first day that we meet the principal characters of if then else - Todd, Toji, Sarah, and Skip. Be forewarned: combining computer science majors in one dormitory can be hazardous to your health! |
October 21, 2002 - October 27, 2002 "Life is a great bundle of little things." - Oliver Wendell Holmes Every webcomic, at some point or another, runs what are commonly referred to as one-shot gags; the kind of jokes present in a syndicated newspaper comic strip. For one full week, if then else carried out this tradition to its fullest. |
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October 28, 2002 - November 30, 2002 "The discovery of coffee has enlarged the realm of illusion and given more promise to hope." - Isidore Bourdon Behind every great college student is a motivating agent. In Toji's case, it's nutmeg espressos! Toji convinces Todd to join him in this college tradition, and they manage to bump into a few familiar faces. A little silly, this story rose from some one-shot gags to present some memorable moments. |
December 2, 2002 - January 17, 2003 "By doubting we come at the truth." - Cicero Two years ago, Todd ended a friendship with Scott Harbor over differing opinions. Now, a letter has arrived from Scott announcing his imminent arrival. Will Todd welcome Scott back into his good graces with open arms or obtain a restraining order? Scott's arrival can only make things interesting for the rest of the cast from here on out . . . |
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January 20, 2003 - February 21, 2003 "Our todays and yesterdays are the blocks with which we build." - Henry Longfellow Things start innocently enough with Toji recording the events of the last few days in his journal. The opening of a mysterious rift interrupts this activity to produce a frightening image of the future. Will the fabric of space-time be compromised in the ensuing confrontations? |
February 24, 2003 - April 18, 2003 "Life is a series of surprises." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Todd's dreams feature Lyn as of late for an unknown reason. Will he see her again and possibly forge a new friendship? Or will Scott burn down yet another building before Todd has a chance? This is one storyline that took a direction that wasn't planned out in the initial drafts - and is guaranteed to take a few Wombats by surprise! |
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April 21, 2003 - May 23, 2003 "All things are difficult before they are easy." - Thomas Fuller It's the dread of every college student, occurring only once a semester but usually four times in a row. Worse than a check-up at the dentist, more grueling than fraternity rush week, it could only be one thing - finals week! Will Todd and the gang make it through intact or end up taking summer classes to keep up? |
08 - Summer Vacation, Act 1: Homecoming May 26, 2003 - June 6, 2003 "Great joys, like griefs, are silent." - Shackerley Marmion After his first year at college, Todd is ready for a break. His father, however, may have other ideas. Some light is shed on the Mallory family history (with a little foreshadowing thrown in for good measure). You may want to grab a tissue for this one . . . |
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09 - Summer Vacation, Act 2: Apartment Life June 9, 2003 - June 20, 2003 "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Bulwer-Lytton While the dorms are closed, Toji opted to stay in town and rent an apartment. Will he adjust to his new surroundings or run in fear of the giant cockroaches? |
10 - Summer Vacation, Act 3: Fork in the Road June 23, 2003 - July 11, 2003 "I am not one of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to facts." - Mark Twain Skip and Sarah, driving back from a live taping of Star Trek: Enterprise, reflect on their experiences. Of course, all events are relative, especially where science fiction is concerned. Whose story is correct? That's a determination you will have to make yourself . . . |
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11 - Summer Vacation, Act 4: Goto Jail July 14, 2003 - August 8, 2003 "All good things arrive to those who wait--and don't die in the meantime." - Mark Twain After the events of the previous storyline, Todd's presence is requested to spring Sarah and company from prison. With any luck (and maybe a dream sequence or two), Todd may end up more than "Just Visiting" . . . |
12 - Summer Vacation, Act 5: Semaphore August 11, 2003 - August 22, 2003 "We keep the faults of others before our eyes; our own behind our backs." - Seneca Scott's efforts to finish his newest invention are finally achieving results. While he's out celebrating, Lyn takes the opportunity to take a closer look. The mysteries surrounding her presence will only deepen as this storyline progresses. |
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Year 2: Past-Sort
August 25, 2003 - September 26, 2003 "Don't mind, no frowns, cheer down." - George Harrison School's back in session and the gang has returned for another round of classes. However, class is the furthest from many of their minds with the multiple loose ends that are generated during the course of this storyline. Todd's past actions return to haunt him, a new cast member is revealed, and new developments are taking place in Scott's dorm room. |
September 29, 2003 - October 3, 2003 "Premature optimization is the root of all evil." - Donald Knuth Professor Mallory, after observing some rather low assignment scores, decides to have Toji teach a lecture on the correct ways of programming. Short, sweet, and to the point, this storyline is meant to be a quick humor break akin to last year's Obligatory One-Shots. |
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October 6, 2003 - November 14, 2003 "As we advance in life we learn the limits of our abilities." - James Anthony Froude To alleviate Todd's self-induced paranoia, Toji and Skip treat him to a night out at a local college bar. We finally get to see where Toji and Skip have been slipping away to from time to time. Prepare for the introduction of yet another new character, a cameo or two, and, of course, slapstick humor. |
16 - Segmentation Fault, Act 1: Discovery November 17, 2003 - December 13, 2003 "When any great design thou dost intend, think on the means, the manner and the end." - Sir John Denham Scott's invention is nearing completion. Even though it's still in the experimental stages, Todd wishes to use it for his own means. Will he succeed in his mission? Or, possibly more importantly, will Lyn succeed in eliminating the Key? Get ready for the longest, most dramatic story arc to date . . . |
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17 - Segmentation Fault, Act 2: Consequences December 15, 2003 - January 3, 2003 "The best of prophets of the future is the past." - Lord Byron With assistance from Lyn, Todd steals the time machine and travels into the past. What repercussions will his actions have? Or, more importantly, is this the end for four of the main characters? |
18 - Segmentation Fault, Act 3: welcome to dimensia January 5, 2004 - January 24, 2004 Guest Artist: Molly Hoffmann (Thunderchicken on the forum) "And out of mind as soon as out of sight." - Lord Brooke Following the events of the previous storyline, Todd finds himself in a strange new land called dimensia. How did he get here, and what will he discover during his journeys? Read on to find out. |
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19 - Segmentation Fault, Act 4: fragmented memory January 26, 2004 - February 14, 2004 Guest Artist: Molly Hoffmann (Thunderchicken on the forum) "Live hand-in-hand and together we'll stand on the threshold of a dream." - Graeme Edge Todd's journey into dimensia continues. And the individual who has brought him there has requested his presence. |
20 - Segmentation Fault, Act 5: concatenation February 16, 2004 - March 6, 2004 Guest Artist: Molly Hoffmann (Thunderchicken on the forum) "Many things fall out between the cup and the lip." - Proverb As the adventure in dimensia winds down, the tension among the rest of the cast mounts. Prepare for a large dose of foreshadowing and loose ends . . . |
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21 - Segmentation Fault, Act 6: Lost Clusters March 8, 2004 - March 20, 2004 "Many little leaks may sink a ship." - Thomas Fuller Todd has returned, but with a large amount of baggage. Unfortunately, the relationships he has with his friends may begin to unwind as a result. |
March 22, 2004 - April 9, 2004 "What we ardently wish, we believe." - Edward Young After seeing what Beatrice thinks is an angel, she seeks advice from her "father" and friends. However, word gets around quickly and peaks the interest of another character . . . |
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April 12, 2004 - June 4, 2004 "Life is made of ever so many partings welded together." - Charles Dickens As the semester draws to a close, many of the if then else cast members decide to move out of the dorms in favor of off-campus housing. Some cast members may have further destinations, though. |
June 7, 2004 - June 25, 2004 "Pain is no longer pain when it is past." - Margaret J. Preston Moving into a new duplex is difficult for Scott and Skip - especially considering what Scott's putting into his lab. However, hazardous chemicals may not be the only danger for the new roommates . . . |
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June 28, 2004 - August 27, 2004 "Things are where things are, and as fate has willed, so shall they be fulfilled." - Robert Browning It's been six months since Todd's trip to dimensia. The effects still linger, but a few loose threads are bound to be tied up when a mysterious new woman enters his life (not to mention a few old enemies). This storyline underwent numerous revisions before and during its run, guaranteeing its status as one of the most frustrating storylines to date! |
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Year 3: Resolutions
August 30, 2004 - September 24, 2004 "He who is too busy doing good finds no time to be good." - Rabindrinath Tagore Toji writes a letter to his sister, Mia, concerning his internship at Ubersoft. In this extended cameo with the delightfully evil webcomic Help Desk, Toji learns how the corporate computer world really works . . . |
September 27, 2004 - November 19, 2004 "Our faith comes in moments; our vice is habitual." - Ralph Waldo Emerson As the title implies, this storyline follows two distinct plots - one serious and one humorous. We will look into an average day where Todd has finally asked Sarah out to a date and Scott is beginning to experiment again. Both may have explosive results if neither is careful . . . |
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November 29, 2004 - January 7, 2005 "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." - William Shakespeare Lyn has decided that the time is right to eliminate the Key. Will the Key's friends be able to stop her, or will she succeed? Prepare for revelations to be made and even more loose ends to be unraveled . . . |
January 10, 2005 - January 21, 2005 "A danger will never be overcome without danger." - George Herbert Lyn's mysterious Liege is unhappy with her performance thus far. Will she simply be "punished" again or is a more drastic fate in store for her? |
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January 24, 2005 - February 11, 2005 "You are going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view." - Obi-Wan Kenobi Todd has convinced Sarah to see the rerelease of the rerelease of the original Star Wars with him. Finally, we get to see Todd and Sarah out on a date doing what couples do. |
February 14, 2005 - March 4, 2005 "Some falsehood mingles with all truth." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Paul shows Bea a photo through instant messenger that seems to confirm that Alex is an angel. The ensuing investigations lead Alex to discover Josh's fate since their last encounter. Other surprises are mixed into this storyline, guaranteeing it to be one of the most confusing to date . . . |
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March 7, 2005 - April 8, 2005 "Talent is that which is in a man's power; genius is that in whose power a man is." - James Russell Lowell After months of isolation, Scott has "modified" his time travel device. Todd would be lucky to avoid this event, if it weren't for the confrontation he's been forced into with his distant past. Nothing good can come from this . . . |
April 11, 2005 - May 6, 2005 "When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last." - Alexander Pope Toji and Skip's past is dug up when a power outage in the duplex sparks a debate. Will Todd, Scott and Nate be able to mediate the dispute, or will someone be leaving the duplex? |
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May 9, 2005 - May 27, 2005 "Tell me the company you keep, and I'll tell you who you are." - Proverb The main cast of if then else goes grocery shopping. Mostly a series of one-shots, this storyline was scripted long before the comic began to help the cartoonist get a better feel for the characters. |
May 30, 2005 - June 17, 2005 "No man is matriculated to the art of life till he has been well tempted." - George Eliot After starting summer classes, Todd receives a bittersweet surprise concerning retro-geek culture. Is the concept silly? Most definitely. Will the characters learn something from the experience? You'll have to read to find out. |
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June 20, 2005 - June 24, 2005 "Labor has a bitter root but a sweet taste." - Proverb Alex discovers, to her dismay, that her job at Nuts About Nutmeg now includes serving ice cream. |
June 27, 2005 - July 29, 2005 "Chance is the providence of adventurers." - Napolean Bonaparte Egads! The guys are roleplaying Star Trek with Jim North of Role of the Die! |
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August 1, 2005 - August 26, 2005 "Every one can master a grief but he that has it." - William Shakespeare After winning free tickets, Todd and Sarah go on a date to Six Flags. Many of the memories made during their trip are sure to last a lifetime . . . |
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Year 4: Lost
August 29, 2005 - September 9, 2005 "No man loveth his fetters, be they made of gold." - John Heywood "The Guardian" continues his pursuit to capture Scott Harbor, one way or another. |
40 - A Fair to Remember (Continued) September 12, 2005 - September 30, 2005 "Every one can master a grief but he that has it." - William Shakespeare The past comes back to haunt Sarah, causing her to make a difficult decision concerning her relationship with Todd. |
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October 3, 2005 - October 28, 2005 "To know ourselves diseased is half our cure." - Alexander Pope Lyn has been "jumping" dimensions for almost a year now with little end in sight. Is it time to give up the chase? To date, this is the only storyline presented in full color. |
42 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 1: In the Beginning October 31, 2005 - November 4, 2005 "I'm more than that, I know I am . . . at least, I think I must be." - Graeme Edge A peek into Lyn's past . . . |
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43 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 2: Lovely to See You November 7, 2005 - November 25, 2005 "Walk along with me to the next bend." - Justin Hayward After months of tireless work, Scott has finally finished converting his invention into a dimensional traveler and decides it's time to mount an expedition. Who he will take with him may have unalterable consequences . . . |
44 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 3: Dear Diary November 28, 2005 - January 20, 2006 "Still they carry on doing what they can; Outside me, oh politely, dear diary." - Ray Thomas Due to unforeseen circumstances, Scott and company are trapped in a parallel dimension. Will they be able to find a way back home? Or, more importantly, can they do so before they become involved in an escalating conflict? |
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45 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 4: Send Me No Wine January 23, 2006 - March 10, 2006 "They're gonna make you leave your; Leave your heart behind." - John Lodge Circumstances quickly spin out of control as The Guardian launches a decisive strike against the resistance. Alliances are forged, friends are lost and familiar faces are revealed as time runs out! |
46 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 5: To Share Our Love March 13, 2006 - April 14, 2006 "It takes more than one to give the life we need." - John Lodge Alex and Scott escape the circumstances of the last storyline by jumping to another dimension; one inhabited by nukees. Will the magic of Guinness bring them the help they so desperately need? |
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47 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 6: So Deep Within You April 17, 2006 - May 26, 2006 "Like you I'm waiting for our special day." - Mike Pinder Todd, separated from his companions, finds himself in a dimension that may hold the key to getting home. His only obstacle lies in those guarding that key . . . and the person training him to do so. |
48 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 7: Never Comes the Day May 29, 2006 - June 23, 2006 "Admit what you're feeling and see what's in front of you." - Justin Hayward Lyn and Robnob continue to jump dimensions in order to avoid detection from The Guardian. What they find, however, may alter their ultimate goals. |
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49 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 8: Lazy Day June 26, 2006 - August 4, 2006 "Still it's quite sad, tomorrow's so bad; I don't feel too strong." - Ray Thomas Mira and Todd make a brief stop in their journey to The Gate to gather more information about what they're up against. Todd may discover more about Mira and their destination than he really wants to . . . |
50 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 9: Are You Sitting Comfortably August 7, 2006 - September 29, 2006 "Ride along the winds of time and see where we have been." - Ray Thomas & Justin Hayward Todd and Mira finally make it to the lair of the En'Shar. Many familiar faces resurface during Todd's desperate struggle to return home. |
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Year 5: Modulus
51 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 10: The Dream October 2, 2006 - January 19, 2007 "Just as new life will come from death; Love will come at leisure." - Graeme Edge Unitzoid is becoming disenchanted with the Federated Guild of Superheroes. Will the appearance of several dimensional travelers, including a forlorn Scott and Sarah, rekindle his desire to be a superhero? Or will their appearance not only shake Unitzoid's faith, but the entire Guild? This is the longest storyline to date, spanning 75 comics and resolving a number of loose ends (only to create more, naturally). |
52 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 11: Have You Heard, Part 1 January 22, 2007 - February 23, 2007 "A look down life's hallways, doorways; To lead you there." - Mike Pinder Intentions are revealed and decisions are made as Scott and company prepare to depart for home. Unknown to them, a quite anonymous obstacle lies in their path. |
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53 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 12: The Voyage February 26, 2007 - March 16, 2007 |
54 - On the Threshold of a Dream, Act 13: Have You Heard, Part 2 March 19, 2007 - April 20, 2007 "Life's ours for the making." - Mike Pinder Scott and company return home and begin readying plans to rescue Todd. Unbeknownst to them, they aren't the only ones making plans . . . |
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April 23, 2007 - September 24, 2007 "Now the darkness only stays the night-time; In the morning it will fade away." - George Harrison The title says it all - this storyline does not write to (or impact) the plot of if then else. It addresses the nearly two year hiatus from the main story and the author's involvement with the Evil Overlords United. |
February 1, 2009 - ? "The best laid schemes of mice and men; Gang aft a-gley; And leave us naught but grief and pain; For promised joy." - Robert Burns |
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