Placement of H2 621/2

[Paul Bourcier]

Can anyone place the second story in this week's Incredible Hulks #621? It occurs "a few years" after H 1. Bruce Banner has "escaped overseas to Russia for a bit, being so far away from Ross, Rick, Betty...everything." This story features the green, dumb Hulk. Was there a previously published Hulk story set in Russia to which this tale might be connected?

[michel]

After Hulk destroyed the Mandarin's castle in China in H2 108, he said in H@ 1 "for weeks Hulk has wandered this strange land". He's in the Himalayas in H@ 1, still in an asian country in H2 109... he could have leaped to Russia

[Paul Bourcier]

Hmm. That doesn't quite seem to fit the premise of H2 612/2, which gives the impression that Banner intentionally left the U.S. to go be alone in Russia.

[LordZorn]

Friend Paul B:

Since I do not have the issue in question at hand, could you answer the following:

Is there a specific cause for Bruce's transformation(nightfall, single-ended rage or stress, or double-ended rage or stress[that is, does too much stress cause an involuntary reversion back to Banner, as in the early TTA issues]???

Who/what is the story's main "villain", and are there any familiar supporting characters or mentions of political figures in Russia???

[Paul Bourcier]

Banner turns to Hulk whe he gets mad. The only other named character is a demon called Chernobog.

[Starman]

Other times the "dumb" Hulk is in Russia and/or the Soviet Union is TTA #66 - 67 (USA -> Russia -> Mongolia. Maybe there's a possibility that H2 621/2 could take place in between pages or panels in TTA 67.), IH2 #187 - #190 (Hulk vs. The Gremlin, Mole Man, and the Toad Men. Maybe there's a possibility that H2 621/2 could take place in between issues 189 and 190.), Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #258 - #259 (Hulk teams up with the Soviet Super-Soldiers, next issue he's in Japan. Maybe there's a possibility that H2 621/2 could take place in between issues 259 and 260.)

I hope this helps with your placement.

[Paul Bourcier]

Thanks for replying, Starman. Unfortunately, I don't believe any of those stories lend temselves well to the context that Banner has voluntarily left Betty and Rick to go to Russia to be alone.